Rebecca’s story

Coming so close wasn’t exactly a good idea, which is why he could definitely hear my heart beating like crazy. I couldn’t see him because of the bandages, but I was greedily inhaling his delicious aroma.

“Dominic Stone...” I repeated his name, and he immediately turned away from me. I couldn’t describe the feeling of abandonment I immediately felt.

“Therefore, you know me,” he reinforced the idea by hearing his name from my mouth. It wasn’t intentional, just an involuntary reaction, though. But my reaction was totally unexpected, even for me. I could say I was rude about it.

“Show me someone who doesn’t know you, Mr. Stone! And you’re here because...”

“It’s Dominic actually and I’m taking you home with me so I would answer your question without too many detours,” he concluded, and I even felt a victory glow on his face.

I shifted on the bed, barely restraining myself from laughing. At the same time, I was also nervous. I didn’t want to seem rude, but who would have thought that not only had the great actor saved me from the big bad wolves, but that he had invited me to stay in his house as well?

“I’m sorry I reacted this way, but you know I am, at this point, a person with special needs. Just look at me. I can’t walk, I can’t see... to hell with it, if I could just see you, so I know you’re telling me the truth...”

- And I’m sorry too that you don’t believe me, but I trust that in time you will. The simple truth is that you’re coming home with me because you need my help. "

What he just told me not only made me think seriously, but it made me even more intrigued. It wasn’t like I didn’t have someone to take care of me. I could afford to pay for the most expensive treatments and nurses to help me.

“I don’t need anyone’s help, least of all yours. I can take care of myself,” I explained at length, trying hard to keep myself from bursting. Who did he take me for?

“I’m aware of that, Miss Holland, but it is possible that the attack I saved you from cannot be accidental, so I will not risk your life. Therefore, you are coming with me!”

“Then why can’t I remember the attack? How do I know it’s not made up by you?”

When I asked this, the room filled with a heavy silence. Frankly, I didn’t like it one bit. But just then Declan explained.

“Miss Holland, the reason you don’t remember the attack is due to post-traumatic shock, which seems to have caused more damage to your body than I expected. You are currently suffering from what I call selective amnesia.” This news fell like a bombshell and although I couldn’t see the faces of the two men, I could feel their eyes on me.

“Selective amnesia? Can you be more specific?”

“It means that there are specific parts of your life, most of them distressing, that you may not remember. Your mind is selecting memories in order to protect you. Therefore, your brain has blocked out the moment of attack”

“Protect me from what, doctor?” I already didn’t like the way Declan was expressing himself and I felt like my problem was going to cause me a lot of trouble in the future. And it was something I couldn’t allow.

“If you remember all the bad things that happened to you all at once, your mind might not be able to cope and it can collapse. The brain thus developed a protective barrier. In other words...”

“I’ll go crazy...” I added it in shock over the verdict.

“In a way, Miss Holland. I’m so sorry to bring you such terrible news”

Was he really? It didn’t really matter now that I still had a bandage over my eyes that he hadn’t removed yet. God knew what was waiting for me.

“Enough chatter, it’s time to tell you Miss Holland that I won’t leave you alone!” that male voice intervened and every time I heard it sent shivers through my body.

“I see, Mr Stone…” I approved by looking at him, but the bandages still bothered me.

“So you do know me...” His voice got a tone lower.

“Who doesn’t? Are you here because...” I had to acknowledge the actor’s notoriety but there was no guarantee that the man in front of me, whom I couldn’t see, was actually Dominic Stone.

“I have only one reason for being here. I’m taking you home with me!”

That news fell like a bomb to my ears. I shifted on the bed, struggling to keep myself from laughing. I was not trying to sound rude, but who would have thought that not only did he not save me, but Dominic Stone, the man an army of women sigh for, came to take me home? To what purpose? And then I burst.

“I’m deeply sorry, but you are aware that I am a person with special requirements at the moment, right? What I mean is I can’t walk, apparently I can’t see either... damn, if I could only see you so I would know you are telling me the absolute truth”

“I am sorry too that you don’t believe me, but God knows, in time, you will. Still, the truth is you’re going home with me because you need help and I can provide you with that help.”

