CHAPTER 26

I tidy up my desk in my clinic, a ritual I always perform before diving into my work. It's become a routine that I can't seem to break. Just as I was about to start my day, Rachel, my only staff, appeared out of nowhere.

"Doc Ara, someone's here to see you," she announced, her voice laced with urgency.

I raised an eyebrow, confused. "Who is it, Rachel?"

"She didn't introduce herself but said you have an appointment with her."

I furrowed my brow, trying to recall any scheduled appointments. "All right, let the visitor in," I instructed, watching Rachel scurry back to the reception area.

As I brushed my hair back, I grabbed a blue tie from my desk and secured it in a ponytail. Just as I was about to lower my arms, a figure suddenly appeared before me.

"Maya?" I stammered, not expecting to see her here. My connection with her family had seemingly ended long ago.

"Good morning, doctor. I apologize for coming here without notice. Marco told me to come," Maya explained, her voice soft and hesitant.

Upon mentioning that name, my heart skipped a beat. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "Come with me, Maya. Let's talk somewhere more private," I suggested, gesturing for her to follow me.

We left my clinic and headed to the hospital's private garden, seeking seclusion from the bustling hospital. The garden was serene, with lush greenery and a long wooden bench that offered peace. I quickly grabbed two cups of steaming mocha coffee from a nearby vending machine and handed one to Maya.

"Thank you," she murmured, sipping her coffee.

"How is Marco?" I asked, suddenly intrigued.

"He's okay now," Maya replied, sipping her coffee again. "What happened will not happen again. I appreciate your help. He's grateful for what you did."

I turned away, remembering when I didn't talk to him.

"He told me your conversation ended abruptly," Maya continued. "That's why he asked me to come here. He's interested in your help. I'm afraid he might get imprisoned. Please help us prevent that from happening."

"I firmly believe that the police won't file a case if we know about his condition." Maya's face lit up as I turned to her. "That's the most valid reason, and Ma'am Yolly agrees."

I fell silent momentarily, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "Tell me, Maya. What's his illness?"

She hesitated before answering, her gaze piercing through me. "My husband has amnesia."

My heart skipped a beat in surprise. Amnesia? I tried to remain composed, but my mind raced with questions.

"How? When did it start? Maya, please, I want to know."

She sighed, her eyes never leaving mine, as she began her story.

"I ran away from home before. I discovered that my cousins and aunts, who raised me, were squandering the money I sent from my work in Japan. I'm an orphan. I had recently moved to Bulacan. There was an accident near the place I moved to."

I started trembling, but I remained silent, listening intently.

"Marco seemed to have survived that accident. I saw him wandering, his clothes torn. It was still pouring rain, and he suddenly collapsed before me. I brought him to my house, and he stayed there temporarily. He even had a high fever, but I cared for him until he got better. When he woke up for the first time, he couldn't remember anything about what had happened to him. That's when I confirmed that he had amnesia. I let him stay in my house, and we developed feelings for each other. His stay became permanent. In the first year of our relationship, he had a severe headache attack. And that's when his behavior started to change."

Maya's phone suddenly rang, interrupting her story. She panicked and stood up to answer, leaving me in a daze after hearing her story.

I analyzed each word she said one by one. A big accident occurred in Bulacan. He was one of the survivors, and she saw him wandering. The accident was genuine, but is she talking about Hector? Was he still alive? My chest tightened. I snapped out of my thoughts when I felt her tap on my back. I looked at her, but my gaze went through her.

"I need to go home now. My husband called. I'll just come back here with Marco."

I heard Maya clearly, but I didn't want to respond. I noticed she turned away from me and quickly walked away. When she disappeared from my sight, I remained seated on the bench. While continuously analyzing her story, I kept replaying it in my head. The accident couldn't escape my mind. Did Hector survive? Was he him?

"No, no, it can't be," I muttered. I shook my head.

I couldn't handle the tightness in my chest anymore, so I burst into tears. Now, everything is clear, but how? I didn't want to believe her story, but it's true because she talked about the accident seven years ago.

I lowered my head and wiped my face. My palms were wet from all the tears. I stood up and wandered. My feet led me back to the hospital's rooftop deck garden. The view was beautiful, but I couldn't appreciate it now. I leaned on the railings and looked at my surroundings. I stopped crying for a moment, just for this moment. I thought about Maya's story again.

"It can't be. That's not Hector," I whispered.

What if it is him? He's alive. I forcefully closed my mind to all the thoughts that were coming in. I felt like I was going crazy.

I looked up at the sky and cried again. "Lord, why is this happening?"

At that moment, I couldn't accept it. It was like I was returning to where I started when Hector died. Now, he's alive, and my heart and mind can't absorb the reality. It's like a big joke thinking that he's now in the columbarium. And back then, we used to visit him often.

I thought I had grown strong over the years, ready to face any challenges that came my way. But fate had other plans, playing cruel tricks on me once again. It wasn't fair. This time, the pain of crying once more was almost unbearable.