The Royal Contract

She woke up with a brilliant smile on her face. She could see the bright light coming from the lone window in her room. But she doubted it was the reason for her sudden enthusiasm.

It must have been her dream, remembering only a few bits and pieces of the story that played in her mind. Or it could be something else.

She just had not figured it out yet. Maybe later, it would be more evident as she recalled more information and made sense of the puzzle pieces.

"Hey, Sweetie. How are you feeling today?" Mrs. Sheldon, her mother, walked toward her bed, looking as jolly as she was.

She could only speculate that they might have a different reason for their high spirit. Nevertheless, she was happy to see the middle age woman smiling.

She might not remember her in her memories, but she felt an odd connection with her. She knew she could trust her and felt safe around her.

Besides, she loved the food she kept bringing to the hospital. Its delicious taste helped her gain her appetite. Slowly, she was eating solid food again.

She believed it helped her gain some weight again and put some flesh on her body. She noticed how thin she was when she woke up from her coma.

"Hey, Mrs..." Then, she stopped, realizing she was about to call her mother just like how the nurses did. "Mom." She quickly corrected herself as she tried to get used to her presence.

However, she could not help but wonder where her so-called fiancee was. Usually, every time she opened her eyes, he was there. He would be sitting on the sideline and patiently waiting.

"How are you feeling today?" She asked as she placed the things she had brought with her today. "The doctors said you were responding well to your therapy sessions."

She could not say if her performance would classify as good enough, but she managed to follow some of the orders. Still, she failed many of the crucial tests.

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She had to work on doing better next time, which would be an hour from now, looking at the clock on the wall.

"I think I am better than yesterday." That was the best way she could describe her situation.

She could still feel pain throughout her body, but the doctors assured her it would eventually disappear as she strengthened her muscles again.

She had been sleeping so long that her body had forgotten how to move. Besides, she still needed to increase her body strength so that her legs could support her weight.

"That is great news." Her mother continued, cheerful as ever. She wondered if she had always been this happy. Or was it just because she was getting better?

But what about her other family? What were they like? Did she also have a good relationship with her father and siblings?

So far, Roseann had been terrific as a sister. She was very attentive to her needs. Was that because her sister was a doctor? Or was it because their relationship was close, as she claimed?

Then, there was her fiancee. What about him? Why could she not remember him? Or any of her family. How could she get back what she had lost?

"Hey, what is wrong?" Her mother asked, probably noticing her change in demeanor as her smile turned to a frown, looking down at her fingers on her lap.

How could she explain to her mother what she felt when she could not understand it herself? Her mind and body seemed to be riding a roller coaster as it went on a high and suddenly plummeted low.

Was it her family that was causing her mood swings? Or was she sad because the only thing constant in her life was missing at that very minute?

Why was she even looking for him anyway?

"I just feel frustrated. Just a few minutes ago, I was happy I made some progress. But then again, I realize I might not remember my past again." Rosella expressed how defeated she felt about her ongoing condition.

Of course, she wanted to remember her family. She wished she could recall her memories again with a simple snap of her long fingers. But that was not how the mind worked.

Still, nobody could tell her how to regain her lost childhood or the last year of her life. The doctors could not help in that regard. They said only time could tell if her life would be the same again.

"I am sorry, my child. I wish I could say that everything would return to what it used to be. I don't want to lie and give you false promises." Her mother said as she sat on her bed, pulling her body into her warm embrace.

"I know, Mom. And I don't expect you to perform a miracle. But thanks for being here for me." Somehow, she felt her genuine love in her touch and the way she spoke to her.

Maybe her mind had forgotten about her, but her heart seemed to remember as she returned her hug with a warm embrace and a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you. And I guess I can safely say that I love you, Mom."

She just wanted to make her smile. However, she believed she was not faking it. She felt something for the older woman. And it was not just appreciation.

"I love you too, Rosella. More than you will ever know." Then, her mother pulled her again for a tighter hug, but not enough to make her body ache.

So far, she believed her body was beginning to cope with her situation. She had learned to adjust to movement, although it might take some time to recover her mobility completely.

"I think you should eat before we start crying." Her mother jokingly said as she pulled away from her and started fixing the food she had brought. "I hope you will try to eat more today. I cooked all your favorites."

Her mother kept saying that she cooked her favorites, but her mother kept bringing different meals every time she visited.

"Did I really eat a lot?" She asked, fascinated with her conclusion. But judging how her palate enjoyed everything her mother offered her, she must have.

"All of my kids love to eat. Maybe because I am a modest cook." Her mother humbly said.

"I think you are a great cook. At least in my book, since I love everything you have given me at least so far." She commented.

"Anyway, enough of that." Her mother said as she helped her into a more comfortable position and started eating the delicious meal.

She started with softer foods, but the doctors said she could slowly consume other solid foods. At least food that was easy to digest.

"Try to eat more. So you will have more energy during therapy." Her mother suggested as she helped her with another small serving.

She ate it with gusto. She was glad that swallowing the food was not that hard anymore compared to the first few days.

Even her voice had somewhat returned to normal. It was not as hoarse and out of breath as before. But she still had to exercise her lungs so she did not feel tired quickly.

"Mom, can I ask you a question?" She finally asked, hoping that she could help her with what was bothering her.

"Sure, what is it?" Her mother asked as she put away the leftover food, cleaning the room before the nurses took her away for her next session.

"What do you think of David?" She wanted to trust him, but the thought that she could not remember anything about him still bothered her.

Still, she could not stop thinking about her relationship with him. Just like now, why was she looking for him? Why did she feel uneasy not seeing him in the room when she woke up?

"Do you want my honest opinion?" Her mother said as she stopped what she was doing and turned to face her.

She nodded, assuring her mother in not so many words that it was what she wanted. She wished to know everything she could find out about the man she was supposed to marry.

"Ok. At first, I never liked that man for you. David was everything a mother would not want for her daughter." Her mother explained as she described to her why she did not like him.

"He came from a wealthy family, way above our social standing. In my experience, people from that class are untrustworthy.

Then, I also heard that he was a womanizer. He changed women as fast as he switched his clothes. And I didn't want you to be another one of his conquests." Her mother continued, shaking her head at the thought.

"And there was a time I saw you crying over him. But you will never tell me why. Until now, I don't know what happened that day." Her mother added.

"Do you still feel that way, Mom, about him now?" Rosella could not help but ask, suddenly curious about how she could like a man like that.

Why would she fall in love with him? How did she find herself engaged to someone her mother did not like? Or was she too in love with him? And she was too blind to see his fault.

Should she remain engaged to him? Or would it be better to end it now while she had a chance? Was he the man in her dream?