Chapter 9

Her Choice Today

The procedure slowed Elena’s decline.

It did not restore her old memories.

When she woke, she could no longer identify Dante from a photograph.

Dante went to the hospital every day.

He did not ask to enter her room. He stood behind the observation glass and watched from a distance.

Rowan introduced himself each time he visited.

“I am Rowan. Yesterday, you agreed to have breakfast with me today. You can change your mind.”

Elena checked the card beside her bed.

Rowan Kincaid

He will not make decisions for you

You may trust him

You do not owe him love

“All right,” Elena said. “Breakfast is fine today.”

The next morning, she forgot again.

Rowan asked again.

He never used yesterday’s permission to demand anything from her today.

Dante finally understood what Rowan had that he did not.

It was not more power.

Rowan never treated love as ownership.

On the day Elena left the hospital, Rowan waited near the exit.

“Would you like me to take you home?”

She looked at him.

“What did I say yesterday?”

“You said yes.”

“Why are you asking again?”

“Because today belongs to you.”

Elena smiled and held out her hand.

“I would like that today too.”

Dante stood across the street.

A nurse asked him quietly, “Should I tell her you are here?”

He remembered the promise he had made.

“No.”

Before Elena entered the car, her eyes passed over him.

She did not pause.

She saw an ordinary stranger.

Dante did not follow.

For the first time, he respected her choice even though it cost him everything.