Leah's POV:
Louise is driving to maddies location. I have no idea what's happened, I'm stressed, my emotions are all over the place.
We get to her location and see her laid in the middle of the road. Louise stops the car and we both rush to her side. There's blood everywhere.
Louise: im calling 999.
Leah: baby? Maddie?
Maddie: mmm
Leah: I'm here, we are here, don't worry, it's going to be okay.
Maddie: I-im sorry.
Leah: you have nothing to be sorry for, it's okay, where does it hurt?
Maddie: eve-everywhere
She starts coughing up blood. Fuck. This is bad.
Leah: how long will they be? She's coughing up blood.
Louise: 2 minutes.
Leah: tell them to hurry up
Louise just nods. I'll apologise later for shouting but right now Maddie needs me.
Maddie: ba-babe.
I look at her.
Maddie: I ca-can't feel m-my legs.
I tear up. She can't be paralysed.
Louise: they are here.
The paramedics rush to her side, I keep holding her hand.
Leah: she can't feel her legs.
One of them looks at me. They know it's bad, I know it's bad, but I'm staying calm for Maddie, she can't panic.
Maddie: mum?
Louise: I'm here darling, just on the phone to your dad.
Maddie: do I have- to go to h-hospital?
Louise: yes darling.
She doesn't say anything. I kiss her forehead. She needs to know I'm here.
The paramedics get her in the ambulance, Louise follows us in the car, I go with Maddie. I'm still holding her hand, she has tears in her eyes. Blood pouring from her head. I just wish this didn't happen.
She gets transported to hospital and is taken for scans. Articles start getting posted everywhere.
MADDIE OWEN INVOLVED IN HIT AND RUN
MADDIE OWEN IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER HIT AND RUN
I dont read them. I can't read them right now.
Just like when she was here after being shot, I can't sit still. Pacing around the room. Call after call to friends and my family. Her mum calling Michael and Gemma.
Louise: they are on their way.
Leah: mum and Rachel are too.
Louise: this is all my fault.
Leah: no it's not, it's no one's fault, apart from the guy that hit her.
Louise: I shouldn't have kept it from her
Leah: she'll be okay, she will always be okay.
Im still pacing around, mum and Rachel turn up. I barely know what they are talking about. I just keep walking around.
Rach: Leah.
I snap out of it.
Leah: mhm.
Rach: she's going to be okay.
I just nod. I don't say much until the doctor comes in.
Doctor: she has a serious bleed on the brain, and it seems she has a broken back.
Leah: will she be able to walk again? I just need to know that.
Doctor: it the swelling that is compressing her spinal cord. Once we reduce that with medication she should regain full motion.
Leah: okay. Okay, can I see her?
Doctor: yes you can, but one person at a time.
I look at Louise and Michael.
Michael: go Leah, we will go in after.
I nod and follow the doctor to Maddies room.
Doctor: she will need a lot of rest, that bleed on her brain is quite substantial. It will go down but she might not be herself for a few days.
Leah: okay, thank you.
I walk into her room. She's laid flat, nurses checking her stats and machines beeping around her.
I stand over her.
Leah: hi baby.
Maddie: h-hi?
Leah: you're okay, you're in the hospital.
Maddie: what happened?
Leah: you were in an accident, it's okay, you're going to be just fine.
I kiss her forehead and hold her hand.
Maddie: where are my mum and dad?
Leah: just outside, you want to see them?
Maddie: ye-yeah.
Leah: okay.
I kiss her forehead again before getting Louise and Michael.
Louise goes in first.
I hear their conversation.
Maddie: who was that?
I look at her through the window. I can tell Louise doesn't know what to say.
Louise: that was Leah sweetheart, your fiancée?
Maddie: Leah?
Louise: ye-yeah.
Louise looks at me through the window. Michael looks at me. I have tears in my eyes. She can't remember me. Fuck she can't remember me.
I walk down the hallway and out the doors. I need some air.
My phone starts ringing. It's my mum. I decline the call. I need a minute. My fiancée doesn't remember me. I scream and break down crying. A pair of arms wrap around me.
Rach: it's okay. It's okay.
Leah: it's not.
Rach: she'll remember you.
Leah: does she remember you?
Rach: yeah.
Leah: I fucking hate this. We planned our wedding today. Our fucking wedding and now she doesn't even know who I am!
Rach: le.
Leah: I jus-just want my fiancée back.
Rach: come here.
I break down in Rachel's arms. She's rubbing my back when Michael comes out.
Michael: Leah.
I look at him.
Leah: what is it?
Michael: the doctor said it could time for her to her memory back.
Leah: how much time?
Michael: he doesn't know
Leah: how can she remember everyone but me? Does she remember my mum?
Michael: no sweetheart.
Leah: great.
Michael: the doctor said it will take time, just be patient okay?
I nod.
Maddies POV:
Maddie: Leah? My fiancée?
Louise: yeah baby, your fiancée.
Maddie: I don't remember.
Louise: that's okay.
Maddie: tell me something about her. A story or something.
