SELENE

I didn't realize how unprepared I was until Sebastian asked a question I couldn't outrun.

What could it have meant to him?

The question circled endlessly in my mind, refusing to settle. I wished desperately that I could ask Sebastian directly, but the man I could have questioned no longer existed. This version of him carried no memories of our past, only fragments that didn't belong to us and silences where answers should have been.

From the day we married to the day of his accident, he had made me believe he hated me. Hated my presence, my voice, even the air I shared with him. He recoiled from everything that had my name attached to it. Or so I had thought.

Now, knowing the date he had chosen for his phone password, I felt torn in two.

Had I been wrong all along?

Or was I simply clinging to meaning where there was none, desperate to rewrite a story that had already broken me?

Stop overthinking, Selene, my mind scolded quietly. It's just a phone password. Don't turn it into something it's not. Don't forget how he treated you before.

I nodded to myself, as if the reminder had been spoken aloud. I needed it. More than I cared to admit.

Sliding the door open, I stepped back into his ward, phone in hand. The room was empty.

"Where on earth did this man go?" I muttered. "Is he even allowed to be wandering around?"

With a tired sigh, I turned and headed back into the hallway, setting off in search of my husband who apparently couldn't keep himself in one place for more than five minutes.

I made my way to the hospital balcony, where Sebastian sat on a bench near the railing.

I let out a breath and started toward him, relief loosening my steps.

Then I stopped.

He wasn't alone.

A young girl in a wheelchair stared at the Rubik's cube in his hands, her eyes wide with wonders.

"Whoa! How did you do that?" She exclaimed, pointing at the cube just as his fingers moved with precised speed. In seconds, the colors aligned perfectly.

"This is very easy." Sebastian said lightly, smiling at her amazement.

I folded my arms, watching from a short distance.

"You're like a pro." The girl said in awe, then sighed dramatically. "This is so unfair. I can't believe you beat me."

Sebastian laughed softly. "I won fair."

"It's not fair." She whined, snatching the cube from him. "You're an adult and I'm still a kid. When I grow older like you, I'll be a pro too."

"Yeah," he replied, smiling at her, "but you'll never beat me."

She scrunched up her nose at him, and I felt a smile tug at my lips.

I had never seen Sebastian like this, so relaxed, so gentle. I had never seen him with children, never seen this easy, playful side of him.

"Anyway," the little girl asked, tilting her head curiously, "why are you here? Are you sick like me?"

Sebastian touched his head lightly and nodded. "I was in an accident. It... affected my head."

The girl frowned, squinting at him. "How?"

"I don't remember anyone," he admitted, his voice quiet, "except one person."

I froze, hidden behind a railing, listening.

Her eyes went wide. "You don't remember your family or friends?"

He shook his head.

"Then... who's the person you do remember?" She pressed.

Sebastian paused for a moment, and then a small, soft smile curved his lips. "My wife."

The girl let out a delighted laugh. "Wow. That's... interesting. So, how does it feel.. not having a single memory of the past?"

He exhaled slowly, looking out over the balcony for a moment. "I.. don't really know. I guess I'm supposed to be okay." He went silent, and the girl just waited patiently, as if she understood that some answers took time.

"I'm still figuring things out." He added finally, his smile faint but genuine.

The girl nodded sagely. "You're smart. I'm sure you'll figure it out."

He chuckled lightly, his eyes meeting hers. "You have an eye for good character."

I smiled, biting my lower lip.

"But..." The girl said, glancing past Sebastian in my direction. I turned to see who she was looking at, then I realized it was me.

"There's a lady who has been staring at you." She said, pointing, and Sebastian's head whipped toward me.

Too late to hide, I gave a small, awkward wave. "I was wondering where you went." I said, stepping closer.

"That's my wife." He told her.

The girl studied me for a moment. "She's beautiful."

"I know, right?" He said with a grin, his gaze softening as it met mine.

Lord. This was... so much.

Much to my relief, a nurse approached.

"Your break time is over, Stella." She said.

