Tobias's POV:
"Hi, baby. I got you your favourite flowers today." I whisper as I set down the small vase on the table beside her bed.
Taking her hand in mine, I caress her face gently, watching her breathe. It's been close to two months now since the accident. Two months since my life changed completely. Two months of hoping and praying that she wakes up. It seems like forever, but also like it happened yesterday. I don't know anymore, all my days just blur into the other.
Natalie and Andrew have been there for me at all times. And I'm so grateful for them. To be honest, I don't think I could have handled things on my own. I find myself rendered useless, not being able to perform basic tasks. Most days I only eat cause they force food down my throat, and even then I feel sick.
Work has been a disaster. I barely show up anymore. And when I do, I can't bring myself to get anything done. The only reason I haven't been fired yet is because of Amar's support. But the others also show sympathy for my situation.
"Hey, Tobias." Dr. Shaw greets me after entering through the door.
"Hey, doc." I say, my voice hoarse.
He does the usual check up on Tris, writing stuff down onto his file after looking at her monitor. It's the same thing everyday, and even I could do her check ups now. He talks to me about random things, but I barely pay any attention. I'm tired of this hospital, tired of the nurses, the doctors, and everything else.
I don't register him leaving, but soon I'm alone with my wife in the room. I study her face for the millionth time, just looking at her sleeping form. I have every inch of her memorised, I know where each freckle is on her face, the way her eyelashes rest against her cheeks, the perfect cupid's bow of her lips. If only I could look into her eyes, those mesmerising orbs that remind me of stormy nights. I sit there in silence, having said all the words I could in the past several weeks.
My fingers are tracing the ring on her left hand when I notice the beeping of the machine has started becoming quicker. I snap my head towards the screen and see that her heartbeat has picked up. Then I look at Tris, seeing that her eyebrows are scrunched up together into a slight frown, and her hand squeezes mine. A smile immediately lights up my face, realising that she's finally waking up.
"Doctor!" I call out loudly. Luckily, he's nearby and walks in quickly.
"Is she waking up?" He questions and begins to move around the wires strapped to her arm. The heartbeat is even more louder now, beeping rapidly. He makes a few more adjustments, checking her pulse and her breathing. My eyes stay glued to her face, and I can see her start to stir. And then, I'm finally granted the moment I've been praying for.
Tris's eyes slowly peel open, and she blinks against the light coming in through the window. A nurse draws the curtain while the doctor tries to talk to her. I just hold her hand tightly and stare at those beautiful eyes.
"Tris? I'm Dr. Daniel Shaw, neurologist. You were in an accident almost two months ago. And it made you fall into a coma. How are you feeling? Do you want to try and sit up?" He asks her.
Tris doesn't respond, instead she just coughs. She hasn't used her voice in a long time, I'm sure she's thirsty. "Get her some water." Dr. Shaw asks a nurse, who hurries outside to get it.
He continues checking up on her, slowly pushing up her bed into a sitting position. Tris glances at him before her gaze turns to me, and there's confusion on her face as she looks at me. She tries to take her hand out of mine, but she's still weak. The nurse comes back in and helps my wife drink water from a cup.
"Tris, how are you feeling?" I ask her.
"I don't know. My whole body hurts." She whispers slowly.
"That's normal after waking from a coma. Anything specific that hurts more than usual?" The doctor asks.
"Uh, my leg, and my head. It hurts to even talk." She replies.
"Okay, let me get you something for your head." He begins looking through his case for a tablet.
"You didn't introduce yourself." Tris says, looking at me, and then at my hand gripping hers.
"Huh?" What does she mean?
"Do you work here?" She asks, and my breathing drops.
"Tris, I'm your husband." I say clearly, leaving no doubt. Maybe her mind is not working yet, she did go through a big thing.
"What? But I'm not married." She tries to take her hand back. "Let go of me! Where are my parents? Where's Caleb? Is he okay? He was driving the car, wasn't he?"
"Tris, what are you talking about? You are married, you are married to me. I'm your husband Tobias. We have been married for almost two years, baby." I try to touch her face, but she jerks back, and my whole heart sinks.
"I, I don't know you. You're lying! Let me go! Let me-" Her body starts shaking and her eyes roll back into her head. The monitor starts beeping like crazy, sounding off alarms loudly.
