Recalling The Memories

“Commander! Come in, commander!! Do you copy?”

“What is your location?

“Mayday mayday!! This is commander Sean, can anyone hear me, all systems are shutting down, I’ve lost control. I think we are going to crash. Commander?!”

36.7783 ̊ N, 119.4179 ̊ W

This was the crash site where Jane’s body was lying helplessly, burnt beyond recognition. She had multiple bruises and it was a miracle she had survived the crash, so the doctors said. She had been on a series of treatments for the past six months. The first was when they had tried to save her from dying due to the several injuries she had sustained. Then came the face and body surgeries and the rest that came with it. One would have thought all would be well as Jane happened to be a survivor, but she was diagnosed with amnesia, although it was only temporary for now.

“I’m glad you could make it in short notice. You hardly visited.”

“Well, I’ve had a lot on my plate for the last three months but my sister’s been keeping an eye on her.”

“Sarah, is it?”

“Yes, Sarah Sean. So what’s up?”

“Well, your wife was recently diagnosed with amnesia.”

“Do you mean amnesia, like memory loss?”

“Yes, that kind of thing and we will like to discharge her next month if that is ok with you?”

“Sure, just do what you must.”

“You should go see her.”

Michael entered the room which had been the only thing Jane had known for the past few months only to find her gazing into the abyss or so he thought.

“She’s been like that all morning,” Sarah said.

“Is it true, you know, what the doctors diagnosed her with?”

“Yes, she doesn’t recognize me.”

“Hmm.”

“Hey sweetheart,” he said as he moved towards Jane’s bed.

Was she deaf or something, he thought to himself as she didn’t give him an answer. He smiled at her but it was futile. Then he got an idea, he began singing their song together ‘a whole new world’ from Aladdin. That sure got her attention because she sat knee up and listened to the man’s beautiful voice.

She had noticed when he talked to the other woman, they seemed to be acquainted. She had pretended not to notice; it was the only way she could protect herself from them. She could not remember anything, she had only one question, who am I?

Jane Sean was a pilot, a commander in the U.S air force. She got married to Michael Sean when she was 23 and they had no kids. She loved to bake when she had free time on her hands but when she didn’t she was knee-deep in her job. She was test running the new aircraft Engineer Jones had built when it crashed. Something had pushed her to volunteer for the test but what was it?

“That song, I know it from somewhere.”

“Don’t stress yourself thinking about it.”

“Do I know you or better still do you know me?”

“Yes, I do, I am Michael Sean, pleased to meet your acquaintance Jane Sean. I am your husband.”

Jane had met Michael at a weekend getaway hosted at Sean’s house. Sarah and Jane had been best friends since high school until she joined the force which made it almost impossible for them to hang out. Sarah had managed to get her away for the weekend and that was when hitting it off with Michael. He was always like a big brother to her but this time Michael had the sense to realize when a young girl is grown, woman. Things turned out pretty good and they got hitched with Sarah playing matchmaker and fairy godmother.

In a month’s time, the handsome man stood outside her hospital room. The pretty lady had helped her dress up and she informed her that she was going home. She wondered what the home she had shared with this man would be. When he entered the room she gave him her brightest smile and he returned it.

They arrived at a mansion, there was a long driveway from the gate to the house. A group of servants stood outside the entrance to the mansion, all dressed in the finest uniforms she had ever seen. They were beautiful flowers and sculptures everywhere and Jane began to wonder what life she had lived.

“Welcome, ma’am.” They all chorused. These people knew her but she had no memory of meeting them. She just gave them her brightest smile like she had come to practice more often.

“What do you think about your home?” Michael inquired of her.”

“GRAND!” She answered with her eyes popping out.

Michael laughed. “Too bad, you’ve always hated this place.”

“I did?”

“Never mind, let’s get you to rest.”

If Jane thought the outside of the mansion was grand, then she must have spoken out grand in all the languages she could recall. There were beautiful draperies and wallpapers, a large staircase, chandelier, the artworks, it was all magnificent.

