Darkness, I try to open my eyes, my effort does not seem to work because I am still surrounded by the darkness. My body feels so tired and my head hurt so much. I try to open my eyes again, but they still feel so heavy. I give it up.
"Robert.."
"Robert, can you hear me?"
I can hear a soft voice calling out near me. Robert?
"Robert.."the voice calls out again and then it breaks into a sob.
That voice seems so familiar, so close. I try to focus all of my strength to my eyes, I am not quite sure what is happening but my instinct tells me that I have to open my eyes.
The light is blinding. I try to blink several times trying to adjust my vision to the light.
As my vision adjusting, I can see that I am lying down on a bed, a big bed with a canopy. The sheet is white. I can see a fireplace from the right corner of my eyes. There is a table with a mirror in front of me, several steps from the bed.
I can hear a sound of something knocked over to my left. I try to turn my head. It feels hurt but I manage to turn my head. There on my left side, I can see a dark haired woman standing, her eyes are wide open and her hands are on her mouth, muffling a gasp. There is also a chair on its side on the floor; the woman must have knocked it over when she stood up.
The woman whose eyes are wide open slowly regained back her composure, with no warning she suddenly throws her arms around me. That hurts. I squeeze my eyes tight. She keeps calling out the name Robert and she is crying on my shoulder. I can feel my right shoulder getting wet from this woman's tears.
It is not that the sensation is unpleasant in fact I can feel a familiar closeness to this woman. Her voice does sound familiar and she smells familiar but my head hurt so much I cannot seem to get any memory of who this woman is. In fact it feels like I do not have any memory of anything. Where is this? Why am I on a bed? Who is this woman? Why do I feel like I have been hit by a train?
I try gathering my strength again and wait patiently until she stops sobbing. I reach up to touch the woman's arms. I need to ask her. She clearly knows me or who I am suppose to be.
"Who… are you?" I ask her. My voice sounds croaked but she should be able to hear. "Who are you?" I repeat my question again.
The woman looks like she is about to faint. She mumbles something and her hands reach out to hold mine.
"Dr Clarkson told me that you might not remember anything when you wake up. You fell off a horse; you hit your head pretty badly." She says and gives me a sad look.
"I am your wife, Cora Crawley. You are Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. Do you really not remember me Robert? Do you know where you are?" she asks, her lips quivers like she is about to cry again.
My wife?
I shake my head and try to register what she has just said.
Instinctively, I reach out and cupped her cheek brushing the tears that has fallen from her eyelids with my thumb. It feels like I have done this a million times.
Cora.. Cora Crawley.
"Please don't cry.." I say to her trying to calm her. I am not sure why but the sight of her crying makes me feel anxious.
She nods and gives me a smile.
"I don't remember anything yet.. forgive me.."
"It is okay Robert, just rest for now."
"Thank You.. Cora."
The woman smile and make a turn around the bed and climb up next to me. She put her arms around me. It makes me feel warm and loved. I close my eyes and let sleep claim me again.