The girl sighed. "It was nice talking to you."

They high-fived before the nurse led her away, and Sebastian let out a small, wistful sigh.

"She's so cute." He murmured.

"I know, right." I replied, and the corner of his lips curved into a smile.

His gaze drifted to the children playing nearby. "The air feels nice out here." He murmured, exhaling slowly. Then he turned toward me, tapping the space beside him. "Come sit."

I hesitated, my fingers nervously tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. Being this close to him still felt strange.

When I glanced at him, he was already watching me, smiling. He seemed to smile so often now, it made my heart flutter.

"There's something I'm curious about." He began.

"What... is it?" I asked, leaning slightly forward.

"Vincent told me we've been married for three years." He said, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was stalling, drawing this out on purpose.

"Yeah?" I prompted, my heartbeat picking up.

He looked ahead, quiet for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts.

I caught his side profile bathed in sunlight. It was unreal and I couldn't look away.

But the pause stretched, making me more nervous by the second.

Then he turned back to me, tilting his head slightly. "How come we don't have any kids? Does that make any sense?"

Right. It made no sense, just like his question.

SELENE

There are questions you prepare for, and then there are the ones that steal your breath.

"Is that what you're curious about?" I asked, forcing my voice to remain light.

"Yes." Sebastian nodded, his eyes never leaving my face, waiting patiently, expectantly for an answer.

He wasn't joking. That much was clear. The seriousness in his gaze made my chest tighten.

"Well..." I began, choosing my words carefully. "We both agreed not to rush things. Raising children isn't something you decide on in a day." It was the most believable excuse I could summon.

He fell silent, turning the thought over in his mind. Each second stretched, my nerves coiling tighter. I watched his face, searching for any sign that he didn't believe me.

Then he nodded. "That makes sense."

Only then did I realize I'd been holding my breath. I let it out slowly.

"Still," he added, a faint smile touching his lips, "it would be nice to have children around."

I squinted at him. I'd never imagined Sebastian as someone who liked children. Apparently, there were many things about him I'd never known, or never been allowed to see.

"Should we head back to your room?" I asked quickly, steering the conversation away before it could dig any deeper.

"Already sending me to bed?" He teased, pushing himself up from the bench as he glanced at me. "You're surprisingly bossy for someone who looks this gentle."

My eyes widened. "When have I ever been bossy?"

He arched a brow. "Saying we should head back to my room right after I bring up kids sounds a lot like you shutting down the conversation."

I snorted. "I offered it as a suggestion, not a command."

"And you also stole my phone," he added lightly, folding his arms. "While blaming it on the doctor."

"That- that was..." I faltered, scrambling for an excuse that refused to come.

He smiled, clearly amused. "Exactly. No excuse."

I looked away, my lips twitching despite myself. "Let's just go back to your room."

He chuckled, nodding easily. "Okay. Lead the way."

Then, softer, almost absentmindedly, he went on. "I feel better when you're around anyway."

The words struck straight through my chest. Not because of what he said, but because of how he said it. Like it had always been true. Like I had always been his comfort.

I stood and started forward, but before I could take a step, his hand closed around mine.

I stiffened, then looked up at him.

"So you don't disappear again." He murmured, threading his fingers through mine.

I'd lost count of how many times my heart had fluttered today. At this rate, I might develop a heart condition just trying to keep up with it.

Was it wrong to admit that I loved the feel of his hand in mine? The way his thumb brushed softly over my skin. Was this what I had been missing all along?

Maybe... just maybe... I owed amnesia a quiet thank-you for this moment.

Just before we reached the next block leading to his ward, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I paused, fished it out, and sighed when I saw the caller ID.

Ashley.

I answered while Sebastian watched me with quiet curiosity.

"Give me a second, we're almost there." I murmured into the phone, then ended the call.

"My assistant is here." I explained when his gaze lingered on me.

We turned the corner and found Ashley standing outside his ward, two takeaway boxes balanced carefully in her hands. She brightened the moment she spotted us.

