 
You can't ....." She burst out.
And I looked at her panicked expression and wondered what was she thinking about and as if she understood my confusion she came closer to me and held my hand.
And her eyes were staring at my hand.
For a few seconds, my face was blank as I stared back not understanding than my face flushed deeply as I looked at the ring on my left hand. It was the ring given to me by Don after he proposed to me that day. And I didn't have the heart to remove it. As we were about to get married.
"You can't wear that........If he saw that." Cathy groaned.
"I am engaged to be married," I said stubbornly.
Cathy looked distraught and said, "Carmen don't you understand he thinks you are still together? "
"Well, he's wrong then. "I said firmly.
"You've got to pretend it's true just for a few moments." Cathy cried with a sort of anguish, "It would be too much of a shock to tell h


What a day! I sighed audibly as I washed the dishes. 
I would have to meet Don as soon as I had my bath and ring Mathias about the arrangements that he has made for me to travel to Milan. I am really glad he took the initiative as it would save me time.
Don, as I had expected was not happy about my decision to go to Milan, "Are you sure you haven't the smallest feeling for Marc anymore? I hope you don't want to get back together with him again?" He grabbed my shoulders his eyes searching my face for some hint of my thoughts.
"Don't be an idiot sweetheart, I hate that men, can you honestly think that I have any reason to want him back again, he deserted me one year after our marriage and left me to bring up my son entirely on my own.'
"Are you forgetting something?" Don said gently. " your husband does not know about Tio's situation and I feel quite sure from what you have told me about 


"Carmen................" Cathy started but then she looked at me hesitantly.
Okay, now I was really nervous. This conversation is getting more dangerous.
"Cathy what is it tell me," I asked anxiously. My hands were sweating and I felt like something is not right.
I looked at Mathias but he was looking at his mother.
"Mom you needd to tell her." Mathias insisted.
Cathy sighed and said. "He's dying," Cathy whispered. "Dying, Carmen."
For a few seconds, I just stood there staring at the window shocked and shaken, making my stomach clench. Different kinds of emotions were churning inside me. I did not want to be vulnerable like the way I had been six years back. I tried to block away all the insults that were thrown at me. And the words triggered in my head " He is Dying.." I moved a step behind nervously.
"What do you mean?" I could barely speak the words while trying to keep myself steady. As my limbs gave away because of the shock. "He was driving from Milan when he crashed into a lorry. Marc did not see it until it was far too late. It took them an hour to cut him out of the car." Cathy stifled another sob. "He lost a lot of blood Carmen."
Oh, God! I could barely speak I was shaking so much that I had to lean against Cathy or I would have fallen. All the color had left my face. Cathy held me in her arms. "Is he unconscious?" I asked after a moment trying to get a hold of my emotions.
"That's why I came," Cathy said quickly. "When he gained consciousness yesterday, the first thing he said was your name."
"Mine?" I closed my eyes.
"He asked where you were and when were you coming." Cathy was speaking amazingly fast as though I would run away. "He still thinks you are his loving wife."
The silence stretched between us for a long time. I was breathing heavily and could not speak a word.
Then I said quietly, "Why do you say that?"
"It was obvious," Cathy told me,. " He said.....where's Carmen? where's my wife? At first, I thought he was just dazed but then after a few minutes, I realise that I was wrong Carmen he has lost his memory he does not remember anything that has happened in the last seven years and that you....had left him and filed for a divorce.
"Was he concussed in the accident?" I asked worriedly.
"The doctor says so. His head injuries are serious. They operated when he was first bought in and they thought that they had relieved some pressure on the brain but who knows?" Cathy said grimly.
I motioned my lips. "You said he was dying. Is that what the doctors think?"
"He is being treated by very renowned doctors in Milan and they have confirmed that he has seriously injured his head and has lost his memory," Cathy said shaking her head. "But What do they say exactly?" I asked desperately.
Cathy shook her head and said, "He is not doing too well that is how they put in. He is very seriously injured. They told me if you come it would be healthy for his recovery."
If I would come! My eyes widened and I bit my lower lip, "Cathy there can be no question ...." "He asks for you all the time; wants to know why we have not brought you to him. Oh, Carmen do not you see Marc is afraid that you were in the car when he crashed, that you are dead, and we are keeping it from him." Cathy said desperately.
I watched Cathy with piercing eyes not knowing what to say. I could not conceive of Marc as anything but strong. Death was an empty concept in my picture of him. He had always been so vibrantly alive. "I know he has treated you badly," Cathy went on and that remark made my lips twist with bitter amusement.
"What an understatement!" It came out of my mouth before I could stop it.
"But he's dying you can't refuse to see him Carmen you know you can't." Cathy insisted.
I did not know, and it made me angry again to face all the facts again. My eyes were red, and I looked outside the window.
"I'll book the flight for you, you can come with us immediately," Cathy said quickly. "All you have to do is stand by his bed for a few moments to let him see you are safe. That will not kill you will it, Carmen? There was faint sarcasm. I noted, surprised since Cathy was always so gentle.
"Alright," I said wearily.
Cathy sighed with relief.
"I need to get back home and make some arrangements for Tio; you need to give me time till tomorrow. I will go on my own after I take care of things back home. "I said Sternly.
"Tio? Is that your son's name? How is he?" Cathy asked curiously.
"Don't worry Cathy we are both surviving and will do in the future as well. I hope when I go there, Marc will recover and would sign the divorce papers, so that I can move on and get married to Don." I ran my hand through my hair and Cathy stared at me. And I started wondering what was going in her head.


You can't ....." She burst out.
And I looked at her panicked expression and wondered what was she thinking about and as if she understood my confusion she came closer to me and held my hand.
And her eyes were staring at my hand.
For a few seconds, my face was blank as I stared back not understanding than my face flushed deeply as I looked at the ring on my left hand. It was the ring given to me by Don after he proposed to me that day. And I didn't have the heart to remove it. As we were about to get married.
"You can't wear that........If he saw that." Cathy groaned.
"I am engaged to be married," I said stubbornly.
Cathy looked distraught and said, "Carmen don't you understand he thinks you are still together? "
"Well, he's wrong then. "I said firmly.
"You've got to pretend it's true just for a few moments." Cathy cried with a sort of anguish, "It would be too much of a shock to tell him the truth Carmen, he isn't strong enough. Anything could tip the balance. Do you want his d

Chapter 5