He spoke with such certainty and determination that for a moment I felt that this was what I was supposed to do, go to this stranger’s house. But my mind was still in a fog. I still didn’t fully know what had happened to me. I just didn’t trust a stranger. Even if he was the one who saved me, because it was pretty obvious that he did.

“What will happen to my family?” I had a sister that could be worried sick.

When I questioned this, the room filled with a harsh stillness. Frankly, I didn’t like it. But then doctor Dominic interfered again, explaining.

“Miss Holland, I am aware you have a next of kin, and I am aware she is not here, in New York. Rest assured that I will call her and explain about your situation. I have to, being your doctor. As for Dominic here, he saved you and to be honest you would need some help in the near future, so he is the only one now that can do it”

I’ve often heard men support each other’s opinions, but this was a unique situation. Or at least that’s what I was trying to convince myself. I said it with my own mouth. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t feel my legs, I wasn’t sure I could see either.

Although I hated to admit it, Dominic was right. And whether he was the actor was less important. This man had saved me from the clutches of death. It was impossible. He could hurt me.

I wanted so much to remember the attack, to know who did it and why? And more importantly, to know if I was with anyone else. But the memories were so distant.

“Doctor, if you want me to go to his house so badly, then you’d better take the bandages off as soon as possible,” I said, perhaps a little more determined than I would have expected. I could almost hear his smile.

“Ok, your wish is my command. In fact, that’s exactly what I intended to do, so I came prepared” Even the cheerfulness in his voice surprised me. Maybe I really got seriously injured and my recovery was this doctor’s victory.

As soon as I heard the clink of utensils, I knew it was the big moment. The moment of truth. If I said I wasn’t nervous, I’d be lying. I was. A lot depended on my vision.

Somehow behind the bandages, I closed my eyes as I felt the cold stainless steel on my cheek, cutting the piece of cloth covering my face.

I could feel my heart beating like crazy and even expect either joy or disappointment. From two precise cuts, the bandage fell gently caressing my cheeks. Now there were the patches remaining stuck to my eyes. My breathing quickened and as I felt Declan’s deft hands, I was one step closer to the truth. As soon as he peeled off my white patch, I expected everything to be dark until my eyes got used to the light. Declan himself was keen to assure me of that.

“Miss Holland, don’t be scared. You won’t see anything at the moment. It’ll take ten minutes, a quarter of an hour tops to figure out the result. In the meantime, allow me to use the medical flashlight...”

I had calmed down listening to the doctor, but I had to admit I was afraid. Time passed rather quickly, and the room had become quiet. I still couldn’t see anything, and I was panicking.

“Doctor, what’s going on? Why can’t I see yet?” I panicked, turning my head left and right as if searching for the perfect position for my eyes to receive vision.

“Let me look...” And Declan approached again with the flashlight. “Do you feel that? Does it bother you?” he asked curiously, but I didn’t even know what I was supposed to feel.

“I don’t... I can’t see... What is supposed to bother me?”

“The light! Something’s wrong, Miss Holland!”

Rebecca’s story

I was desperately trying to keep my composure, but I was not succeeding. I couldn’t see anything, and the doctor’s confirmation gave me the creeps.

Despite the situation I was living at maximum intensity, I tried to follow Declan’s voice.

“Miss Holland, we’re going to do a CT Scan again. Something’s wrong and I need to find out what.”

He didn’t wait for me to answer and immediately supported me to sit down in what appeared to be a wheelchair. “Don’t be scared that it is a chair for disabled people. It’s the easiest way to carry you”

It was damn scary being carried into the unknown, but I could feel both men next to me. Dominic still hadn’t freaked out and abandoned me.

By the time I got to the room where I was going to have my CT scan, my nerves got stretched to the breaking point. “I’m going to lay you on a table, Miss Holland, and to help you not move, I’m going to strap you down. You’ll have to stay perfectly still!” repeated Declan, and it wasn’t long before I found myself alone in this machine scanning my skull.

