Doctor Eliza and Doctor Ivy informed me that I had been discharged from the hospital three days ago, but they advised me to stay back since I had nowhere else to go and their police friend, Trevor, hadn't found any information about me yet. They also suggested that the children I saw might be my own and that I could have a family somewhere. However, I didn't feel like I had kids. Besides, if I had a wife and children, Trevor should have found something about me being missing in the police records.
I couldn't help but notice that Doctor Eliza seemed a bit dejected by the idea of me having a family. A smile crept onto my lips at the thought that her interest might have extended beyond professional boundaries. I wondered how she had resolved the issues with her boyfriend, but every time I asked, she would just smile and say it had been handled. Although I couldn't pry the details out of her, I remained attentive, watching for any signs of abuse. It was one of the reasons I pushed myself to regain control over my body. I would be utterly useless to her and myself if I couldn't even stand for more than a minute or lacked stamina.
Something Doctor Eliza mentioned about the label on my clothes compelled me to break my promise to her and leave the hospital. Besides feeling like a sitting duck, Trevor had mentioned that the man after me was still in town. This could mean that he knew I was in a coma and was waiting for me to wake up, or he was also in hiding and had become adept at staying under the radar in this town.
During one of my walks through the hospital wards in the middle of the night, I observed a nurse using a thumbprint-enabled ATM machine, which gave me an idea. If Doctor Eliza was correct about the label on my clothing, it meant that I had a significant amount of money. She mentioned that the shirt alone was worth two thousand bucks. Even with my memory loss, that infuriated me. Whoever was after me owed me a damn refund.
With my new winter jacket, courtesy of Doctor Eliza, I pulled up the fur-trimmed collar and lowered my face cap, shielding myself from the cold. It was January, and the snow was still raging, creating a wintry atmosphere that felt like an ice age. I smiled at my own comment, marveling at how my mind filled in the gaps to fit the context of my situation. It would have been debilitating if I had to relearn everything like a child.
I walked about two blocks away from the hospital until I found a shopping mall across the road. Pausing for traffic, I crossed to the other side and entered the mall through the automated double doors. Keeping my head down to avoid the cameras, I made my way purposefully to an ATM machine. Through the glass display, I noticed a camera positioned right behind me, but my height and size allowed me to conceal the screen as I took a deep breath and placed my thumb on the fingerprint scanner.
My heart raced as the screen displayed a name, asking which function I would like to perform. It showed my name as Mark Rutherford. So, my name was Mark, which meant I had a little sister out there somewhere. My hands trembled slightly as I pressed the screen to check my bank balance. The number of zeros that appeared made me swallow hard. I wasn't just rich; I was a billionaire. Now, what kind of job did I do to accumulate such wealth? My previous words haunted me, suggesting that I might have been involved in some criminal activities.
"Are you done, Mr.?" a voice interrupted from behind me. I discreetly looked back and saw two teenagers waiting in line.
"Hmm…" I mumbled and decided to withdraw some money. With my face still hidden, I walked out and continued on my way. I needed answers, and the only person who might have them was the man Doctor Eliza had been trying to keep me hidden from. It was time to let him find me.
As I retraced my steps back to the hospital, I noticed a car suddenly stop, and Doctor Eliza stepped out. I tried not to look, but her familiar voice made me turn back.
"Hey!" she shouted, sounding frantic as she hurried towards me on the sidewalk. "Where have you been? My God, you scared me!"
"I took a stroll," I lied, giving her a searching gaze, noticing her makeup and how stunning she looked. Something unfamiliar and strange stirred in my heart.
"You could have left a note. I thought…" Doctor Eliza began, her voice filled with concern.
"You thought my enemy had found me. I'm sorry, Doc," I replied, interrupting her. She held my gaze, relief washing over her as she let out a sigh.
"Where are you off to? If you don't mind me asking," I said.
"My parents usually organize a dinner party after all the festivities at the end of January to usher in the new year. It's kind of the highlight of the start of every year…"
"And instead of going there, you came looking for me?"
"Blame it on still being in the festive mood. You spent Christmas and New Year in the damn hospital. I was on my way to the party and thought I'd check up on you… you know."
"Thanks, but you should go and have fun…"
"Yeah, fun!" she replied with deflated enthusiasm, which brought a smile to my face.
"Let me guess, they have expectations, and your ex, Justin, might be there."
"I have a restraining order against him, but this party is open to everyone, and I'm certain he would take advantage of that."
"Don't your parents know he is abusive?"
"Oh, he plays the perfect gentleman in public. You need to see it to understand how unnerving it is."
"Maybe that's what I should do," I said.
"What?" Doctor Eliza replied, looking slightly bewildered.
"See it."
"But the person looking for you may also…"
"I can't hide forever, Doctor Eliza. Perhaps it's time we discover what he knows. Maybe that will help with my memory."
"I understand your reasoning, but it could also be dangerous," she said, unconsciously moving closer to me with a worried frown.
"I really need to know who I am."