"Move back!" The doctor pushes me away and yells at the nurse to bring him things.
"Please wait outside while we operate on the patient, sir." A nurse pushes me out, shutting the door behind her.
I stand there frozen, my body numb. What just happened? Why didn't Tris recognise me? Why was her heart beating so fast? Is she going to be okay? Was that just a side effect of waking from the coma? Will she be back to normal again after they treat her? A million questions race through my head as I wait for her.
I'm not sure how long after, but Natalie and Andrew come running into the waiting area. They see me standing outside the door, and begin asking me what's going on with Tris. I somehow manage to find words to speak and tell them about the situation.
"What do you mean she didn't recognise you? How could she forget you of all people?" Andrew asks.
"Hopefully she was just in shock. They'll get her out of it, I'm sure." Natalie says.
We wait for a few more minutes before the door opens. Snapping to action, all my focus is on the doctor.
"It appears that the patient has been affected with retrograde amnesia. She doesn't remember the last few years of her life. When I tried to explain it to her, her condition got very severe. It could cause another collapse, it's a very risky situation. From what I've gathered, she seems to remember a previous accident she was in with her brother. And there's no memory after that. I suggest we let her be this way for now. It's a delicate situation." He says.
My surroundings begin spinning, and I feel like I'm drowning and being lit by fire all at the same time. I must be in a nightmare. A truly terrifying nightmare. Or they must all be playing a joke on me. Yeah, that must be it. Surely my Tris hasn't forgotten me. She must be pranking me. She got me good.
"Tobias?" Someone shakes my shoulders, bringing me back to reality.
"Son, are you okay?" Andrew asks me.
"I can't even imagine what you must be going through right now." Natalie takes my hands, which I didn't realise were shaking. "Sit here." She leads me to a chair, pushing me to sit.
The tears start flowing immediately, my numbness going away. I can't believe that this is happening to me. First, I almost lose my wife in an accident. Then I wait for weeks for her to wake up. And when she does, she doesn't remember who I am. This all feels like a sick twisted game.
"I'm so sorry, Tobias. Nobody thought that something like this would happen. God, how I wish we could do something." Natalie says, squeezing my shoulder.
"Mr. and Mrs. Prior, she just woke up again. She's asking for you." The doctor says, and I look up at him through all the tears.
"Tobias, son, we'll go talk to her, okay? Make her understand everything. I'm sure she's gonna remember everything in an instant. She could never forget you." Andrew says before being interrupted by Dr. Shaw.
"Please, Mr. Prior. I insist you don't make Tris remember anything. She's in a critical condition, and even a slight shock to her brain could be fatal right now. Everyone needs to remember that."
"Do whatever he says, please. I don't want to lose her." I whisper.
"Of course. We all want her to be okay, Tobias." Natalie says before checking on me again and walking in the room. They leave the door open so I'm able to hear their conversation.
"Beatrice! Sweetheart! How are you?" Her mother asks her.
"Mom! Dad!" I hear my wife speak. "Right now I'm very confused. But I'm glad to see you both. Is Caleb okay?"
"Yes, dear. He is resting. But you don't need to worry about him. Focus on yourself and your recovery right now." Natalie says.
"I woke up a while ago, too, right? I don't remember anything." Tris says, yawning.
"It's just the medicines messing with your head, sweetie. Why don't you rest for some time? Dad and I are right here."
"Okay." She whispers, sleep thick in her voice.
My in-laws walk out of the room slowly, their faces showing the disappointment I already feel.
"She didn't ask for you. She really lost her memories." Natalie whispers, sitting beside me.
"What do I do now? What is the purpose of my life now? How do I get my wife back?" I cry, my heart aching in my chest. They are both quiet for a moment before Natalie speaks up.
"Make her relive it again, Tobias. Go back to where you started. Let her fall in love with you again."
"But what if she doesn't want me anymore?"
"Trust me, I know her. She loves only you, whether she remembers it or not. And maybe she'll remember everything along the way. That's the only hope we have."
"Okay." I murmur. "I'll do whatever it takes. I won't give up on her."
A/N: How are you guys liking Tobias's view of things? Hope you enjoyed this one!