Chapter 138: No Wifey...

~~~~~ Third-person POV ~~~~~

The next morning, sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains and spread across the hospital room in soft golden lines.

The night had finally given way to morning.

The room looked different in the daylight. The pale walls no longer seemed as cold as they had during the night, and the faint glow from the machines beside Amelia’s bed was almost hidden by the sunlight. Outside the window, the distant sounds of the hospital had already begun. Nurses moved through the hallway, their footsteps occasionally passing outside the room, while the quiet wheels of a trolley rolled over the smooth floor.

Sylvia slowly opened her eyes. For a few seconds, she remained still, trying to remember where she was.

Then she turned her head, and the first person she saw was Amelia.

A small smile immediately appeared on her face.

Amelia was still asleep. Her face looked peaceful, unlike the worried expression she had worn yesterday. A few strands of her hair had fallen across her forehead, and her lips were slightly parted as she breathed softly.

Sylvia stared at her for a moment.

There was something comforting about waking up and finding Amelia still there.

Even though everything between them had changed overnight, seeing her alive and resting peacefully was enough to ease some of the worry that had been sitting heavily in Sylvia’s chest.

She slowly reached out. Her fingers gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from Amelia’s face.

She moved carefully, almost afraid that the smallest movement might wake her.

"Morning, sweetheart." A soft voice came from the sofa.

Sylvia’s hand stopped, and she slowly lifted her head.

Daniela was already awake, sitting on the sofa with her phone in one hand. Her hair was slightly messy from sleep, and she looked much more comfortable than someone who had spent the night in a hospital room had any right to look.

Her eyes remained on her phone as her thumb moved across the screen.

Sylvia smiled.

"Morning, Danny." She sat up a little straighter, rubbing the stiffness from her shoulder. "Hope you slept well?"

"Umm." Daniela finally looked up from her phone. A lazy smile appeared on her face. "I slept perfectly fine since my baby’s lap was too soft and comfortable."

Sylvia blinked. Before she could respond, a sleepy voice came from beside Daniela.

"Watch your mouth, or your future wifey will think I’m one of your flings."

Camila yawned as she stretched both arms above her head. Her eyes remained closed for a few seconds before she slowly opened them.

Daniela immediately laughed. She shook her head and looked at Camila. "No, wifey yet."

"Soon, alright?" Camila replied slowly. There was still sleepiness in her voice, but the teasing smile on her face was obvious.

Daniela rolled her eyes.

Sylvia couldn’t help smiling at them. Their little exchange felt strangely normal.

For a few seconds, the hospital room didn’t feel like a place where someone was recovering from an accident.

It felt like any other morning.

She glanced toward Amelia. The smile on her face slowly faded into something softer.

This morning wasn’t normal.

Not really.

Amelia was still lying in a hospital bed. She still couldn’t remember her. And Sylvia still didn’t know how long it would take before those memories returned.

Daniela noticed the change in Sylvia’s expression and lowered her phone. "Did she wake up at night?"

Sylvia nodded. "Yeah, she did."

Daniela looked toward Amelia. "How was she?"

"She’s pretty good." Sylvia looked at Amelia before turning back to Daniela. "More responsive."

Daniela nodded slowly. Relief appeared on her face. "That’s good."

Sylvia nodded. "It is."

She looked at Amelia again. Last night had been better than she expected.

Amelia had been confused, but she had spoken more. She had asked questions, and she even reached for her.

Those little things meant more to Sylvia than she could explain.

Daniela suddenly raised both hands slightly.

"Don’t blame me for not waking up. I was just exhausted."

Camila scoffed. "Why don’t you just say you’re a sleepaholic?"

Daniela’s expression immediately changed.

"Hey, Mila. Not this morning." She frowned at Camila.

Camila simply shrugged. "Fine."

Daniela gave her an annoyed look before looking back at her phone.

Sylvia smiled faintly. Even in a hospital room, those two somehow found a way to argue over the smallest things.

Camila eventually glanced at her phone.

Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the time.

She straightened.

"We will have to go to school and come back later in the evening, alright?"

Sylvia nodded quietly. "Okay, then. See you guys later."

She didn’t want them to leave. Not because she needed them there every second, but because having familiar faces around made the room feel less lonely. Still, she knew they had their own lives to return to.

Camila gave Sylvia a small nod. "Okay."

She reached down and picked up her bag.

The strap slid over her shoulder as she adjusted it.

Then she turned toward Daniela. Daniela was still sitting on the sofa. She looked completely comfortable, as though she had forgotten that they were supposed to be leaving.

Camila stared at her, and Daniela looked back at her.

Neither of them spoke for a few seconds. Then Camila sighed.

"I know you don’t want to go to school, but you can’t waste my precious time, okay?"

Daniela let out a deep breath. She looked at her phone one last time before slipping it into her bag.

"Fine."

She stood up slowly. The sofa shifted beneath her as she stretched her back. Her eyes moved toward Amelia. She smiled softly when she saw her still sleeping.

Daniela lowered her voice. "She looks peaceful."

Sylvia nodded. "Yeah."

She didn’t say anything else. There wasn’t really anything else to say.

The three of them knew that Amelia’s peaceful sleep was something they had all been hoping for.

Daniela walked toward the door with Camila. Before leaving, she turned around.

"See you later, sweetheart." She lifted her hand and waved.

