Here it was. The scenario I'd feared the most. The one I'd worried about countless times before. What if one of Mr. Weston's personalities woke up early and found me naked in their bed? I used to think that was the worst thing that could possibly happen. I was wrong.

Arthur. Of all the people he could have been today, why did it have to be Arthur? The one personality I was trying to ease into the truth? This situation was anything but easy.

He avoided all eye contact with me. He stared down at the bedsheets, his eyes still wide with shock. He shook his head, sputtering out incoherent half-sentences as he tried to make sense of whatever was going on.

Guilt flooded every inch of me. Poor Arthur. He was the last person I wanted this to happen to. He already had so much anxiety about his "memory loss." I couldn't even imagine the confusion and panic that he must have felt thinking he might have forgotten our first time together. Well, what he believed to be our first time anyway.

I grabbed the blankets and quickly covered myself, trying to salvage what little bit I could from this situation. I reached out to touch his arm gently. He flinched away from me like I'd electrocuted him.

"Arthur-"

"What the hell is going on?!" He cried.

His voice was panicked. He looked terrified. However, now that he'd finally managed to say something, he did seem a little more in control of himself. That was reassuring. To some degree.

Honestly, I was panicking about this situation too, but I couldn't let him see that right now. Right now, he needed stability. He needed me to calmly and rationally explain what was happening. He needed a rock. Unfortunately, I felt more like a rock in a hard place.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Look, I know this is probably very confusing-"

"You think?!" He held his head in his hands and took a shaky breath. "What's going on? Why are you here? Why are you... I-I mean, did we..."

I could see the pain on his face as he trailed off that last question. I wanted to answer him, but I wasn't sure what to say. Yes? No? Both were true, but neither was really the full truth.

The full truth. It was the thing I'd been waiting so long to tell him. The thing I wanted to tell him. I wanted to finally put his mind at ease. I wanted him to stop worrying and searching for answers all the time. I wanted him to wake up in the morning and feel confident that, memory or no memory, it would all be okay. That someone would be there to give him an explanation. That I would be there. More than anything, I wanted him to know that.

But not like this. I never wanted him to find out this way. I wanted to break things to him gently. Well, as gently as you can break the news to someone that they're technically a mental disorder.

Was there a right way to do it? Probably not, but this was definitely the wrong way. It was obvious that there was no "putting things off" anymore though. If I still had the option of not telling him before, it was certainly gone now. I had to tell him. I just wasn't sure how to do it.

As I watched him sit there, confused and panicked, one thing was obvious: I needed time. Time for him to calm down, if nothing else. Before anything, I had to take care of him.

I took a deep breath and reached out again. I touched his arm gently with my fingertips. This time, he didn't pull away. I gave his arm a gentle squeeze. If I wanted to comfort him, I suppose the best place to start was with the thing he wanted to hear the most.

"I took care of things with my boyfriends," I said softly.

I thought saying that might help to calm him down, but I was surprised by how effective it was. His personality did a complete one-eighty. It was like someone flipped a switch in him. All traces of worry or panic immediately disappeared from his face. Instead, a mixture of curiosity and hope took its place.

He turned towards me quickly. A huge smile filled his face. It was like he'd completely forgotten the fact that he woke up with me naked in his arms just moments ago.

"Y-you did?" He asked like he couldn't believe it.

I nodded and gave him a small, reassuring smile. He reached out and grabbed my hand. As he did, it seemed like he finally remembered I was naked under the covers. He looked away again and cleared his throat. His cheeks were bright red.

"So, umm... Was this... celebration then?" He asked, gesturing towards me.

Poor Arthur. He was still trying to figure out how we got here. I was glad he seemed to have calmed down, but we weren't exactly out of the woods yet. It would be better if I distanced us from the subject for a while.

"Not exactly," I said honestly.

"Then how did we-"

My stomach screamed as if doing everything in its power to interrupt him. His eyes went wide with shock. He gave me a concerned look.

"Oh! I don't think we actually ate dinner yesterday," I said, just realizing it myself.

He frowned. "Anna, I've told you about that. Don't neglect yourself for my sake. If I'm ignoring your needs then, by all means, take care of them yourself. With or without me."

If there was anything convenient about Arthur, it was the fact that he was easily distracted. I knew I couldn't keep him off the subject forever, but hopefully, I could at least get through breakfast.

"How about I take care of them with you, and we start with eating?" I suggested.

