Leah's POV:
I decide to go to training. No one knows what's going on. They've read articles and texted me a lot but I've just not responded. I pull into London Colney, Beth and Viv have just pulled into the car park too.
Beth runs up to me.
Beth: is she okay?
Leah: broken back, bleed on the brain.
Beth: fucking hell, I'll go round to the hospital later and see her.
Leah: she doesn't remember me.
Viv looks at me.
Viv: what?
Leah: she remembers everyone but me, our life, Bruno. It's like I never existed.
Beth: mate.
Leah: don't. I just- don't. Please.
Beth: okay. We won't talk about it.
Leah: can you tell everyone else not to as well? I don't want to talk about it at all. I just want to take my mind off it for a while.
Viv: can do. I'll run ahead and get everyone not to mention it.
Leah: thank you.
Vivs POV:
I go in and all the girls are at breakfast.
Viv: LISTEN UP!
Everyone looks at me. Normally I'm a quiet person but this is important.
Viv: Leah's here. She doesn't want to mention Maddie today. So no one mention it.
Katie: is she okay though?
Viv: broken back and a bleed on the brain. She doesn't remember who Leah is.
Steph: what?
Viv: she remembers everyone but Leah and their life. So no one mention it. Leah needs a day to forget reality. Okay?
Kyra: okay. We can do that.
I nod as Leah and Beth walk in.
Maddies POV:
Mum and dad are here.
Maddie: is Leah coming today?
Michael: she said she would be tonight.
Maddie: why tonight?
Louise: she's gone to training today.
Maddie: oh.
Michael: it's okay, she'll be here.
My heart sinks. I just wanted to see her.
Maddie: is she doing okay?
Louise: she's okay. She's worried about you, she's worried you won't remember her.
Maddie: I'm trying to.
Michael: she knows that.
Maddie: I'm guessing it's hard for her.
Louise: it is.
I don't say anything else.
Michael: it'll be okay sweetheart.
Maddie: I know.
Leah's POV:
Training has been a great reset. I needed it. Laughing with the girls. Forgetting everything that's going on. No one has mentioned it which I'm glad about.
Steph: having a movie tonight, you coming?
Leah: I need to go see Maddie, can pop round after though.
Steph: yeah okay.
Leah: see you later.
I get in my car and drive to the hospital.
The doctor is in Maddies room with her parents right now. I leave them to it.
He comes out a few minutes later. I go in.
Leah: hi.
Michael: Leah.
Leah: what did he say?
Maddie: I need brain surgery.
Leah: what?
Maddie: the bleed is getting worse. They need to sort it out.
Leah: okay.
Louise: it'll be okay.
Leah: yeah, I know.
She gets wheeled away an hour later. Tonight's going to be long. I text Steph to tell her that Maddie is having surgery so I can't come. I don't even look at the response.
An hour later the girls all show up.
Leah: wh-what are you guys doing here?
Katie: you really think we are letting you go through this alone?
I tear up and hug Katie.
Katie: she's going to be fine.
Leah: I know. It's just scary. I couldn't even kiss her before she went in.
Alessia: why?
Leah: because she can't remember me. It would be weird for her.
Steph: oh mate.
Leah: yeah it's okay, she's going to be fine.
Kim: she will be.
Hours go by, some of the girls head home, lia, Steph and Katie stay with me. Louise and Michael head to a hotel to get some rest.
Leah: why is it taking so long?
Steph: it's brain surgery Leah, it's not going to be quick.
Leah: I guess.
Katie: mate she's strong, she'll get through it.
Leah: I know it's just shit.
A few more hours go by. It's now 3am, she's been in surgery for 9 hours, a doctor comes in. I stand up
Doctor: she's out of surgery.
Leah: and?
Doctor: she's going to be fine. We stopped the bleeding, she should make a full recovery.
Leah: her memory?
Doctor: when she wakes up, we will know.
Leah: when will she wake up?
Doctor: not for a while. You should go get some rest.
Leah: thank you.
He nods and leaves the room.
Katie: told you mate.
I hug Katie.
Katie: come on, my house is down the road, you can crash there for a few hours.
Leah: I'll text Michael and Louise first.
She nods.
I text them saying she's out and in recovery, and that I'm going to get some sleep for a bit.
I instantly fall asleep when my head hits the pillow. I'm so emotionally exhausted.
The next morning I hang around at Katie's for a while before heading back to the hospital.
Michael: good morning.
Leah: how is she?
Michael: awake.
Leah: does she erm remember me?
Michael: no Leah, I'm sorry.
I tear up, Michael hugs me tightly.
Michael: she will, eventually, she will.
Leah: I want her to now. I need her to remember me. I can't live without her.
Michael: I know Leah.
Leah: this sucks.
Michael: come on
We walk to Maddies room, she's talking to her mum.
Louise: morning sweetheart.
Louise hugs me.
Leah: morning.
Maddie: who's this?
I look at her. Everything has reset. Fucking everything. Everything that I reminded her about over the past few days has gone.
Louise: Leah sweetheart.
Maddie: Leah? that name rings a bell.
