Chapter 9: Amnesia
A few minutes passed, Maverick walked out of Elizabeth's ward wanting to take a short stroll when he remembered he had to visit Dr. Thompson's office.
Walking down to the receptionist counter, he met a sweet looking nurse;
"Hello, excuse me!" he called out, but she seemed too lost in her world to notice.
He had no choice but to tap her to which she jerked in surprise.
" Oh my, I'm so sorry," she apologised, nearly bowing.
" No problem," he said.
" How can I help you, sir? She asked
" Uhmm…. where can I find Dr. Thompson's office? He inquired softly
" Just walk straight down, the first turning by your left, the second door is Dr. Thompson's office." she responded.
" Okay, thank you." He replied walking as she had described.
Knock, Knock
" Come in, " the voice answered from inside the office.
Maverick pushed the door open, the interior revealed a white background, much like a typical hospital ward, but with shelves of books and the office desk.
" Have a seat, Mr Maverick" Dr. Thompson gestured to the seat in front of him.
" Thank you" Maverick said while adjusting the chair to seat.
" So, Mr Maverick, concerning your sister she is recovering really well which is a good thing but i'll like to say that there is some bad news"
Maverick tried to hold his breath when the doctor said that. As he adjusted himself in his seat, he waited for him to continue.
Dr. Thompson continued " You don't have to worry. According to the scans and the questions we asked Elizabeth, we found out that she has TGRA, which stands for Temporally Graded Retrograde Amnesia which was caused by trauma to the head."
" This means that she cannot recall memories before the accident."
" Do you understand?"
Maverick suddenly felt cold and it wasn't due to the air conditioner.
Dr. Thompson continued,
" Memories from possibly a month or more before the accident are not accessible to her."
" Just like the name suggests it is temporary and could return sooner if she's lucky or take longer." He concluded.
" Is there anything we can do to help? " Maverick asked
" I already prescribed some medications for her which you can get at the pharmacy; but she would have to come back for check ups; brain imaging, neuropsychological assessment, blood tests to check for deficiencies or infections that could affect the brain among others. "
The discussion continued for quite a while after which it came to a close.
" Okay doctor "
" Thank you very much," Maverick said before leaving the office.
He walked back to Elizabeth's room fully immersed in his thoughts, almost hitting a nurse.
The collision brought him back to reality; he apologised sincerely before going into the ward, seeing that Elizabeth was still asleep he decided to close his eyes a little. The past few weeks had been a lot.
*******
Elizabeth's eyes fluttered open, and she let out a soft sigh. The pain, though still present, had dulled to a manageable ache since the last time she woke up.
The pungent scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils, a stark reminder of her hospital surroundings.
Elizabeth's eyes fell upon him, the person who had helped her the night before. Gratitude filled her heart as she stared.
" Her brother"
She didn't remember ever having one.
She hadn't seen his face clearly after the accident happened but she remembered him being there when she was wheeled to the operating theatre.
*****
Sunrays sipped through the room, falling on his golden locks, which lay lazily on the side of his face. His eyelashes fluttered like a butterfly, the type that could put a woman to shame.
A weak smile spread across her features as she croaked out a hoarse "Hey"
Maverick stirred, having dozed off just minutes before. Exhaustion had caught up with him, and he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. Now, he sat up straight, concern etched on his face.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked,
his voice was laced with worry. "Do you need water? Are you in pain anywhere? Should I call the doctor?"
" I'm fine," Elizabeth said, wincing slightly as she tried to sit up on the bed. Maverick quickly sprang into action, his hands moving with practiced ease as he adjusted the hospital bed to a more comfortable position.
His eyes, a deep, burnished brown, crinkled at the corners as he smiled reassuringly at her. "Take it easy, okay?" he said, his voice low and soothing.
As he helped her settle back against the pillows, Elizabeth couldn't help but notice the way Maverick's golden locks curled slightly at the nape of his neck or the way his black shirt accentuated his broad shoulders. She felt a flutter in her chest, and quickly looked away, trying to compose herself.
She turned again staring at him. He looked so tall, his striking features more prominent as the sun caressed his face. His strong jawline and sharp cheekbones, a testament to his rugged charm.
His eyes shone with warmth and kindness like the first hints of sunrise on a summer morning.
A sprinkling of stubble across his chin added a hint of rough-hewn allure, while his full lips carved into gentle smile, as if sharing a secret with the world.
The beeping of the hospital machines and the murmur of voices in the hallway faded into the background as Elizabeth's gaze lingered on Maverick's face.
Despite his imposing presence, he seemed approachable, his smile putting her at ease.
" Thank you for everything " she whispered.
Maverick chuckled lightly, his deep voice rumbling like thunder on a summer day. "You're welcome," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.
Elizabeth's gaze met his, and she felt a jolt of electricity run through her veins. His eyes were like two warm pools of honey, drawing her in with their kindness and concern.
"Ahh, I forgot to ask for your name," Elizabeth said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's your name? Mine is Elizabeth, Elizabeth Stone."
Maverick's smile faltered for a moment, and he looked away, his eyes drifting to the window. "Maverick Adris Fernández," he replied, his voice low and rough.
Elizabeth's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Then I'll call you Adris, if that's okay with you."
Maverick's expression darkened, and he let out a low grunt of disgust. Elizabeth felt a pang of embarrassment, and her eyes dropped to the bed.
"I'm sorry," Maverick apologized, his voice softening. "I just don't like that nickname. I didn't mean to be rude."