From what I had seen on TV, both Declan and Dominic were supposed to be in an outer room watching the pictures the scanner was taking.

The torment lasted for an hour at most, during which I not only didn’t move but also had my heart beating frantically. Thousands of questions were running through my head. What could cause my blindness? Would I stay like this forever, or was it temporary? Only Declan could give me the answers as he read the X-rays.

In no time, the doctor transported me back into the room. Normally the result came within 24-48 hours, but Declan rushed it to have it today. I needed to know immediately what was happening to me.

However, I spent most of the day in the hospital and it wasn’t until the evening that Declan and Dominic came in. I had asked Dominic to leave me alone during the day, otherwise he would have stayed with me until now.

“How is it? Declan...” I asked, frightened, blinking involuntarily, as if whatever was wrong with my eyes would be pushed away.

Declan’s response was not long in coming, but it was exactly what I feared most.

“Miss Holland, I have good news and not so good news. The less good news is that you do indeed have an injury to your eye nerve, that is because of posttraumatic stress. And the good news is it’s not permanent. So your recovery could happen any time now.”

I haven’t had better news than this in as long as I can remember. Although I couldn’t see, I was glad it was temporary. If there was a dance of joy right now, I would do it.

“Okay, then if everything is as it should be and there is no more serious cause for concern, I suggest we cut to the chase and go straight home,” interrupted Dominic, who until then had been silent and seemed like he didn’t really care about my condition or that I was so happy I wasn’t blind permanently.

Although it seemed hard to believe, I tried to pick myself up piece by piece and focus on what might be important. To focus on this man’s help. Maybe I didn’t have family close by, maybe I was alone and all I needed now was a change of scenery. I’ve been through some tough times. But I’ve survived. That was the most important thing. And the next thing, although it would cost me my pride, was to allow this man who claims to be Dominic Stone to help me.

But then another terrifying thought raced through my already affected mind. What if he was not who he claimed to be, and I went to a stranger’s house? What would then happen? Who would I call to get help? I would be defenseless and unable to protect myself against this man. He seemed very tall when he approached me. Now, what was I supposed to do?

If it came to the issue of me accompanying him to his house, I might as well not show that I was afraid.

“When do you want us to leave?” I asked half-heartedly. Maybe it wasn’t to my advantage to upset him.

But again, that silence. And I knew the answer to that question would again be with Declan. Dominic seemed impatient, though.

“Declan?” His voice sounded low, deep.

“Oh, yes, Dominic... I’ll sign the discharge papers and let you two go. Do you want to stay here and help her pack?” I didn’t really expect it, but I had to admit I needed the help.

“I’d like that” And his voice was no longer serious, but suddenly jovial.

Declan left me alone with this Dominic, but I still didn’t believe in his identity. But the moment he turned his attention to me, I felt that this room was far too small and the air far too thin to breathe.

“Miss Sinclair, is it alright if I help you pack your things?” Perhaps it was time to stop being so formal.

“Rebecca, you can call me Rebecca. And you can start by passing me my clothes from the closet”

For a moment, our hands touched, but instead of pulling mine away, I kept them there. He did the same. The feeling itself was intoxicating, compelling me to want more. Wondering what sort of thrills those hands could bring to life? The thought made me shudder. The anticipation of him helping me get dressed was driving me insane. What was wrong with me? I didn’t even know this man that well. In fact, I didn’t know him at all. I felt grateful that he saved me, but from gratitude to lust and desire, that’s a long way. Or was it?

I turned away, leaving my bare back for his eyes to see. Moving closer, I felt his breath warming the small spot next to his mouth. God, he was so close. I could almost feel his lips caressing my skin. Or was it my imagination? It had to be. Then his fingers grabbed the zipper of my blouse, pulling it up. Again, their closeness made me shift reality into sweet fantasy. I felt every part of my body coming to life. It was like it had been frozen, and now it was melting beneath his enticing touch. If sin had a name, it was certainly Dominic’s name. He truly was who he pretended to be. He had to.