"Hope I didn't keep you waiting?" I asked, gently slipping my hand free from Sebastian's as I walked toward her.

"No, I just arrived." She assured me, her eyes flicking briefly to him before returning to me.

I glanced back at Sebastian. "Can you wait inside for me?"

He nodded and stepped into the ward without question.

The moment he was gone, Ashley studied my face. "Are you okay?" She asked softly, passing the boxes to me.

I accepted them with a quiet sigh. "I don't know."

Ashley had been my classmate before she became my assistant, my constant, my safe place. She knew the history of my life, the parts I rarely let anyone see. But she didn't know about the divorce I had been planning. She didn't know about the amnesia either.

"You two look... close." She observed carefully, exactly as I'd expected.

I offered a small, guarded smile. "A lot happened."

She looped her arm through mine. "You'll tell me everything."

"I will." I promised gently. "Just not now."

She pressed her lips together, resigned. "Alright. Later." Then she exhaled. "Work's been hectic without you."

"I heard you've been doing great holding things together." I told her.

Her brow lifted. "Who told you that? They lied."

I laughed despite myself.

"Well," she said, stepping back, "take care of yourself."

"You too." I replied.

She waved as she walked away, and I watched her go, grateful for her presence, and dreading the explanations that would come later.

With the takeaway boxes clutched in my hands, I made my way back to Sebastian's ward. He was standing by the window when I stepped in, his attention fixed on the view outside, as though he was lost in thought.

He turned the moment he sensed me. "Are you done talking to your assistant?"

"Yeah." I murmured, setting the boxes down on the small table. "You must be hungry."

"Not really." His reply was flat, almost distracted. Then his gaze flicked to me. "Are you hungry?"

"Well..." I scratched the back of my neck, suddenly unsure of myself. "I haven't really eaten anything today."

"Then you should eat." He finally left the window and crossed the room. "I'll just take a bite." He added lightly, lowering himself onto the couch.

I let out a small laugh and sat beside him, lifting the lids off the takeaway boxes.

Inside the takeaway boxes were portions of pasta coated in a rich tomato sauce, slices of grilled chicken resting neatly on top. The warmth seeped through the containers, carrying a comforting aroma that made my stomach twist.

"Do you prefer pasta with cream sauce or tomato sauce?" I asked. We'd never really eaten together before, never shared something as simple as a meal, so I had no idea what he liked or didn't.

"I think I prefer tomato sauce."

I let out a small sigh of relief. "Me too."

I handed him a fork from the box, and we began eating in a quiet, companionable silence.

"This is really tasty." He said, taking another bite. Then another.

I'd thought he said he would only have a bite. Not that I minded, but the thought made a laugh slip out before I could stop it.

He turned toward me, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Why are you laughing?"

"You said you'd just take a bite." I murmured, keeping my eyes on my food. "You've taken more than six."

He snorted, wrinkling his nose at me. "It's not my fault the food tastes good." He dropped his fork and straightened slightly.

"Oh-no, I didn't mean for you to stop." I said quickly, panic fluttering in my chest. "You can keep eating."

But his attention had already shifted.

"I'm more curious about why you're barely eating." He said, his gaze steady on me.

I tightened my grip on the fork, as though it might anchor me. There was something about the way those honey-colored eyes looked at me that made my breath catch.

"I..." I swallowed. "I don't really have the appetite."

"But you said you were hungry."

"I know." I said softly, feeling a knot of nerves in my chest. How could I explain that sitting this close to him, sharing a meal like this, made my heart race and my stomach flutter all at once? "I'm hungry, but I don't have the appetite to eat. Does that make sense?"

A smoky glint passed through his eyes, sending warmth rushing to my cheeks.

"No." He said simply.

Yet he didn't look away.

I let out a breathless laugh, the hairs at the back of my neck prickling. "I figured it wouldn't."

Then he spoke again, his voice low and unexpected.

"Would you have an appetite if I feed you?"

I didn't remember my life, but my body remembered her.