"I suppose since it's my fault you're starved now, the least I can do is sacrifice some working time so you can eat properly," he muttered.

I rolled my eyes. Work again. New day, same old Arthur.

As I got up he immediately averted his eyes and turned to look at the opposite wall. I couldn't help but smile at how shy he was being. The difference between him and Victor was night and day.

"You do realize you've seen me naked before, right?"

"That was different," he said, still refusing to look my way. "That was work."

"Are my work body and my bedroom body different somehow?" I teased.

"The way I look at them is," he murmured. He paused a second, staring down at his hands. "Michelangelo once said that in every block of stone there was a sculpture already waiting, and it was the job of the artist to expose it. To me, that's what photography is. I find an object and use my camera to expose the beauty hidden inside. To expose its true potential.

When I take a photo of you, it's the same process. I don't look at you as a 'woman,' so to speak. That sounds a little strange when I say it out loud, but it's true. I'm not seeing you as a 'girlfriend,' or a 'woman,' or even a 'person.' You're a subject. And my only focus is to expose your true beauty. It's art. That's all."

I was a little taken aback by his response. Honestly, I wasn't actually expecting him to answer. Although, now that he had, I couldn't help the question that popped into my head.

"And what about my bedroom body?"

I noticed the blush deepen on his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat.

"That's... a different kind of beauty. Something that goes far beyond what my camera could ever capture. And... I don't want to see it on accident.

I want my first time seeing you that way to be special. Maybe I'm over-romanticizing it, but I don't want the first time I see you that way to be some passing glance or casual encounter. I want it to be something I'll always remember."

Arthur. He was still trying to create memories. I could understand what he meant. If he couldn't capture what he wanted on camera, then he had to do it by memory. No wonder he was so terrified waking up and finding me like that.

He seemed to remember that feeling himself. He immediately started to look worried again.

"Anna, how did we end up in bed like this?" He asked quietly. "I don't remember a thing. Did we... do something? God, I'll never forgive myself if I've forgotten that."

I was losing him again. I reached over and rubbed his back gently.

"Don't worry, I'll tell you everything," I promised, "but let's eat first. I'm starving and I can't think straight on an empty stomach."

Again, his face went from worried to concerned. He nodded.

"Right. Well, umm, get dressed then. I'll do the same and meet you downstairs."

I got out of bed and started to head towards the closet, but I stopped about halfway.

This was Arthur. I didn't share a room with Arthur. He'd only get more confused if I went to his closet to change. I noticed his shirt near the edge of the bed where Victor had tossed it last night. I picked it up and put it on.

"I'm going to borrow your shirt so I can go to my room, okay?"

"Right, of course," he agreed. "Just toss it in your hamper, I suppose. The cleaners take care of all that anyway."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could just barely see him look in my direction. It only lasted a second before he went right back to looking at the wall. I couldn't help smiling. Sweet, shy Arthur.

I buttoned up the shirt enough to cover myself and headed towards the hall. The cool morning air still made me uncomfortable, but the shirt at least gave me some sense of coverage.

Like he said, I tossed the shirt into my hamper as soon as I got in the room. I chose a slightly more modest dress than usual. I knew there was no taking back what had happened this morning but at least I could try to minimize the damage. Conservative clothes, professional distance, and as gentle an explanation as I could possibly give under the circumstances. That last part was the hard one.

Okay, Anna, now what? How was I going to explain everything to him? Obviously, the plan to slowly lead him into it throughout the day was out the window.

Confusing situation aside, Arthur was still Arthur, and I knew he wanted to get to work. The longer he waited for me to give him an explanation, the more time he wasted not working. I'd be lucky if I could make it through breakfast without him asking questions.

Either way, I couldn't spend all day up here worrying about it. The last thing I needed was for him to complain I was wasting all day with nonsense again. I tossed on my clothes and headed downstairs. I wasn't sure if Arthur would be there first or not. I just hoped I wouldn't have to fetch him from his room. Or the studio.

However, it looked like he was eager to get an explanation about this morning. He was already at the table and picking at his food by the time I got there. I wasn't sure if that made me more proud or nervous. He perked up as he heard me come in.

He shoved a plate of food my way. "Now, I understand you're hungry, but I refuse to waste all day in this room. So, please, be quick still."

I rolled my eyes, but did as he said and started eating. "So what's the big project today?"

He practically started glowing as I asked him. Uncomfortable situation or not, I was always amazed by Arthur's passion for his work. Asking him might have worked against me though. He immediately pushed his plate aside and forgot all about his food.