As they went upstairs, she was shown in her own room. She wondered why she and Michael had different rooms. Her relationship with him was all she knew now and she wanted to be around him always. At least, her marriage to him offered her that much. When she entered her room, she had a headache which led to a flashback.

There was a couple fighting but she couldn’t see their faces or tell what was happening. It all happened fast. Michael had run straight to her room when she cried out. He cradled her like a baby and took her to the bed where she could rest.

The headaches are a symptom of amnesia and Jane had them seldom. They came on their own free will or whenever something in the house triggered her memory.

Michael had decided to throw a party in Jane’s favor in order to make her more comfortable and reacquainted with her friends and family. Big mansions required big celebrations and preparation. It took a whole week to get prepared.

On the day of the party, Sarah came early to help her prepare. Michael had bought an expensive blue sapphire necklace with matching earrings and asked her to wear them. Her hair was arranged in a ponytail while the earrings fell down reaching her nape. The necklace rested beautifully on her breastbone. She had red ruby woo lipstick on with lovely makeup on. She was wearing a beautiful strapless black gown with a high slit reaching her knees. This was all it took to get Michael to notice her and he did.

Talking about grand entrances, Cinderella would come to mind. This was no Cinderella, it was Jane Sean, the amnesia girl. As she stepped out, taking the steps, one at a time, all heads turned towards her direction. Michael was speechless, he had never seen Jane like this, beautiful and sexy, giddy like a young child, lighthearted and free-spirited.

She walked towards the second familiar face in the room asides Sarah’s, and instead of the normal bright smile, she gave him a light kiss on his lips. This was followed by a whoop whoop and light whistling from the people gathered. Michael was alarmed and surprised. Who was this woman the doctor claimed was his wife? The Jane he knew would never agree to have a party talk less of giving PDA. Sarah! His head rang. His little sister was a pain in the ass.

“You look beautiful, I am a lucky man.”

“Thank you, you look dashing, I think I am the lucky one.”

“If only you knew.” Michael thought.

That evening after meeting and greeting people she didn’t think she would remember even now, Jane retired to bed. It was 12 am when she woke up, panting heavily. Some of the memories came as nightmares. She couldn’t fit anything together. She decided then to visit her doctor.

Michael insisted Pedro drove her and she obliged. The hospital came into view in another 30minutes and she was in Dr. Amir’s office.

“Do you still have headaches?”

“Yes, occasionally.”

“Don’t worry the drugs will help.”

“I have been having memory flashes and they don’t quite fit, I am a bit confused.”

“Confusion is another symptom of amnesia. I suggest you write whatever memory comes to your mind, with time they will fit into place.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

That was a relief for Jane. At least she was in perfect condition asides the amnesia. The next days were unplanned for Jane but she knew whom she would like to be with now.

The life he had always begun for Michael. Every time he was back from work or a trip, there was Jane to greet him, embrace him, cook for him. It was like she had changed and in the deepest part of his heart, he wished she never remembered. It was wicked of him but he loved the new Jane and she would be hurt if she found out the truth.

He walked her to her room as was his custom and she invited him. They slept in each other’s arms and it was one of the most peaceful moments they had both had in a long time. The occasional pats on the bum began, the kisses and her moving to his room. She learned how to bake, well not much to learn because she knew how to do it, she just needed a reminder.

Michael bought her gifts, showered her with love that she thought she would melt away. They had vacations when Michael had the chance and she did knitting with Sarah whenever she visited. All was going well with Sean’s when the most bizarre thing happened. A maid called her aside and said to her;

“Ma’am, it’s high time you started asking questions.”

“What questions? Come back.” The maid just scurried away.

She began to feel uneasy. It’s true for the past 8months she had buried the questions she had initially in her heart because of the events that had been taking place. She decided that when Michael gets back, she would ask him some questions.

They had dinner, talked a little about his work, day, and then she popped up a question.

“Do I have a family somewhere?”

He seemed startled at first with the change of topics but he answered. “No, you do not.”

“Can you tell me something about myself, please?”

“Baby, I’m a bit tired, can we retire now? we’ll talk about it later, we have plenty of time.”

Jane was a bit heartbroken but she obeyed and they retired. She sufficed that Michael would tell her about herself when the time was right.