Michael: she's your fiancée.
Maddie: fiancée?!
Louise: sshhh it's okay. Yeah, but this is normal, before you went to surgery you didn't remember her then.
I'm just stood there. Feeling awkward. All I want to do it kiss and cuddle up to her.
Maddie: okay.
Leah: how are you feeling?
Maddie: confused and tired.
Leah: that's normal, it's going to be okay.
Out of instinct I hold her hand. She looks at our hands intertwined.
Leah: sorry.
I pull away.
Maddie: no it felt familiar.
I hold her hand again and she's smiles.
Michael: we are going to get some food, we will be back.
Michael kisses mine and Maddies heads before they both walk out.
Maddie: hold my hand again.
Leah: okay.
I hold her hand again and she jolts.
Maddie: you're hot.
I laugh a little bit.
Leah: thank you
Maddie: how long have we been together?
Leah: 7 years
Maddie: 7 years?
Leah: mhm.
Maddie: we don't have kids do we?
Leah: just a fur baby. Bruno.
Maddie: who's he with now?
Leah: my mum, he's okay.
Maddie: good.
Leah: do you remember anything about me?
Maddie: I don't think I do, I'm sorry.
Leah: it's okay, it'll come back to you.
Maddie: I hope so, I want to remember you.
Leah: you will, but it's going to take time.
Maddie: how much time? Because I want to remember those eyes.
Leah: that's up to you.
Maddie nods.
A few hours later, it's 6pm. Maddie has had a nap and now she's talking to Gem and her mum. A doctor comes up to me and her dad.
Doctor: you two have a minute?
Leah: ye-yeah.
We follow the doctor to another room.
Doctor: so, medically, there is no reason for Maddie to be here for much longer. Her brain is healing well, she can feel her legs again. She just needs a brace to heal her back. But with her memory loss, it might be a few more days.
Leah: a few more days here?
Doctor: yes.
Michael: is there any time scale on this memory loss thing?
Doctor: it's up to Maddie to remember.
Michael: so you have no way of knowing?
Doctor: unfortunately not.
Michael looks at me.
Leah: it's okay, it's okay.
Michael: you sure?
Leah: just a waiting game I guess
Doctor: it is unfortunately, let me know if you need anything.
Michael: thanks
The doctor leaves the room
Leah: let's just wait and see.
Michael nods and puts his hand on my shoulder.
Michael: she'll get it back Leah.
Leah: I know.
It's been a few days. Maddie is walking around the hospital with a back brace on. She still needs to take it easy but she's doing well.
She still doesn't remember me though. Which is the worst feeling in the world. All I want is to kiss her and tell her it's all going to be okay.
Maddies POV:
I'm being discharged today. The doctors have told me to live where I lived before, with Leah, to help with my memory. I won't lie I've had little flashbacks of moments but I can't see the other persons face. It's all still really fuzzy. I haven't told anyone about these because I don't want to get their hopes up. It's not fair on them.
Leah: ready to go?
Maddie: yeah, I think so.
Leah: come on, the cars waiting.
I get wheeled out in a chair to I'm guessing Leah's car. That seems familiar. I get in the passenger seat and Leah starts driving.
Maddie: so, where do we live?
Leah: in St. Albans
Maddie: do I like it?
Leah: you do, but it's not our forever home
Maddie: why?
Leah: it's only 3 bedrooms, and the garden is too small.
Maddie: for what?
Leah: our kids.
Maddie: we've talked about that?
Leah: many times. We both want 3
Maddie: we do?
Leah: mhm.
Maddie: okay.
The rest of the drive is pretty quiet until we pull into our driveway. It's beautiful.
Maddie: we live here?
Leah: we do my love. Come on.
Leah helps me out of the car and into the house.
She shows me round, just so I get used to everything.
Maddie: it feels like home.
Leah: that's because it's your home.
I just nod.
After dinner and talking a bit more Leah asks if I want to watch a movie. I say yes, she puts a movie on, I keep looking at her, she's so beautiful, everything about her is perfect, I want to remember everything about her. What makes her smile, what makes her cry. Everything, her happy place, the people she loves the most, her embarrassing moments, her favourite moments. Name it I want to know about it.
We go to bed in separate rooms, Leah in the spare room just so I get used to our room again.
The next morning I wake up. I feel different. I'm alone, no Leah?
I shout for her.
Maddie: babe? Where are you?
I hear here shuffle about and run into our room.
Leah: what did you just call me?
Maddie: what I always call you?
Leah: you remember me?!
I don't say anything for a second.
Maddie: I remember you!
Leah runs to my side and looks me in the eyes.
Leah: you remember me.
Maddie: I never want to forget you again.
She kisses me softly. I can feel her smiling and crying at the same time.
Leah: you remember me.
Maddie: I do.
She kisses me again and again.
Leah: I love you, so freaking much it hurts. This has been the hardest couple of weeks ever.
Maddie: I love you more my love. I'm here, i promise to never forget you again.
Leah jumps into bed with me, I cuddle into her, she kisses the top of my head a few times.
Leah: you're back.
Maddie: I'm back.