Forcing to remember

"Are you the family of Mr. Rioflorida?" the doctor asked, her voice gentle but tinged with professional gravity.

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "Yes, I'm his partner, Celeste. This is Lucas, a close friend."

The doctor explained that Arik had been taken for a battery of tests, including scans and blood work, to determine the cause of his sudden collapse. She reassured us that the medical team was doing everything they could to diagnose and treat him.

However, she couldn't provide any concrete answers just yet, and that uncertainty gnawed at me like a relentless monster.

"Ms. Celeste," the doctor inquired, her eyes fixed on what seemed to be an iPad, where she reviewed Arik's tests and medical records. "I've seen his medical records, and he has amnesia, correct?"

"Yes, doctor. Is there a problem? He had an accident recently, and that's why he's experiencing amnesia," I replied, feeling a heavy knot of anxiety in my chest.