Chapter 3

“Carmen…” Cathy started but then she looked at me hesitantly.

Okay, now I was really nervous. This conversation is getting more dangerous.

“Cathy, what is it? Tell me,” I asked anxiously. My hands were sweating and I felt like something is not right. I looked at Mathias but he was looking at his mother.

“Mom you needed to tell her.” Mathias insisted.

Cathy sighed. “He’s dying,” she whispered. “Dying, Carmen.”

For a few seconds, I just stood there staring at the window shocked and shaken, making my stomach clench.

Different kinds of emotions were churning inside me. I did not want to be vulnerable like the way I had been six years back. I tried to block away all the insults that were thrown at me. And the words triggered in my head, “He is dying…”

I moved a step behind nervously. “What do you mean?” I could barely speak the words while trying to keep myself steady. As my limbs gave away because of the shock.

“He was driving from Milan when he crashed into a lorry. Marc did not see it until it was far too late. It took them an hour to cut him out of the car.” Cathy stifled another sob. “He lost a lot of blood Carmen.”

Oh, God! I could barely speak I was shaking so much that I had to lean against Cathy or I would have fallen. All the color had left my face. Cathy held me in her arms.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, I didn’t know how to react it was an unknown feeling and my heart trembled.

“Is he unconscious?” I asked after a moment trying to get a hold of my emotions.

“That’s why I came,” Cathy said quickly. “When he gained consciousness yesterday, the first thing he said was your name.”

“Mine?” I closed my eyes and thought… Marc, oh Marc, what is happening? I thought nothing in the world can harm you.

“He asked where you were and when were you coming.” Cathy was speaking amazingly fast as though I would run away. “He still thinks you are his loving wife.”

The silence stretched between us for a long time. I was breathing heavily and could not speak a word.

Then I said quietly, “Why do you say that?”

“It was obvious,” Cathy told me. “He said…where’s Carmen? Where’s my wife? At first, I thought he was just dazed but then after a few minutes, I realized that I was wrong Carmen he has lost his memory he does not remember anything that has happened in the last seven years and that you…had left him and filed for a divorce. The accident had caused his amnesia.”

“Was he concussed in the accident?” I asked worriedly.

“The doctor says so. His head injuries are serious. They operated when he was first bought in and they thought that they had relieved some pressure on the brain but who knows?” Cathy said grimly.

I motioned my lips. “You said he was dying. Is that what the doctors think?”

After all, how can anything happen to the great Marc Garcia he is very privileged and they can hire the best doctors to treat him.

“He is being treated by very renowned doctors in Milan and they have confirmed that he has seriously injured his head and has lost his memory,” Cathy said shaking her head.

“But what do they say exactly?” I asked desperately.

Cathy shook her head and said, “He is not doing too well that is how they put in. He is very seriously injured. They told me if you come, it would be healthy for his recovery.”

If I come! My eyes widened and I bit my lower lip, “Cathy, there can be no question…”

“He asks for you all the time; wants to know why we have not brought you to him. Oh, Carmen do not you see Marc is afraid that you were in the car when he crashed, that you are dead, and we are keeping it from him,” Cathy said desperately.

I watched Cathy with piercing eyes not knowing what to say. I could not conceive of Marc as anything but strong. Death was an empty concept in my picture of him. He had always been so vibrantly alive.

“I know he has mistreated you,” Cathy went on and that remark made my lips twist with bitter amusement.

“What an understatement!” It came out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“But he’s dying you can’t refuse to see him Carmen you know you can’t,” Cathy insisted.

I did not know, and it made me angry again to face all the facts again. My eyes were red, and I looked outside the window.

“I’ll book the flight for you, you can come with us immediately,” Cathy said quickly. “All you have to do is stand by his bed for a few moments to let him see you are safe. That will not kill you will it, Carmen?” There was faint sarcasm. I noted, surprised since Cathy was always so gentle.

“Alright,” I said wearily. Cathy sighed with relief. “I need to get back home and make some arrangements for Tio; you need to give me time till tomorrow. I will go on my own after I take care of things back home.” I said sternly.

“Tio? Is that your son’s name? How is he?” Cathy asked curiously.

“Don’t worry Cathy we are both surviving and will do in the future as well. I hope when I go there, Marc will recover and would sign the divorce papers, so that I can move on and get married to Don.”

I ran my hand through my hair and Cathy stared at me. And I started wondering what was going on in her head.