Chapter 5 Unfortunately

"I will run some tests to be certain, but preliminarily, I believe she has partial memory loss," her tone was professional and distant, even though she was concerned on the inside. "It's common after a long period of unconsciousness, especially considering the high stress at the time of the accident and the head injury." She thought about adding "because of you," but refrained. Accusations like that wouldn't help her goddaughter.

She didn't sympathize with Rodrigo. Because of him, Sara had lost her self-esteem and started living to please her husband, even if it meant forgetting that she also needed to be pleased. She doubted her goddaughter knew what it was like to be truly loved.

"Common? How can losing your memory be considered common?"

"In some cases, memory returns in a few weeks, months..." Her professional voice faltered, causing Rodrigo to look at her questioningly.

He sensed there was more that Tatiana was avoiding telling him. The whole situation, formed upon learning that his wife had left his company at high speed, left him nervous, stressed, and, he couldn't deny it anymore, worried.

"If you have something to say, say it now," he ordered, the imperative tone of a man used to being obeyed.

Tatiana sat in her brown armchair and pointed to the chair in front of her, indicating that he should also sit down. Rodrigo did so, visibly irritated.

"I must prepare you for the fact that it might take years for her memory to return."

The information made Rodrigo freeze.

"She'll never remember anything?"

"Only part of her memory has been wiped, which increases the chances that she'll soon recall everything or most of what she's forgotten."

Something told him he wouldn't like the answer, but he still asked:

"How much did she forget?"

"The last ten years."

The response didn't please Rodrigo. Ten years ago, he and his brother Izaque had moved from São Paulo's capital to a small town in the interior of the state called Cezário. There, he met several people, including Sara, his wife.

"Ten years? She doesn't remember me?!"

"Nice conclusion, Montenegro," Tatiana thought, pleased to see his normally indifferent expression turn surprised, confused, and even a little scared.

"We need to have hope," she advised.

Rodrigo stood up angrily and slammed his clenched fist on Tatiana's desk.

"Hope? I've been having this damn hope for days. I'm tired of everyone telling me to have hope."

The hospital director also stood up angrily. She wasn't obliged to endure the attacks of that snob who thought he owned the world; she didn't even like him, so she didn't need to be polite.

"I understand your nervousness, but losing control won't help anything," she practically shouted. "Sara is going to need us, all of us, when she realizes what's happening. If we lose control, she'll be the one to suffer." She sat back down, took a deep breath, and regained her calm and professional tone, with a touch of coldness and cynicism. "I believe that you, more than anyone, wouldn't want that to happen, am I right, Montenegro?"

Rodrigo fell heavily back into his chair.

"Yes, you're right," he said, clenching his fists tightly. "It's my fault, if I hadn't allowed her to leave my office upset..."

"It's not time to find blame," Tatiana interrupted. "Right now, we need to be strong, for ourselves and for Sara."

Even as she said that, Tatiana believed that Montenegro had the greater share of the blame. A small part of the blame was on Sara herself, for driving at high speed when she realized she had married an iceberg.

"Damn!" Montenegro muttered.

Covering his face with his hands, Rodrigo tried not to blame himself, but he couldn't help it. Why did he always push away or lose the people who were important to him?

"And if she never remembers me?"

Seeing Montenegro suffering from guilt, or something similar, made Tatiana feel sorry for him. Deep down, in her own way, Rodrigo harbored good feelings for Sara.

"She will remember. Sara loves you," she added to comfort him.

Montenegro raised his head, a sad smile on his lips.

"She's forgotten that."

Tatiana reached out her hand towards Rodrigo's left side and tapped the wedding ring with her index finger.

"But you haven't."

~*~

In what seemed like an eternity to Sara, Tatiana entered her room again. To the young woman's surprise, the man who had tried to kiss her was right behind the doctor. He looked very serious and avoided her gaze.

She was examined once again and answered new questions. She noticed that with each response, the handsome man's face grew more stern.

"Except for the head wound, you're physically fine."

"So, can I leave?" she asked anxiously, eager to return home.

"In a few days, yes." Sensing that it was time to reveal the situation to Sara, Tatiana held her goddaughter's hand in hers. "The problem is that you've lost part of your memory, dear."

"You said forgetting the accident was normal."

"You've forgotten much more than just the accident."

Sara narrowed her green eyes.

"What have I forgotten?"

"Events that occurred after 2008. It's now 2018."

She smiled skeptically. It had to be a joke. However, the serious look on her godmother's face left no doubt that it was true, and that scared her.

She closed her eyes and tried to hold back the urge to cry. Forgetting ten years of her life was a lot, many significant events.

"My mother... I want my mother," she whispered.

"Unfortunately, she passed away five years ago."

"That's not true, it can't be..." She opened her eyes and looked at Tatiana, devastated. "How did it happen? When?"

"It was a car accident. A drunk driver speeding collided with her car."

Feeling a sharp pain in her chest, she couldn't hold back her tears. Despite being a reserved and strict woman, her mother had been the only constant presence in her upbringing. She had never known her father, who had run away to avoid taking responsibility for her, and she had no close relatives. Tatiana didn't count, as she was just a friend of her mother's who had agreed to be her godmother; she had no obligation towards her.

"And Robson? Where is he?"

Rodrigo looked at his wife, eyebrows furrowed, trying to recall that name, but nothing came to his mind. It must have been someone from before he knew her. He clenched his teeth, not liking the feeling of, apart from being erased from his wife's life, being replaced by someone from her past.