SEBASTIAN

The first thing I noticed after waking up was how often my gaze drifted to her.

Not because I was meant to, but because something inside me did it on its own, instinctive, like muscle memory without the memory.

I would be lying if I said it didn't feel strange that she was the only person I could remember. Stranger still was how, even as I struggled to make sense of everything else, I kept being drawn back to her. Part of me whispered that something about this wasn't right, yet another part insisted it was. Both feelings existed at once, tangled and impossible to separate.

Did that even make sense?

I noticed the little things, the way she grew quiet whenever I was near, how her shoulders tensed like she was bracing herself, how her breath hitched when our hands almost touched. And when I asked if I could feed her, the way she froze told me everything I needed to know.

Not about the food.

But about us.

Because what kind of wife tensed like that around her own husband?

She let out a breathless laugh and looked away, her cheeks warming.

I nodded, a faint smile tugging at my lips. Even though a part of me sensed there was more she wasn't saying, I still found myself enjoying this, teasing her, watching the way she reacted so honestly, so unguarded. It amused me more than it probably should have.

"No response," I murmured, leaning closer, "means I'm feeding you."

"You... you don't have to." She protested weakly, waving her hand as if that would stop me.

"Too late."

I took the fork from her fingers, twirled a neat portion of pasta, and lifted it toward her. She hesitated, an awkward smile curving her lips as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Then, finally, she leaned in and accepted the bite.

"Good girl." I said lightly.

She laughed nervously, and I was already rolling another portion. "Open your mouth."

Still laughing, she obeyed, chewing slowly before lowering her gaze again, that shy smile creeping back onto her face.

I set the fork aside and reached for the bottle of Coke. Spotting a mug on the table, I poured a generous amount and brought it to her lips.

She looked up at me then-and I caught the way her eyes shimmered, tears threatening but unshed. She laughed again, as if to hide it, lifting her chin to take a sip.

"Wow..." The word slipped out before I could stop it as I watched her turn her face away, blinking too fast, trying and failing to hide the tears pooling in her eyes. "Did I seriously unlock tears with pasta?"

She laughed again, sniffing softly. "The pasta just tastes really good."

"Are you sure it's not because I'm feeding you?" I teased, watching the way her smile slowly returned. I had to admit, I liked seeing it there. A lot.

"I want the grilled chicken." She said, pointing at it.

"Alright." I speared a slice with the fork and held it up to her. "Here."

She leaned in and ate it eagerly, like she'd been waiting for permission.

I chuckled. "See? All it takes is a good-looking feeder like me to bring your appetite back."

She laughed, shaking her head. "You're being so full of yourself right now."

I grinned. "Just admit it."

She only smiled and kept eating.

"You know..." I tapped the fork lightly against the container, watching her instead of the food. "You have a very expressive face. I can practically read every emotion you're feeling."

She lifted a hand to her cheek, startled. "Really?"

Before she could think better of it, I reached out and gently pinched her cheek. "You're not doing a great job hiding them."

She laughed and leaned back into her seat, still smiling. The room grew quiet after that, the kind of silence that wasn't uncomfortable-just filled. I watched her as she absentmindedly rubbed her palms against her dress, fidgeting, stealing glances everywhere except at me.

Was she really that shy?

When our eyes finally met, she flinched slightly, as if she was still adjusting to the idea of me being this close.

"Why are you staring at me?" She asked with a nervous laugh.

I looked away, fixing my gaze on the bed, the pale wall beyond it. "I'm curious." I said after a moment. "About how we met. How we got married."

When I glanced back at her, the smile had already faded from her face. Her eyes dropped to her hands. I noticed then how often that happened. How the past seemed to dim her every time it came up.

I tapped my fingers against my thigh, waiting.

She opened her mouth, closed it. Tried again. No words came. Whatever she wanted to say, it weighed on her.

What was it that she found so hard to voice?

