The memory of the heart:
The vow
Chapter 1
"The accident"
The young couple was coming out of the movie holding hands. They were walking to the underground parking lot.
- The movie was great, said the woman
- If you like that kind of romantic story, yes…
- You'd never admit liking this kind of movie…
- I do like it; otherwise, I wouldn't have come with you…
- Would you admit it in front of your buddies?
- Why not?
- You're not afraid of appearing weak?
- Weak because I love my wife? He said smiling.
They got in together in their car. They were going back home. It was like a routine for them, on Saturday nights, it was their movie night, then they would go back home and order a pizza, eat ice cream for dessert or gelato, depending on their cravings and then they would go to bed and make love until morning. Another couple would've got tired of it, but not them, they never got tired of each other. They still looked like a newlywed couple…
The car stopped at a red light. He looked at her with love.
- I love you my darling, he said
- I love you more, she said
- Let's start trying for a baby tonight?
- Are you sure? She asked
- Yes, I'm ready to make babies with you…
- All right, she said smiling
He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned towards her to kiss her on the lips. He sat back up and he wanted to buckle his seatbelt, when a truck arrived and hit the car violently in the back, the shock was so strong the car rolled and when to hit a pole and the man who, didn't have time to fasten his seatbelt, was projected out of the car by the front window, breaking it with his head…
At the hospital, the woman opened her eyes. She was lying on a bed. She was trying to get up.
- Easy, said the nurse
- Where am I?
- You were in an accident, ma'am
- An accident…
It was the black whole. Then everything came back to her…
- My husband… where is my husband?
- Calm down ma'am
- I have to see him! She said trying to get up once again
- Your husband…
- Where is he? I have to see him! I'm begging you…
- I'm going to go get the doctor, said the nurse
The nurse got out and she came back a moment later with a doctor.
- Mrs. Grandchester?
- Yes?
- That's your name?
- Yes, where is my husband? Is he all right?
- You have to calm down first
- Why don't you want to tell me anything? He's dead, isn't he? Tell me! Is my husband dead?
- Mrs. Grandchester, calm down… your husband is alive, he's in a coma…
- In a coma? She said, half worried, half relieved.
- Yes, we have to wait for him to wake up. According to the paramedics, his head hit the windshield…
- Do you do a scan on him?
- Yes, his brain is swollen, so we're keeping him in an induced coma, until the swollen ends…
- How long is it going to take?
- A few weeks…
- Oh my God! She said crying. I want to see him.
- Of course…
They finally took him to see her husband. He was asleep in his room. He looked so vulnerable… her dear husband…
She remembered their first meeting…
She in New York in a visit, she was in New York to celebrate the new year on the boat she was on its annual cruise, 3 hours on New Year's Eve. She wanted to celebrate the New Year in a special way. She hadn't taken her vacations in so long. She was with friends and they were having great time. At one point Candy was on the deck of the boat, that's where she saw him. He was looking at the waves and he didn't seem to be having fun at all. She approached him.
- Are you all right?
He turned around to look at her.
- What? I'm bursting of joy? You don't see that?
- Oh yeah it's so obvious, I feel l like crying of joy…
He looked at her smiling
- I like your sense of humour, he said
- I managed to make you smile
- That's your mission to cheer people up?
- Well, it's my mission today anyway
- I just left everything, my family, my fiancée, my job…
- Oh… why?
- I was suffocating, I couldn't take it anymore… I needed to breathe, I needed some air
- What about now? Are you able to breathe
- Yes, ever since you've appeared? Where do you come from?
- From Chicago… I'm here on vacation to celebrate the New Year in New York… with my colleagues…
- Can I keep you company?
- Of course…
- My name is Terrence Grandchester, you can call me Terry, he said smiling
- Candice White, you can call me Candy, she replied smiling
And they literally never separated after that… they were together at midnight.
- You know what this means? Right? He asked
- No…
- It means you're never going to leave me. We're made for each other until the end of times
- Really? My work is in Chicago
- You can find a job here…
- You've known me for what? 10 minutes?
- But I knew from the moment I saw you that you were the love of my life…
- You'll have to convince me…
- I've got the rest of my life to do it…
At midnight, he had kissed her on the lips and she let him do it in the joy of the moment. They spent a very good time together and on the night before she was going to leave… they were at his place…
- Stay with me…
- What for?
- What for? To live with me?
- In sin? That's what you're offering me? Living together?
- Where are my manners… if I'm asking you to stay with me, I want to offer you the wedding of your dreams, if you tell me what it is….
- Really? Even if it's absolutely crazy?
- Try me….
- I'd like to get married on the torch of the Statue of Liberty…
- Wow, you've got high standards, literally…
They burst out laughing.
- Candice White, will you marry me?
- I got to be crazy, but yes Terry! I want to marry you!
The formalities were done and they went to Ellis Island, and they went up the torch of the Statue of Liberty. Their friends went with them and they taped the ceremony. Candy said her vows…
- I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with love, to have the patience love require, to speak when words are necessary and to share the silence when they're not and to live in the warmth of your heart and always call it home. I love you.
Terry looked at her with love.
- You wrote your vows on a restaurant menu?
- Yes, she said taking the menu out, why?
He smiled and he got the same menu from his pocket… She smiled back to him. They were made for each other.
- I vow to love you very much, in every way that matters, now and forever. I promise to never forget what I feel for you, this kind of love happen once in a lifetime. I love you…
They kissed passionately.
They were living in Terry's modest apartment. He was trying to make it as a writer. She had found a job in New York, as a nurse. When she worked nightshifts, he would spend his time writing… when she was there; he was unable to write…
- Am I bothering you, my love?
- I can't write a word!
- Wait, I'm coming hug you…
She approached him and kissed him on the neck…He turned around and pulled her towards him and kissed her… they were making love on the carpet…
- That's how you inspire me?
- Yes, it's not working?
- Yes, it's working, he said standing up
He went back to his chair to write pages and pages…
- I love you, you're my muse… thank you
- You're welcome, even if I feel like you dropped be like a hot potato…
- Forgive me my love… but ideas were fusing in my head…
She came back to reality and she was looking at him sleeping. She was crying.
She put back his wedding ring on his finger. She was by his bedside night and day. She didn't want to go back to work, especially in another hospital. She took a lot of days off to be by her husband's side.
The day her husband opened his eyes, it was a day like any other, she was at his bedside. The doctors had told her they had stopped the induced coma and that he was supposed to wake up at any moment.
It was foggy, his head was heavy. His eye lids were very heavy. What was going on? He had to make an effort and open his eyes. Come on a little more… he was almost there. One more push… There! He had opened his eyes! Where the heck was her? Who were all those people?
- Terrence, said a man, you're alright. You were in a car accident. You've hurt yourself in the head...
- I have a head ache, said Terry
- That's normal, said the doctor, I'm going to give you something for the pain
- Terry, said the voice of a woman next to the doctor, are you all right?
He looked at her like she had just fallen from the sky.
- Yes, he said.
- Do you know who I am?
- You're my nurse?
Candy's heart broke… She went to sit by his side.
- No Terry, I'm your wife.
- My what? He said surprised
- Your wife…
- Is this a joke? Is there a candid camera somewhere?
Candy was shocked, she wanted to take his hand and he pulled it away… she stood up hurt and she left the room. The doctor followed her.
- You said he was all right
- Listen, the brain is not like a broken bone; it's very unpredictable after a shock like that, it's kind of normal there's some memory loss…
- He took me for his nurse, when I'm his wife!
- Don't get upset…
She walked away to get some air outside.