Sylvia smiled. "See you later."

Daniela opened the door. Before she could step outside, Camila paused and looked back at Sylvia. Her playful expression disappeared.

For a moment, she simply looked at her.

There was something serious in her eyes.

"Stay strong for her, alright?"

Sylvia knew exactly what she meant.

Stay strong for Amelia.

Don’t break down. Don’t let fear take over.

And don’t lose hope just because Amelia couldn’t remember her.

Sylvia nodded. "I will."

Camila gave her a small smile and then stepped out. Daniela followed her, then the door slowly closed behind them.

Click.

Their footsteps faded down the hallway. The room became quiet again.

Sylvia remained standing for a few seconds.

She stared at the closed door.

She could still hear faint voices outside, mixed with the distant sounds of the hospital. A trolley rolled past, followed by the soft squeak of its wheels. Somewhere farther down the hallway, a nurse called out to someone. Then even those sounds faded.

Sylvia took a deep breath.

The silence suddenly felt different.

When Daniela and Camila were there, the room had been filled with conversation and teasing.

Now there was only her and Amelia. Just the two of them.

Sylvia slowly turned around. Her eyes immediately fell on Amelia.

She was still asleep.

Sunlight touched one side of her face, making her skin look warm against the white pillow.

She didn’t want to wake Amelia. She simply watched her.

There were dark circles beneath Amelia’s eyes. They were faint, but Sylvia noticed them.

She wondered if Amelia had really rested well. She wondered if she had been uncomfortable during the night.

She wondered if she had dreamed well.

The thought made Sylvia’s expression tighten.

She reached out and gently touched Amelia’s hand. Her fingers rested lightly against hers.

Sylvia lowered her gaze.

"I hope you slept well," she whispered.

Amelia didn’t respond, and Sylvia smiled faintly.

Of course she didn’t.

She was still asleep.

Sylvia’s thumb slowly brushed across the back of Amelia’s hand.

She had spent so much time worrying about whether Amelia would remember her that she hadn’t allowed herself to think about what it would be like if she never did.

The possibility frightened her.

What if Amelia woke up one day and still looked at her like a stranger?

What if weeks passed?

What if months passed?

What if the memories never came back?

Sylvia swallowed. She didn’t want to think about it.

She looked at Amelia’s sleeping face again.

Maybe memories weren’t the only thing that mattered.

Maybe there were feelings too.

Feelings that the mind could forget temporarily but the heart could still recognize.

Sylvia didn’t know if that was possible, but she only knew what she had experienced.

Amelia couldn’t remember her, and yet she still reached for her. She still wanted her close.

Sylvia smiled sadly.

"You really are stubborn," she whispered.

She gently brushed another strand of hair away from Amelia’s forehead.

Amelia moved slightly in her sleep. Sylvia immediately stopped.

Amelia’s eyebrows moved for a moment before relaxing again. She didn’t wake up.

Sylvia released the breath she had been holding and leaned back in the chair.

The morning sunlight continued moving slowly across the floor.

Time seemed to pass quietly.

Sylvia didn’t mind. She could sit there all day if she had to.

She could wait.

She had already promised Amelia that she would.

Her eyes moved toward their joined hands.

Sylvia gently squeezed Amelia’s fingers.

"I meant what I said yesterday," she whispered. Her voice was barely audible.

"If you remember tomorrow, I’ll be here."

She paused. "If you remember next month, I’ll still be here."

Her eyes became slightly wet. "And if it takes longer than that..."

She stopped.

She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to because she already knew what she would do.

She would stay.

She would introduce herself again. As many times as Amelia needed.

Sylvia looked at Amelia’s face.

"You don’t have to remember everything at once." Her thumb moved gently across Amelia’s knuckles. "Just get better first."

She leaned closer and rested her forehead lightly against the back of Amelia’s hand. Her eyes closed.

A few minutes passed. Then Amelia’s fingers moved slightly beneath Sylvia’s hand.

Sylvia lifted her head and stared at Amelia.

Her eyelashes fluttered. Sylvia immediately straightened.

"Amelia?"

Amelia’s eyes slowly opened. She blinked against the morning light. For a moment, she seemed confused, and then her eyes settled on Sylvia.

Sylvia smiled gently. "Good morning, sweetheart."

Amelia stared at her quietly. There was no immediate question about who she was.

Sylvia’s heart began beating a little faster.

Amelia slowly moved her hand. Her fingers curled around Sylvia’s.

Sylvia looked down.

Amelia was holding her hand.

A small smile appeared on Sylvia’s face. She looked back at Amelia.

"Did you sleep well?"

Amelia’s eyes remained on her. Then she gave a small nod.

"Yeah." Her voice was still sleepy.

Sylvia smiled. "That’s good."

Amelia’s gaze moved around the room before she looked back at Sylvia.

"Where are Daniela and Camila?"

"They went to school."

Amelia frowned slightly. "They left?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"Just a few minutes ago."

Amelia nodded slowly. She looked down at their hands again. Something about the sight made her pause.

Sylvia noticed. "What is it?"

Amelia shook her head. "Nothing."

She looked at Sylvia again, and her fingers tightened slightly around Sylvia’s.

Sylvia noticed the movement but said nothing. She simply smiled.

"Are you hungry?"