Page 163 of Invisible String
I hate that she looks so broken and lost. I never intended to hurt her by telling her the truth, but I couldn’t make a life with her and keep it from her. She needed to know she had a life before being Rainey. I don’t care if she doesn’t remember me. Okay, maybe I do care, but she should know about her biological parents, who loved her. They shouldn’t be forgotten.
“I’m so overwhelmed. I have so many questions.”
“Take your time. We don’t have to rush it. If you want, we can sit in silence and watch TV, and when you’re ready, you can ask questions. We can do that.”
Her nose brushes my neck. She holds on to me like someone would rip her away from my arms. I bask in her warmth.
“My God, baby, I love you so damn much. You’re my lost treasure,mi tesoro.I’d find you in any universe, realm, world, or dimension, even after death. Our paths were always meant to cross. You might not remember, but you were my savior. I’d tear down anything in my path to get to you.” Sounds a bit dramatic, but it’s true.
“I might not remember, but I know your heart, Max. You were my savior when I needed you. I’ll forever be grateful.”
“We were for each other.”
“Yes.”
I kiss her forehead multiple times.
“I feel lost, Max.” Her voice cracks, and my heart does too.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’ll get us to a better place. I’m here for you.”
“Who was the baby? In all the baby pictures? Do you know? How can they have lied to me?”
“Your brother knew. Your parents told him to keep quiet. From what he told me. It was just pictures they found online. Your sister doesn’t know the truth.”
“You mentioned I knew Spanish. How?” She sits up, and I wipe another tear.
“You’re Hispanic, Rainey. You don’t remember your native tongue,mi amor, because your memory was wiped. Amnesia does that to you. Your trauma was so severe that you don’t remember being in the hospital. And when your parents took you home, they fed you a different story—a new life. When people have amnesia, you want to show them pictures and tell them memories, so they remember in hopes they regain it all. Even then, some people don’t. It didn’t help that they kept it away from you.”
“Why can’t I remember being in the hospital?"
“From what I learned, you also had post-traumatic amnesia. It could happen after a head injury. It is a temporary inability to form new memories or recall recent events.”
Her laugh isn’t humorous—it’s one filled with pain. “See, I don’t even know who I am.”
“You’re my woman. That’s who you are—the love of my life.” I brush my lips on hers. “Take a nap. Give your beautiful brain a rest. I’ll be here holding you in my arms when you wake.”
She nods, and her eyes close. “I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you more.” Her white German-shepherd blanket lies next to us, and I wrap it around her.
In less than five minutes, Rainey is sound asleep. I’ve memorized every breath of hers. I know when she’s in a deep sleep. She’s emotionally exhausted. Deep down, I feel a weight that is slightly lifted. Carrying the weight on me took a toll on me. I never wanted to keep secrets from Rainey. Never.
I’munsure how long we slept, but I fell asleep with her. My neck aches from my head tilted back. Feeling Rainey’s gaze on me, I open my eyes. She’s watching me with a soft smile on her pretty face. I groan, wiping my eyes.
“You’re cute when you sleep.”
“Cute?”
“Yup.”
“Did you get some rest?”
“Not much,” she admits. Rainey sighs. “What do you know about my biological parents?” She moves from my lap, but I set her back down. “Your legs are probably numb.”
“No, sit. I can’t handle not touching you.” Her skin is soft and red from crying. I cup her cheeks and kiss her puffy lips. “Are you asking how they passed?”
She nods. “Yes, everything.”
