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“Hello.” An older woman walked into the room. “Dr. Charlotte Roman?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Dr. Lydia Bancroft. Dr. Finn told you I was stopping by, yeah?”
“Yes, Dr. Bancroft. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too. And you are?” She glanced at Conner.
“Dr. Conner Kind. I’m Charlotte’s fiancé.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Kind. I want to take some time to get to know Charlotte and talk with her for a bit. Do you mind?”
“No. Not at all. I’ll go wait in the hallway.”
“Actually, you don’t have to stay. I’ll probably try to get some sleep after we’re finished. So, maybe you should just go home for the night.”
“Yeah, Charlotte. You’re right. I’ll see you in the morning.” He leaned over and pressed his lips against my forehead, and I flinched.
He had never done that before, and my heart started racing. He probably thought he was safe because Dr. Bancroft was here.
“I saw you flinch when he kissed your forehead,” Dr. Bancroft said.
“I don’t want him touching me, and he knows it.”
“I get that.” Her lips formed a sympathetic smile.
“Dr. Bancroft, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t need to see you.”
“Well, you do need to hear me out. I’m a board-certified psychologist specializing in amnesia caused by trauma. I’ve been where you are, Charlotte.”
“What do you mean?” My brows furrowed.
“I was in a very bad car accident when I was twenty-six years old. My husband and I were on our way home from a birthday party one night when a semi-truck ran through the red light as we were under it. The truck hit my side. My husband suffered a broken arm, some internal bleeding, and a concussion. I suffered severe abdominal trauma, head trauma, a broken arm, a broken leg, and a few broken ribs. It was a miracle that I even survived. I was in a coma for five months, and when I woke up, I knew who I was and who my mom and dad were, but I had no idea who my husband was. So, I know every emotion you’re feeling right now. I had only lost five years of my life. I spoke with your neurosurgeon, Dr. Kind, who told me you’re being sent home tomorrow. How does that make you feel?”
“Scared. I guess Conner and I live together, so I’m going to his house.”
“It’s your home too.”
“No, Dr. Bancroft, it isn’t. I live in a small apartment in L.A.”
“You used to live in that apartment in L.A. ten years ago. Today, ten years later, you live in a home with your fiancé. That’s your reality, Charlotte. You can try to fight it all you want, but it won’t change anything. I remember when my husband told me he couldn’t wait to take me home. I was terrified. I didn’t know that man from Adam, and I just wanted to go home to my parent’s house because that’s the last place I remembered living. What I didn’t know was that my parents had moved to Arizona a year before I got married. So, trust me when I tell you that I know exactly how you’re feeling.”
“Did you ever get your memories back?” I asked her.
“No. I didn’t. But you know what the best thing I ever did was?”
“What?” I asked.
“Trusting myself enough to trust the people who knew me. That’s enough for today.” She reached into her purse and handed me her business card. Turning it over, I took note of the dates that were written down.
“Those are your scheduled therapy dates at my office. Call me if you feel like something is wrong or can’t handle something when you leave here. But remember, Charlotte, you’re a very intelligent woman and a clinical psychologist. I know you haven’t forgotten what you’ve learned, even though you don’t remember learning it. Use the information you would give your patients for yourself.”
After Dr. Bancroft left, Conner walked in.
“Sorry, I left my phone in here. I didn’t want to interrupt you and Dr. Bancroft.” He grabbed it from the small counter by the sink. “I love you, Charlotte.”
“Don’t, Conner.” I looked away from him.
