Chapter 5

Aya burst into the room and immediately wrapped me in a warm embrace.

"You finally woke up, you big dope. You scared me half to death."

She had visited while I was unconscious, and now she clung to me tightly. I gently pulled back, staring at her in bewilderment.

"Who are you?"

Aya froze, her excitement palpable as she exclaimed, "Maya, don't you recognize me? I'm Aya. We've been friends since we were kids. Remember that time I wore your dress when we were little?"

I interrupted her, trying to piece together the fragments. "I understand now. You're my friend. Thank you for coming to see me."

"It's me," she said, tears welling in her eyes. I pointed to my head and explained, "The head injury made me forget a lot of people."

Aya's tears flowed freely. Later that afternoon, she took the reins, guiding me as she recounted countless stories from our past. She reassured me that it was okay if I couldn't remember—she would help me piece it back together.

As she spoke, my gaze lingered on her slightly rounded belly.

"Are you pregnant?"

"Yeah, about a month in," she admitted, her expression turning somber. Dereck was planning to take her to Europe for the pregnancy, but now with my memory loss, she was wavering about leaving.

"Go," I insisted. "I've just lost my memory. Have the baby in Europe and then come back. I'll be the godmother."

When Dereck arrived to pick her up, she returned for another hug. This time, I held her a bit tighter.

Quietly, I murmured to myself: Aya, you have to find your happiness.