Who Am I to You?
I.
"Who are you?"
Regina looked petrified as she stared at her intensely. The room they were in was filled with people she knew. All except for one.
It took those three words for Emma to crumble.
"Mom," Regina said as she looked away from Emma. Cora timidly walked up to the hospital gurney railing and meekly smiled. Even though mother and daughter were attempting to communicate with their eyesight, Emma refused to be pushed away from the small group's unspoken conversation.
"Regina?" Emma reached out to caress her cheek, but Regina recoiled in a little bit of fear. This halted Emma's movement.
"Regina, I am your wi—" Emma was about to finish her statement when Dr. Whale quickly placed an urgent hand upon her shoulder.
"Emma, a word," he suggested empathetically.
"No, Whale," Emma brushed his hand off her shoulder.
"It's urgent," Dr. Whale said as he pulled Emma away from Regina.
"I'll be right back."
Emma followed the doctor into the hallway with the mini crowd of people who loved Regina. Except for Cora who stayed with her daughter.
"Yes," Emma said as she impatiently tapped her foot against the ugly tiled floor.
"Um, it appears to me that," he began, "Regina is suffering from Selective Amnesia."
Emma suddenly felt weak so her father pulled an empty bucket seat over to her so she would sit down.
"What's that?"
"It's a type of amnesia where the victim loses certain parts of their memory. Some elements that may be forgotten could be relationships, special talents, where their live, or their abilities in certain. Also events such as concerts, shows, or traumatic events might not be remembered," Dr. Whale said robotically.
"What?"
Dr. Whale sighed and simply said, "Regina doesn't remember you …"
"What are you telling me? Does my wife remember who I am? Does she remember the life we've built together?"
Dr. Whale looked away from her as he hesitated.
"Dr. Whale, please answer my daughter's question," Mary Margaret spoke up.
"Please?"
"Uh, I don't believe she remembers you …"
Emma gulped as frantically rose from the bucket seat to run to the nearest standing garbage can. She leaned over and began to empty the contents of her stomach into the it. "Don't remember eating that this morning," Emma whispered to herself.
"Honey, are you okay?"
"Am I okay?" Emma whipped herself around and yelled, "The love of my lifetime and my partner doesn't remember who I am."
Emma then slumped against the wall and brought her knees into her chest. She began to sob hysterically and when anyone attempted to console her she would brush out of their attempts.
"Can her memories of me come back with help from us?"
Before Dr. Whale could answer her question, Cora peeked her head out of the room and saw the small group standing around Emma who had sat back down. She walked up to her and said, "Regina would like to see you."
Emma dried her tears with her sleeve as she stood up immediately. Then she froze. "What do I tell her?"
"I recommend not telling her everything right now," Dr. Whale timidly suggested.
"I have to hide my feelings and love for her?" Emma shook her head in disbelief.
"Essentially, yes," he muttered. "We all know this is going to be a challenge, Emma. But for Regina's wellbeing I think it's the best thing."
With that Emma walked up to the door and knocked her closed hand against it.
"Come in," Regina said. Emma pushed opened the door and stepped through.
"Hello," Regina said guardedly.
"Hi," Emma timidly answered as she attempted to shut the door.
"Wait! Could you please leave it open a crack?"
Emma didn't argue, but did as told. She then walked up to her and stood in front of the bed.
"Your Mother told me you wanted to see me," Emma said as she tried really hard not to lose her emotions.
"Yes, thank you, please sit down," Regina pointed to a bucket seat in the far corner of the room. Emma walked to it, but before she pulled it closer to the bed, she asked, "May I pull it closer to you?"
"Yes," Regina answered and Emma pulled the chair up to the bed and sat down.
"So," Regina said nervously with her head lowered while she was playing with the sheets and flimsy hospital blanket.
"So …"
"You're Emma, where are you from?"
"Boston," she replied.
"Oh, why are you in Storybrooke?"
"Henry," she replied again.
"Why are you here for my son," Regina asked genuinely.
"Because he's my son, also," Emma said as she took a calming breath.
Regina's eyes bulged out of their sockets as she quickly said, "You're Henry's biological mother? Oh, please don't take him away."
"Regina, calm down. I'd never do that. You know me …"
"Apparently, it seems as if I don't," Regina said truthfully.
This statement hit Emma like a ton of bricks. The severity of the situation became fiercely apparent to Emma after hearing that.
"I know that. I vow to you that I will spend every day reminding you of what we mean to each other."
Regina pointed her finger back and forth as she asked, "We're together?"
Emma meekly replied, "Yes."
"Emma, who am I to you?"
Emma attempted to answer this question when the door was forcibly pushed opened and Mary Margaret walked in. "Emma …"
"No, Mom," she yelled behind her to her mother.
"Emma," Mary Margaret insisted.
Emma looked down at her lap and took a big, deep breath. "Okay. Regina it seems as if my limited time with you has come to an end. As I promised I'll be here every day for you."
Emma leaned forward to kiss Regina's forehead. As Emma leaned forward Regina leaned back. Emma halted her actions. She extended her hand out instead. Regina reached out and placed her hand inside Emma's for a handshake.
Emma slowly shook her hand for a few seconds, released it and prepared to leave.
"Good night, Regina," Emma said just before she walked out of the room.
"Good night, Emma," Regina replied and then witnessed Emma leave the room.
Emma's Mother tried to comfort her daughter, but Emma brushed her away. She didn't speak to anyone. She just wanted to be left alone.
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Good to Know:
Select Amnesia is an actual diagnosis. I Googled it and found the information on Wikipedia.
Thank you for reading. Please read and review if you'd like to.