"Well, of course, today's the day!" He said excitedly.

I loved how he always seemed to think I could read his mind. I chewed on some eggs, giving him a blank stare. He gave a frustrated sigh, but his smile never left his face.

"You told me yourself. You finally settled things with your boyfriends," he explained. "Or should I say 'ex-boyfriends'."

He was almost bouncing out of his seat as he said that last sentence. I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised. After all, he'd been waiting a while for me to tell him everything was finished. Of course, Arthur would want to gloat a bit in his victory over these mysterious "other men." If he only knew.

Although, I guess he was going to find out sooner rather than later. He kept glancing down at my plate anxiously. Every time I took another bite, he looked like he died a little more inside.

He tried his best to be patient, he really did, but Arthur was still Arthur. After ten minutes, he couldn't take it anymore.

"Are you almost finished?" He asked impatiently.

"Soon."

"Can I at least start asking questions while you finish up?"

"Like what?" I asked cautiously.

"Well, to start, how did they react when you finally told them?" The glow returned to his face as he said this.

"After breakfast." I said bluntly.

He frowned. "But-"

"What happened with them is related to what happened this morning," I explained. "I'd rather just tell you everything at once so we can have the chance to really talk about it."

His face was full of questions, but he kept quiet. It seemed like, for now, he was accepting my answer. Although, that didn't help at all with his patience. After a few more minutes of him not-so-subtly begging with his eyes, I gave up and pushed my plate away.

"Alright let's go to the studio and get started," I sighed.

He hopped out of his chair in a second. "Great! Let's go."

He ran off, leaving me behind in the process. I couldn't help but laugh a bit. Arthur. That over-eager attitude of his was one of the things I loved most about him. In his hurry to get started, he completely forgot me. His subject matter.

He seemed to realize this himself though. As I walked upstairs I saw him standing outside the studio, looking down at the ground awkwardly. He didn't turn towards me, but I saw his face turn red as he heard me approach. He cleared his throat nervously.

"Umm... I suppose I could have walked with you downstairs," he muttered.

I smiled. "It's fine. After all, you have equipment to set up still."

He shook his head. "No, that doesn't matter. Today's a special day. I feel like I've been waiting forever for you to say it was done. To know that you were finally all mine. And what's the first thing I do when that happens? Abandon you downstairs."

Though I didn't really mind that he left, I was touched that he seemed to care so much. While Arthur had been a bit more affectionate since we started "dating," it always felt like he was holding something back. Like he was waiting until I was completely his before he became completely mine. I couldn't help but wonder exactly how much he'd been holding back until now.

"It's fine," I reassured him. "I fell in love with you exactly the way you are. Forgetfulness and all."

He smiled softly at the ground. "Then I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that's all going to change. I refuse to be the kind of man who forgets something so important."

His words were sweet, but his eyes held a tinge of sadness as he said them. I could tell he was still worried about this morning. And he had every right to be.

I'd known for a while now that Arthur worried about his "memory problems." As scared as I was to tell him the truth, part of me was happy to know that, after today, he'd finally have an explanation. That no matter what happened today, he'd never again have to wonder what was wrong with him.

He cleared his throat and stood up straight.

"Well, umm, shall we get started?" He asked, motioning towards the studio.

I nodded and followed after him. He started setting things up immediately. Though Arthur always moved with purpose, this was the first time I'd seen him do things so urgently. He set up his equipment with a speed I didn't think was possible. Even for him.

"Ms.- umm, Anna," he corrected. "Please, sit down while I finish setting up."

I couldn't help smiling. Things like that made it obvious the photographer brain was still in control of his actions.  Though he always preferred calling my by my name, he would still occasionally slip up and call me "Ms. Walton." Every time he did he looked just as embarrassed as the kid who called the teacher "mom" in the middle of class.

I did as he asked and sat in my usual chair while he played around with lights and his camera settings. Though I felt a sort of comfort watching him do something so familiar, the knowledge of what I was about to tell him sent my anxiety through the roof. The longer I sat there, the faster my heart seemed to race. While I had a general idea of what I was going to say to him, the actual words had yet to appear. I started to worry if they'd ever appear.

Not that it mattered. A few minutes later, Arthur stepped back and stared at the scene as a whole. Slowly, a smile filled his face and he began to nod his head.

"Perfect!" He announced. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's get started."

"Where would you like to start?" I asked.