“Doctor, I think my wife is recalling her memories.”

“Well, that’s amazing.”

“The issue is I do not want her to remember.”

“What…?”

“I know it’s selfish of me but I like this new Jane.”

“But, you cannot deny her of her rights to know.”

“I know that but, anyway, how does one cure amnesia?”

“Well, basically through therapy, treating alcoholism, etc. but Jane’s case is different.”

“I see.”

Two months later, Jane was pregnant. Michael was surprised. He knew she didn’t want to have kids but that was in the past. He was happy, happy enough to throw another party, go on a vacation and buy her a house in one week. Michael didn’t doubt anymore that miracles could happen.

She was treated like an egg. All her needs were met. If she coughed, there was a call for a doctor. Each trimester she had was welcomed with a gift from Michael. He loved his wife and baby and he would do anything to keep them. But time was a thief.

Jane was tired of sitting around doing nothing, so she decided to do some cleaning. She cleaned her husband’s room and for the first time, she noticed the door. One could easily miss it because it had no knob. It was like those doors you have in old houses that you pushed and there was another room. She continued cleaning and then she saw something that caught her eyes- a shelf. She brought down a box from the shelf and she saw an air force uniform with the name tag- Com. Jane Sean. It was then it all came back.

“Commander! Come in, commander!! Do you copy?”

“What is your location?”

“Mayday mayday!! This is commander Sean, can anyone hear me, all systems are shutting down, I’ve lost control. I think we are going to crash. Commander?”

The crash, the morning before that, and even her life before now. The tears began to roll down.

Michael came back home but Jane wasn’t there to greet him. His instincts became sharp. He rushed to her room but she wasn’t there and then he dashed to his room and that was where he found her. She was sitting on the bed with her hands clutching her uniform. His heart sank because he knew the sham was over as she looked at him with that look he knew too well.

“When were you going to tell, never I guess?”

“Yes, look at what we have now Jane?”

“Do not call my name, monster!”

“Jane, please!” He reached out for her but she flinched

“Don’t touch me.” She said as she left. He knew better than to run after her.

March 22nd, was the day of the crash. Two months before that, Jane had walked into Michael sleeping with his secretary. It shattered her. It was the only reason she volunteered to do the test run even when it was not in her position to do so. she wanted to forget and she sorted the best place to go to – the sky.

Jane and Michael didn’t have the best marriage before now. They had been great friends but not great spouses. While one wanted a thing, the other wanted another. Michael wanted Kids but Jane didn’t. He loved throwing parties, she didn’t. it was one fight over the other. Sometimes it got violent. Michael was lonely even when she was around, and he was simply bored. One would have thought that they would be happy with each other. This was why when Jane changed, Michael didn’t want him to remember.

Michael never saw Jane again. Even when she delivered their son, he wasn’t aware. He could find her but he knew he had messed up and the best he could do was let her be alone. The one year he spent together with Jane made him realize that he still loved her, the love was always there, it only needed rekindling.

“You know men are always clueless.”

“Since when did you become a guru in men’s issues?”

“Since I had a clueless brother. Go after her.”

“But…”

“No buts, find out for yourself.”

He found her in a ranch not far off. While would she be so close by, he thought. She was beautiful as always but this time she was without the bump. That was how he knew- he was a father.

“Were you going to tell me?”

“No.”

“How is it?”

“He is fine.”

“So it’s a he?”

“What do you want?”

“Jane, I am sorry. I want you back.”

“You can’t.”

“Claudia was a mistake. I was lonely. You chose your job over me. You have changed. Always cold. You were no longer the Jane I had married. Claudia just happened to know my weak point and that was because we had quarreled.”

“I was about to come to apologize when I walked into the both of you. I was hurt.”

“I am sorry.”

“What happens now?”

“During the time you had amnesia, I saw the possibility of what we could have if only we tried. Be with Jane, forever.”

“Then you had better come to meet your son.”

Do miracles happen? Sometimes what we feel is a bad occurrence is only a path unto the light. Jane was blessed with a new memory of her life with her husband, a chance to start again by recalling the good memories and forgetting the bad ones.

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