"How can this be happening? How can he not remember anything?"
Christian ran his hands through his hair in frustration as he paced around the room. He'd been called in for a meeting with Syed's doctor, and he'd been to hell and back in the last three quarters of an hour. The doctors had informed Christian that it wasn't just him that Syed was struggling to remember; in his mind, none of the last seven years had happened. The doctors had asked Syed about the last thing he remembered before waking up in the hospital, and he'd admitted to some of it being fuzzy. But he'd been adamant that he was still living in Walford after just getting back into his father's good graces. He couldn't remember moving to Birmingham five years ago, nor could he remember ever meeting Christian, marrying Amira and having Yasmin, or anything that they'd been through since.
And that was what terrified Christian the most.
He'd called Jane after he'd seen Syed last night, and she'd reassured him that this would all be temporary; that after all they'd been through, Syed was bound to remember him and the life they had together.
But now he wasn't so sure.
"Syed took quite a knock to the head after his fall. We couldn't have known how badly he might have been affected until he woke up. We're running some more tests, to see if we can determine whether the damage will be permanent, but really, we won't know for sure until he starts to remember anything else."
"So you're saying he might never get his memories back?"
Christian sank into a nearby chair, his head in his hands. He couldn't believe that this could be happening. They'd been doing something so simple, playing with Yasmin in the park on a rare mild spring day, when Syed had tripped and hit his head. Now their whole world had been turned upside down.
"We simply don't know. Is there a family member, someone from when he was living in London, who could come and try and see if they can jog any memories?"
"No," Christian shook his head. "His mum and dad are living in Pakistan now, and his brother's off travelling. It's just me. And he doesn't even know me."
"But you were there, in the beginning?"
"Yeah," Christian nodded slowly, recalling their turbulent start to their relationship all those years ago. He had thought those times were behind them, but now it seemed that they'd have t go through it all over again. He just hoped he'd get his Syed back at the end of it all. "I was there when he first moved to Walford. And so was.."
Why hadn't he thought of this before?! The only other person who was still a part of Syed's life now, albeit a small part, was Amira. She had followed him to Walford, in the beginning, and she was right across the other side of town. The two of them still didn't exactly see eye to eye, given their history, but if it meant that he could get Syed back, Christian would try anything.
"I think I have an idea.."