“I am done, Miss Rebecca. Is it ok if we go?” I could feel an excitement in his voice, as if he couldn’t wait for us to leave. But because I could not take a step, I knew the wheelchair was still close by. It was to become a good friend to me in the coming months, maybe, if not years.

“Allow me a brief second, please.” And with the same eyes I still couldn’t see, I tried to guess where the chair was. “Would you give me a hand?”

I gestured to my wheelchair so he would realize I was going to need help to get into it. In an instant, I felt his arms wrap around me and hold me. My cheek whisked his sculpted torso. I rested my face there. It was warm and welcoming.

After he placed me in the chair, I pushed it hard to the window, the only place I could envision the warm light of the sun during the day or the mystery of the moon at night. It was also the place where I could praise God, hoping He wouldn’t abandon me in my time of need. “You know, this is where I would pray to God that one day He would do me a miracle and bring me the man who saved my life... and apparently

that was what He did!”

I didn’t expect him to believe me from the first words that I was believing in him.

“But you still don’t trust me...” he interrupted my thoughts, confirming exactly what I was already thinking.

And he was kind of right. Who would do such a thing? Humanity kind of disappeared for a while now. Yet I felt the need to assure him I wasn’t that unfaithful.

“Give me some time... mister!” My politeness was so forced. But he didn’t miss a thing.

“I could ask you to address me as Dominic, as I call you Rebecca, but you still don’t think that’s my name...”

I had tried not to be rude, but his acidic retorts gave me no peace. And since I felt inferior and vulnerable anyway... words were all I had left.

“Dominic Stone would not have been in New York at the same time a few creeps attacked me and stopped the car, putting his life in danger of getting me out of there alive. What are the chances of that to happen?”

“Good question, but you certainly didn’t think that an actor like Dominic Stone wouldn’t have anything strange about being in New York. He might have had an early event and maybe he has a house in New York too”

“If we are playing this particular game, I may not be winning.” I admitted, somehow defeated again in my pride.

“That means you do believe me!” The confidence with which he stated these things drove me crazy.

“Actually, I don’t... for now. The chance is too... I don’t know...” The truth was only one. When I was around him, something was happening to me. I couldn’t even get my thoughts straight.

“Do you believe in destiny, Miss Rebecca?” I was so tempted to say yes, but I hardly restrained myself.

“I used to believe before this terrible thing happened to me, but now I feel like fate is playing so many tricks on me”

“Or perhaps you’re messing with destiny. Think about it... you were in a terrible situation, almost getting killed, but somehow you beat the odds and made it through”

“I will not take credit alone. It all was with your help, you mean”

“I just like to believe I was just a well-placed pawn on the board of your destiny. You know, the perfect fit at the wrong time. Consider it like this. It’s not about who saved you, it’s about the fact that someone saved you. It was fate that placed me there”

His modesty was incredible. Or maybe it was acceptance? Surely he would have done that for any woman, not just me.

“Whatever it was, thank you with all my heart. Dominic Stone or not, I will be forever indebted to you and somehow, don’t ask me when or how, I will make it up to you. For you know, your life, from now on, will never be the same. Taking care of a blind, disabled lady is not a straightforward thing to do”

“Why don’t you let me worry about that? And if you must redeem yourself with me, get over it. First, trust me and then I will let you do it”

I still couldn’t get used to the nonchalance with which he threw his words at me, but maybe that’s how he was. “Let’s go then. I have the car parked outside. One of these days I plan to take you someplace”

“Take me where?”

“It’s a surprise! I don’t reveal surprises”

And with that, the brief exchange of lines ended and the next thing he did was take my hand, holding our fingers together. It was like he didn’t want to lose me, even though I was in a wheelchair. I wouldn’t have gone anywhere. Suddenly, this gesture of delight sent a zillion shudders down my spine. He picked me up from the chair and placed me in his car. When I flinched, his calm, protective tone of voice restored my confidence. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you!”

He stretched out his hands to me, feeling their tenderness. They were large, welcoming, even sinful. It was his way of saying to me he would be here for me... forever!