Gabe steps outside to take the call. My voice message replays in my mind. Whom did I want to protect? Who was I afraid for? The only person I can think of is my mother. But she and I have never been close, so why would I want Gabe to protect her specifically? I wait for Gabe to return but I guess his call is taking more time.

I don’t blame him for his cellular distractions, and there are plenty. He has a huge and massive business to run, Gamma Inc. It’s our joint business. He’s the marketing genius behind our architectural and design empire. I’ve always handled the design aspect of the business we built together and now, sitting here, helplessly stuck in this godforsaken hospital bed with no clue as to what we’ve achieved or lost in the last five years is pissing me off in more ways than one. Gabe’s assured me that we’ve spectacularly grown and prospered and that there’s enough time for me to return to work after I recover. I rub my temple. I need to get out of here and soon.

The door opens and Gabe returns with someone behind him. A sudden glare of light shines brightly on my face. I turn to the window in surprise as the sun peeps out of the dark clouds. I could swear it was raining only a few minutes ago. I turn my head to Gabe and blink as he moves and a woman steps in front. With the sun blaring down on me, I can barely make out her features. I see her through the haze of light blinding me, but something about her triggers a memory in my head.

Images whizz through my mind at a dizzying pace. I shut my eyes, clutching my head as my mind is swarmed with flashes I can make no sense of, places I’ve never visited and people I’ve never seen. The images blur together, spinning faster and faster in a continuous loop in my mind, until my head is exploding with pain.

Gabe’s terrified voice calls out to me as I hear myself screaming. And then there is blessed darkness.

Aaliya

Two months later

London

IT’S BEEN TWO MONTHS, ten days and nine hours since I lost my husband. I say lost because I do not recognize the man I’ve been observing for the last half an hour.

“So, you’re actually going behind Gabe’s back and introducing yourself to Damien?” my cousin Jasmine asks me.