"Actually," she finally whispered. "I-"

"The past isn't important." I interrupted, the words leaving me faster than thought. A strange unease had settled in my chest and I knew that I wouldn't like whatever came next. "What matters is now. This moment. The memories we'll make from here on out."

Her head lifted.

And just like that, her face brightened like I'd handed her something she hadn't known she was hoping for.

***

We ate, and we talked, and somewhere along the way the hours slipped through my fingers without me noticing. I filled the room with silly jokes, half of them not even that funny, but she laughed anyway, adding murmured comments under her breath that made me want to say even more ridiculous things just to hear them again.

I was careful not to bring up the past, no matter how much it tugged at my curiosity. I'd seen how her mood shifted every time it surfaced. Tonight, I wanted her light like this-smiling, relaxed, here.

Before I knew it, night settled quietly outside the window.

I'd already taken a shower and was smoothing the bedsheet when the bathroom door opened. Selene stepped out, wearing the shirt I'd given her earlier. Vincent had brought some of my things in the afternoon, and it occurred to me then that she hadn't brought any of her own.

She tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling shyly.

The shirt swallowed her frame, the sleeves hanging a little too long, the hem brushing her thighs.

She looked... cute. Disarmingly so.

A smile curved on my lips before I could stop it.

"Looks good on you."

She smiled as she always did, brushing her hair back as she stood there, hesitating, as if unsure what her next move should be.

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching her more closely than I probably should have. She suddenly found the sleeves of my shirt fascinating, her fingers worrying at the fabric as she avoided my gaze. There was an awkwardness between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, it felt... gentle. Familiar in a way I couldn't explain.

My eyes drifted down her legs, stopping where the hem of my shirt rested against her thighs. I looked away quickly, shutting down the dangerous turn my thoughts were beginning to take.

"Are you planning to stand there all night?" I asked, lying back and pulling the blanket over myself.

"I..." She bit her lower lip, rubbing the back of her neck, clearly flustered.

"Turn off the light and come here."

She moved toward the switch, slowly, too slowly. Like she was buying time. I wondered what she was thinking, what made her hesitate this much around me.

The light went out, plunging the room into darkness. A moment later, I heard her careful footsteps approaching the bed. She climbed in at last, stiff and uncertain.

I lifted the blanket and draped it over her.

We lay facing each other, our faces only inches apart, the quiet between us charged and delicate. I smiled, unable to stop myself, savoring the closeness.

"You're quiet." I murmured, my gaze never leaving her face.

"That's because I'm trying to sleep." She replied softly, closing her eyes.

"Lucky you." I lowered my voice, letting the words linger. "I'm wide awake. Hard to sleep when your wife is this beautiful."

Her eyes fluttered open again, and she looked at me before smiling faintly. "You're such a tease."

"I'm not lying." A smirk curved my lips. "I might actually fall asleep if you do this." I gestured to my head, half-expecting her to laugh me off.

She did look at me like I was being ridiculous, and I was already about to admit I was joking when her hand reached out. Warm fingers slipped into my hair, caressing gently.

I stilled.

My heart began to pound so loudly I was sure she could hear it. At first, I had told myself to be careful, to watch her, not trust too easily. Something about our situation felt uncertain. That had been my resolve.

But with her hand in my hair, that resolve wavered.

In its place came something else. A need. To know her. To understand her. To hold her closer and never let go.

I wanted to learn what made her happy.

I wanted to be the reason she smiled.

I lifted my hand and covered hers, resting it against my head. I felt her tense, just slightly, but I didn't pull away. Instead, I shifted closer, closing the distance between us. Her breath brushed my face, and her eyes flickered briefly to my lips.

"Selene." I whispered.

She drew her gaze back to mine, her breath hitching as our eyes met.

"I might not remember our past." I said quietly, my thumb brushing over her knuckles as if the motion came from instinct alone. My eyes never left her face. "But I know this..."

I paused, steadying myself. "Right now, I want you here."

Her fingers trembled beneath mine.

"Let's start again." I continued, the words soft but certain. A faint smile curved my lips.

"You and me."