Many hours later, Catherine landed with the children in Nepal and took a cab. She asked the cab driver to take her and the kids to the monastery, but he advised her not to go there.

"It's already getting dark, the monastery is on the mountain and it's very cold there. They won't let you in because the visiting hours are already over and you will stay outside with no way back".

Catherine looked at the children. As much as she wanted to find Steve, she couldn't neglect the safety of her children and Steve would agree with her. "Can you take me to a hotel then? A hotel that's good and not too expensive."

"Sure, I know one that's right near here," the taxi driver answered.

Catherine stayed at the hotel with the children and would wait the next day to go to the monastery. "Is Daddy here, Mommy?" Debby asked when they got into the elevator.

"No, my love. We'll pick up Daddy tomorrow. It's dark and cold outside and I can't expose you and Joe. Daddy wouldn't want me to do that. OK?"

"Okay, Mommy," Debby answered.

"Mommy, I'm hungry," Joe complained.

"I know, honey. I'll order us something to eat."

They left the elevator and headed for the bedroom. It would be a long night for her because she probably couldn't sleep because of anxiety.

Catherine settled in the hotel room, bathed the children and dressed them in their pajamas. "Are you guys warm?"

"I'm warm, Mommy," Debby answered and kissed Catherine's cheek. Catherine smiled at her and said she loved her.

Joe lay on the bed and opened his arms. "Are you tired, my boy? Don't sleep because I'm ordering dinner," Catherine told him.

After dinner in the room, the children lay on the bed to watch TV and soon fell asleep. Catherine took a long bath, got dressed and then lay down next to the children, but could not sleep. She got up, opened the window and looked at the mountains in the distance. "We are so close and at the same time so far away, my love. I really hope it's you," Catherine spoke in a low voice.

The monk checked the outside of the monastery before locking the doors and saw a person going towards the main gate. He approached and saw it was Steve. "Jamal!" He called him.

Steve looked at him and looked upset.

"Where are you going, Jamal? It's too late."

Steve ran his hand across his face and took a deep breath. "I can't stand living like this anymore."

"How so, Jamal?" The monk asked.

"Look at me. This is all I have here," Steve showed him a bag of some worn-out clothes. "I'm nobody, I don't even have any documents. I need to do something, I can't keep stagnating."

The monk approached him and put his hand on Steve's shoulder. "I understand, Jamal. But you can't make decisions at the height of anger. Where would you go now? Go back to your bed, reflect, and if tomorrow you really want to leave, you're free."

Steve lowered his head and some tears came out of his eyes. "OK.".

The next day Steve got up and went to the kitchen for breakfast. He apologized to the monk who had prevented him from leaving the night before.

"It's all right, Jamal. What are you going to do? Have you thought about it?"

"I'm going to have my breakfast and then I'm going out in the yard to do my job," Steve answered. He ate slowly and then went to the yard. He felt weak and discouraged, without any perspective. He swept the patio as he was thoughtful and was hit by something in his legs.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Debby grabbed his legs and he looked at her without understanding.

As he stared without understanding Debby hugging his legs, Catherine approached with Joe. "Oh, my God! It's him! It's my Steve!" She couldn't hold back her tears.

"Steve?" She talked to him as she approached.

Steve looked at her because he heard her voice, but he didn't recognize his name.

Steve looked at her and put his hand in his pocket and took the paper with the drawing. He showed her the drawing. "Is it you?"

"Yes, it's me," Catherine answered.

"Daddy!" Debby extended her arms to him.

"It's your daughter. She just wants a hug," Catherine told him.

Steve looked at Debby and took her in his lap. "My daughter?"

Debby hugged him and kissed his cheek. "I came to take you home, Daddy." Debby was thrilled and Steve kissed her forehead.

Catherine took Joe near him. "Your son."

Steve also took Joe in his lap. "Hi," he told the boy and also kissed Joe's forehead. He stared at Catherine. "And you?"

"I'm your wife Catherine," she answered.

"My wife Catherine? I have more than one?" Steve asked.

Catherine laughed in tears. "No. I meant my name is Catherine."

Steve put the children down carefully and looked at Catherine. "And won't my wife give me a hug?"

Catherine threw herself into his arms and hugged him very hard. "I missed you so much, my love."

Steve couldn't remember her except for her face in his dreams, but he felt good in her arms. It was as if her tight embrace gathered all the broken pieces of his life.

Catherine cried with emotion at having finally found him. She remembered everything she had gone through to find him. She had been deceived, humiliated and thought of as crazy. But all that mattered was that he was there in her arms now.

"I love you, Steve." She kissed him without caring about the people around her.

"I don't remember anything, Catherine."

"I know. The woman who drew me told me. But I'm going to take care of you now," Catherine ran her hand across his face. He was bearded and had big hair.

"Let's sit over there," Steve pointed to a bench.

"That's okay," she answered and gave the children her hand.

They sat down and Debby stood looking at her father. "Her name is Debby," Catherine whispered in his ear. Debby didn't know that her father didn't remember her.

Steve stroked Debby's head. "You've grown, Debby."

"I'm four years old, Daddy. And Eddie's old and I think you'll like Bob," Debby said quickly without a break and Steve laughed. "Is she always like this? Steve asked Catherine.

"Yes, especially if she's happy," Catherine answered.

"What about him?" Steve referred to Joe.

"His name is Joe," Catherine whispered, too.

"Hi, Joe," Steve told the boy.

"It hurts here, Daddy," Joe pointed to his knees. Steve didn't understand and looked at Catherine.

"He fell and hurt his knees," she said to Steve.

"I'm sorry, Joe, but you're going to be okay soon," Steve told the boy.

Catherine looked intently at him. He was very thin and dejected.

"We've come to get you. It's time to go home," Catherine told him affectionately.

"What took you so long?" He asked.

PS: Thank you for your review and encouragement.