***Back to Present***

Scott's POV

I could not believe it, the young woman that had was there for me through this, caring for me without even looking at herself since these 3 hectic days, was my wife. It felt weird, tasting the word wife on my tongue. I was married to her, as shocking as it came to me, I was so glad that I was able to make something useful out of my life, marrying someone like her- kind and beautiful. Julie Anderson, had she been here with me, would have been the proudest of me; I wondered what had happened to Samantha, we could have been a thing, but I knew even then that it would probably have not lasted long, she was not marriage material that girl.

I looked at Yvonne, Yvonne, that name...It did not even ring a bell in my brain but, I felt like I had been used to saying that name many times. I was thrilled on the inside, married! She was the girl who was finally able to tame someone as wild as me.

My bewilderment was barely controllable with all types of questions popping inside my brain and yet all I could do was hold both her shoulders in my hands- my fractured hand hurt a little, but I didn't let that hold me back- and say, "You are my wife!" as if confirming her statement again. My eyes had been wide with excitement and joy but hers only widened in surprise, like she was not even expecting this kind of reaction from me.

It was not easy being a patient suffering from amnesia. From the last few days, I had been mentally trying to accept that I have aged this much, that beard suited my mature face, that my body seemed a lot stiffer compared to when I used to play soccer in Edmont High. And of course, anything that reminded me of school was not without Mariella. She was like a dream to me right now; I had not even finished mourning her death yet...or come to terms with what I had done to her. That was all that remained clear, that I was a murderer...

But looking at Yvonne just made all that fade, her face and her eyes were so soothing, calm and peaceful; but that peace was more of a kind that before a storm, too quiet. I had to wonder if the news of my accident made her like this or if she had always been like this, even this trait of her was attractive. Back to what I remember, I have always been interested in girls who were serious, deep and just breathtaking, Yvonne seemed no exception to that.

"How many years have we been married Yvonne?" I asked her not being able to wait. There was so much to catch up on, "Do we any have kids?"

She stared back at me completely stupefied, I felt guilty instantly for asking too much. She then tried to quickly conceal her behavior and looked straight, not looking at me, trying to think.

"Married...well, it's been 5 years," she placed her hands around her shoulders nervously trying to think and then noticed my hand in my lap, she rested my wounded hand on the wide handstand of the bed. "And we don't have any kids Scott..." she said quietly.

"No kids?" I asked in a bit of a shock, "Do we have a happy marriage?" I really hoped she would say yes, I did not want to be a bad husband. This is all I could think of now, I wished I was not a bad husband or had a bad marriage because of my past, I would not have wanted that to impact my future life.

Yvonne's face had been neutral, but she looked at me again, this time, gauging my face carefully for a small moment that seemed to last eternity for me. As soon as that ended, she smiled and placed both her soft hands reassuringly on mine and said, "We had a great marriage life, I mean we have a great marriage life..."

That was all I needed to hear, I looked into her eyes, her beautiful blue eyes were so deep, I could just drown in them, I wanted to just keep watching her. But instead, I smiled to her and pulled her into a tight and unexpected hug. She was taken aback at my action, but she did not hold back, I hugged her to my chest; her soft hair filled my face and her fragrance was enthralling, I felt like I was complete. I was so lucky to have her.

I thanked God that at least he had given me Yvonne if he had snatched my mom Julie and Mariella from me, there was nothing more I could ask for.

I want to live a happy man now, it's time to leave all trauma in the past.

--

External POV

His hug seemed like it had been from an entirely different person, Yvonne thought. She was hesitant to respond to his hug at first, but she did hug him back- all she could think of right now was that he needed her. Of all times, now when he had no one. It was ironical how even money could not fill the void in your life.

She then broke the hug and got up to call the doctor, leaving the room immediately but before that, she did not fail to notice the satisfactory smile that had curved on Scott's lips. He seemed innocent, maybe he was, back when he had still been a young adult. In fact, she met him 2 years after this accident, in college, when he was her senior.

Dr Andrew reminded Yvonne to bring him for the regular check-ups and to keep him away from tragic and shocking news that could affect his slowly healing nervous system. She could not promise that but she had to do it anyway now. She collected all the documents from the office including his medical X-Rays and then went to Scott's room where he sat ready on the edge of the bed waiting for her. As soon as she entered the room, Scott got up and grinned at her like a child. Almost like a man lost at sea had finally found a shore. She felt guilty looking at him joyous like that and that guilt only deepened when she realised how the reality is going to destroy that innocent joy of his.

Maybe after all he had done, he still did not deserve this. God has odd ways of making you pay for your misdeeds...

As they walked towards Yvonne's small car and out of the clinic now, Scott asked, "Did we grow poor in the recent years...? I mean..." he said looking at Yvonne's car.

Yvonne chuckled, "It's not called being poor, and you're not poor Scott, you're the richest man in New York," she stated, helping him inside the car. She carefully placed his heavily bandaged hand on his lap.

"Then why is it that my wife has a small car like this?" he questioned authoritatively, watching her as she got in the driver's seat.

They were both driving to Yvonne's house by now.

"Financial status is not everything that defines you in life, I have high principles, like not being interested in your money," Yvonne said, focusing on the traffic, it was always busy on these roads.

Scott's eyes had been fixed on her though, he felt impressed and proud of his choice, looking at her- beautiful, philosophical and a safe driver, he made mental notes to himself. She was different from all the girls he had met until now, or at least till he had remembered until 2009.

But he scoffed at her words right now, "How can you bring in the financial status when all of what I own is already yours, you have right over everything, over me..." he felt internally happy saying that.

Yvonne's lips curved to a small smile at that, she looked at him and said, "No I don't Scott...if only you knew..."

Scott was about to ask her why she was saying all this but Yvonne's phone started ringing. Yvonne glanced in the rear-view mirror where her purse lied on the back seat and asked Scott to ignore it. They were about to reach anyway.

She assumed it must have been Anna who had found out about her taking custody of Scott but then again, Anna wasn't the type to bother to call and ask either...

--

Iyan was in his office even now. He stared at the snap he had been sent on mail. It was of an old and ragged piece of cloth, he had seen this somewhere, material of a dress. On someone.

With the snap, the mail said.

I know everything that happened 12 years ago. Contact me on 9080-0888-4589.

R.L

He did not know if he could believe this stranger. He could be anyone, but he knew what had happened to Mariella. He knew what Scott had done to her but even after her death, Iyan had always known that there was something more to the story than he saw. He had been looking to unveil the truth since years now- had he not started out on this quest, he would have never found out about what Scott had done.

Iyan zoomed the piece of rag and watched it with all his focus- there was something about it that reminded him of her...suddenly, his doubt confirmed!

It was indeed Mariella's dress, it looked something like what she had worn on prom that year. Everything had changed after that night, he had lost her completely after that ominous night.

Curious, Iyan picked up his phone and dialed the number he was given on the mail.

He could not wait any longer, he had to know what had happened that night and exactly what had happened 12 years ago with Mariella, that took the love of his life away from him.