Mum tells me a story of Leah and I. I don't know.
It gets late, everyone goes home. Leah doesn't come back in. I'm scrolling through my phone photos are popping up. Leah is all over my phone, we have a dog. I don't remember anything about her. I want to, but I just can't.
The next day I wake up and Leah is by my side.
Leah: good morning
Maddie: I'm sorry
Leah: it's okay, it'll come back to you.
Maddie: tell me how we met
Leah: you sure?
Maddie: mhm
Leah: well you were playing for the man united youth team, I was playing against you, for Arsenal. I tackled you, pretty badly, I helped you up but still got a red card. You hugged me as I was leaving the pitch, I didn't see you again for a few years. You were walking through London, I saw you. You smiled at me, we hugged, talked about what we had been up to. We just connected, it felt like I'd known you for my whole life. I took you on a date that night, we laughed the whole time
Maddie: sounds like it was meant to be
Leah: it is
Maddie: how long have we been together?
Leah: 7 years
Maddie: 7? And we are only just getting married?
Leah laughs, that laugh. Its familiar.
Leah: Bruno misses you
Maddie: Bruno? Our dog?
Leah: yeah babe our dog.
Maddie: I was looking through photos last night. He's a golden retriever?
Leah: he is.
My phone starts ringing. It's Rehanne.
Maddie: does Rehanne know?
Leah: I called Rafa last night, so more than likely.
I nod and answer the phone.
Rehanne: Maddie, how are you?
Maddie: erm I don't really know
Rehanne: take all the time you need.
Maddie: my backs broken
Rehanne: is it?
Maddie: I doubt I'll be back before the end of the season.
Rehanne: well that offer we talked about is still there.
Maddie: really?
Rehanne: of course.
Maddie: I'll think about it.
Rehanne: look after yourself, I'll call you in a few days.
Maddie: okay, thanks boss
The call ends and Leah looks at me. Those eyes, they are so familiar, I could get lost in them every second of the day.
Leah: can I ask you something?
Maddie: yeah
Leah: what do you remember?
Maddie: erm I don't want to be awful, everything but you.
Leah: our life?
Maddie: it's all fuzzy, I just can't place it.
Leah: that's okay, it'll come back.
Maddie: I hope so, I want to remember it all.
Leah: you will, it's just going to take time.
Maddie: do we have kids?
Leah: no babe, we don't, just our fur baby.
Maddie: okay
Leah: you get some rest, I'm just going to get some food, do you want anything?
Maddie: I'm okay thanks.
Leah: okay.
Leah leaves the room. I want to remember our life so much but I just, I just can't. It's not there. None of it. I remember Aston Villa, I remember everything but Leah and her family. I don't understand.
My mum and dad come in before Leah comes back.
Michael: how are you sweetheart?
Maddie: I'm okay.
Louise: are you in pain?
Maddie: no I'm okay.
Michael: where's Leah gone?
Maddie: to get some food.
Louise: she actually left your side?
Maddie: is that unheard of?
Michael: when you were shot she didn't leave your side for weeks. She missed training, games, all she cared about was you.
Maddie: really?
Louise: yeah darling
Maddie: I'm confused that I can't remember her but I remember everything else.
Louise: the doctor said it's something to do with the bleed on your brain.
Maddie: huh?
Michael: the location of it, affects memories.
Maddie: but why is it just her I can't remember?
Louise: because the section of the brain it's located in.
Maddie: which is?
Michael: think he said it's the hypothalamus? Basically the centre of love.
Maddie: but I love you guys.
Michael: it's a different type of love though sweetheart.
Maddie: will I get the memories back?
Louise: in time sweetheart, yes.
Maddie: okay, I hope it's quick.
Michael: why?
Maddie: because she's hot.
They both laugh.
Michael: that's what you said to me after you got back from your first date with her.
Maddie: I did?
Michael: you did.
Maddie: how are gem and James?
Louise: they are okay.
Maddie: is gem still with that prick?
Louise: yeah.
Maddie: great. So she's still with an idiot and I can't remember mine.
Michael: your idiot?
Maddie: mhm.
Louise: you call her that.
Maddie: my idiot?
Louise: yeah.
Maddie: oh.
The day passes so quickly. Everyone's gone home. I'm laying in bed, still laid flat because of my back. Still can't feel my legs which I'm annoyed about. I just want to go for a walk. I hate being laid in bed all the time.
I call Rach.
Rach: hey Mads, how's you feeling?
Maddie: I'm okay.
Rach: you sure?
Maddie: I just want to get out of here.
Rach: not until the feeling in your legs comes back mate.
Maddie: I know I just hate it.
Rach: I bet you do. Anything come back to yet?
Maddie: no
Rach: it will soon.
Maddie: is it bad if I call her?
Rach: she'd want you to, but only if you want to.
Maddie: I think it's better if I don't.
Rach: okay.
Rach and I talk for a while before I fall asleep. I wake up a lot through the night. I just can't stop thinking about why I can't remember her. I want to so much.
————————————————————————————
Don't kill me for this🫠