"oh, she's awake."
Diana who had seen her open her eyes, said and others turned to the bed.
"Tiana, how are you? Are you feeling okay? Do you see us? Are you hungry?..."
The women asked a thousand questions all at once, and Nicklaus pinched his brows,
"She can't answer you, she can't speak yet. Stop making noise."
He said, and grandma glared at him and turned back to Tiana.
Taking her hand, she said,
"We've missed you so much. Thank God you're finally awake."
Tiana smiled. It seems she's been sick for a long while. Everyone is smiling and happy. They seemed like family.
"Oh my baby is smiling."
Grandma beamed as she kissed her cheeks.
When they left. He walked to the bed and raised it up, so she would be sitting. Tiana stared at him intently, he looked really familiar but she couldn't remember.
Was he her boyfriend?
Everyone had left but he had been by her side since morning. It was obvious he was closer to her than the rest.
As Nicklaus raised the bed, Tiana took a moment to admire his features.
He looked good. Very good. She smiled.
Nicklaus looked at her and their eyes locked in each other's and she quickly looked away.
Nicklaus smiled and sat beside her on the bed. Raising his hand, he pushed some strands of hair behind her ear.
"I've missed you so much."
He said. Tiana blinked.
Tiana tried to speak but her lips just moved, no words could come out.
In the end she just smiled at him.
Nicklaus hugged her hand kissed her cheeks.
"You know it really hurt me that you didn't remember me. But that's okay, I'm more than happy that you're awake."
He said.
Now she was sure. They were in a relationship.
But why couldn't she remember?
Wait, how long has she been asleep?
Tiana closed her eyes as she tried to think. The last thing she could remember was… was…
She couldn't even remember anything.
Wait… she frowned.
Her parents were dead. And those were not her family…
Gwen…
Her sister, she had a sister.
Where was she?
Nicklaus stopped hugging her and she stared at him strangely.
Why was he not bringing her sister to see her. From what she could see, those people that came earlier were his family. So what about her sister?
Tiana asked herself a thousand questions, but she couldn't ask him. Her head hurt from thinking too much so she quietly closed her eyes.
…
Yes, and she had a friend.
Claire.
Just as she thought about her. There was a knock on the door and Claire walked in with Leo.
Leo was carrying a baby and Claire was with smiles on her chin.
"My baby is awake." She beamed excitedly as she walked to where Tiana lay on the bed and hugged her.
Tiana hugged her too. She was the first person she had remembered fully. But what she didn't know was that she was married, and with a baby.
"Where is Nicklaus?"
Claire asked.
Oh… his name is Nicklaus.
"She cannot speak yet."
Nicklaus said, walking into the room. A smile on his face.
Claire turned to look at him and smiled.
"Okay…"
She said, but was cut short by Tiana's words.
"Cla…ire…"
Tiana stuttered. Her face with smiles.
Claire turned to her, in surprise.
"wow! I thought you couldn't speak? How are you? I've missed you so much!"
Nicklaus was surprised, but happy that she could finally talk.
Tiana smiled. Her eyes turning to Leo and the baby in his arms.
"Who are they?"
She asked, her eyes turning to Leo and the baby.
"Oh… Claire paused. And she glanced at Nicklaus,
Did she not recognize Leo?
"This is Leo, we got married, since I was having a baby, can't you remember him?"
Claire asked looking very worried.
Tiana smiled.
"Leo, I remember now."
"But… you already had a baby, I thought you were just a week pregnant?... Wait… how long have I been asleep?"
Tiana asked, with her eyes wide open.
The room became quiet. Claire turned to look at Nicklaus, it seems he hadn't told her yet.
She smiled,
"I'll leave that for your husband to tell you, for now, I just want to hug you."
Claire said, hugging her again.
"Husband? I'm married?"
Claire instantly sat up and looked at Nicklaus, and then at Tiana.
"Wait… you can't remember him?"
She asked, pointing at Nicklaus with shock written on her face.
Tiana looked at him, there was pain written in his eyes, she didn't know what to say.
"Um… It feels like I know him but I didn't think I was married already."
"How long have I been asleep?"
She asked again, this time turning to look at Nicklaus.
"A year and a few days."
Tiana's eyes widened in utmost shock.
"What?!"
…
The next minute, Nicklaus and the couple were standing outside.
"I can't believe you didn't tell her."
Claire spoke through her teeth.
"This is the first time I'm hearing her speak since she woke up, how did you expect me to tell such to someone who isn't talking."
Nicklaus said,
"And she can't remember you. God, you are the first person I expected her to remember."
Nicklaus sighed,
"The doctors say she's slowly regaining her memory, so there's no need rushing things, she'll be fine soon.
"I hope so, we'll come see her tomorrow, for now, you both need to talk."
Claire said, patting his shoulder.
"Leo, let's go."
She said and walked out with Leo.
When they were far gone, Nicklaus opened the door and walked in.
Tiana was sitting staring blankly, as though she was trying to comprehend what she just heard. Her eyes turned to Nicklaus.
Things weren't connecting properly in her head, and she had tried to fix him in her memory but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't remember.
How could she not remember her husband?
Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared at him.