Asking was almost pointless. I already knew the answer. He wanted to hear about my "ex-boyfriends" and how we ended up naked in the same bed this morning. The question was less to avoid the subjects, and more so I would know where to start with them. After all, it's not like I had any clue where to begin.

"Naturally, with the question you avoided at breakfast," he teased. "What did your boyfriends say when you finally told them?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I heard the familiar click of Arthur's camera as I did. I glanced at him. He gave me a sheepish smile and half-shrug, as if to say "Come on, you know I had to." He motioned for me to continue.

I smiled at him weakly. Arthur. What could I say to him?

"They were both surprised when I told them about you, of course," I answered honestly. "Like usual, Jack was a little more understanding and Victor was a little more hot-headed."

"In what ways? If you don't mind me asking," he added quickly.

I shrugged. "Isn't that the whole point of this project?"

"It is, but..." He paused a moment. His face was serious. "I know this wasn't easy on you. You've told me yourself, these men weren't flings you were playing around with. You really cared about them. I'm happy beyond words to finally have you all to myself, but I know you might not necessarily feel the same."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand to stop me. He gave me a sly smile before snapping another picture. He glanced down at his camera.

"I'm not saying that I think you don't love me or you're not happy to be with me," he explained, "but I know choosing me wasn't easy to do. I know that's part of the reason it's taken you this long to do it. I'm sure it broke your heart to let them go, and I'm sure you might still miss them at times. I know that, I accept it, and I'm not at all upset by that fact."

"You're not?"

Though he still didn't fully grasp our situation, I was surprised by how understanding he was with what he did know. I'd had exs who flipped out by me just mentioning an old boyfriend's name, but accepting that a part of me still loved them? Arthur was a god among men.

"Of course, I'm not," he said, chuckling softly. "How petty would I have to be to be upset at you for loving someone? You had a past together, you truly cared for them, and you didn't end your relationship due to any bitter circumstances. It only makes sense you'd still love them."

"It really doesn't bother you at all?" I pressed.

"Not really."

"Why not?"

I knew I should just be happy that he was being so understanding about all this, but I couldn't help asking. How could he be so okay with this? He was so insistent that I break up with them. So impatient to hear that I'd finally done it. How could he be so okay knowing I was still in love with other men?

He shrugged and fiddled with his camera. "Because I trust you, of course."

He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, but I was dumbfounded. I guess it must have been obvious. He glanced up and immediately snapped a picture. A gentle smile was on his lips as he looked down at the photo he'd just taken.

"I know that reason might seem simple or stupid, but it's the truth," he murmured. "I trust you, Anna. I trust you completely. So, by all means, keep loving them. Love them with all your heart. Love twenty men, love a hundred. It doesn't matter, because I know in my heart that you'd never betray me.

You've always been honest with me, you've never shied away from telling me how you feel, and you've kept every promise you've ever made to me. So, if you're telling me that things are over with them and I'm the only man you'll be with from now on, then I believe you. It's not my place to tell you to stop loving them. All I can do is make sure you never regret your decision to love me."

I felt my heart breaking as he said this. Guilt flooded every inch of my body. Always honest, huh? Not even close. How long had I been hiding the truth from him now? As his caretaker, I could justify it. But as his girlfriend?

How could I possibly explain keeping the truth from him for this long? Actually, forget keeping the truth from him, I'd flat out lied to him. I mean, I guess I technically never said I'd break up with my boyfriends, but using a loophole like that made me feel slimey. Like I was looking for a way to justify lying to him for this long.

I didn't want to do that. Not anymore. 

"Arthur... I didn't break up with them."

His face went blank all at once. He looked up at me, but his face held no emotion. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but he couldn't make the words come out.

"I- but you-you said-"

"I didn't break up with them because I can't break up with them," I explained. "I can't break up with them and have a relationship with you at the same time. It's not possible."

"That doesn't make any sense!" He snapped. "You promised me it would be over between you and them. I won't share you, Anna! I love you. I love you more than anything, but I meant what I said before and that hasn't changed. I won't share you with them."

His face was red again, but this time, it was with anger. I could understand why. He had no idea why something as simple as a breakup was somehow so hard for me. He didn't understand why it was so impossible for me to let these two men go. And how could he? In all this time, I never once gave him a proper explanation about "the others." All I ever told him was that things were "complicated." And that answer wasn't good enough anymore.

"Arthur... you don't have a choice. You have to."

"I won't!" He insisted angrily. "Absolutely not! How could you even ask me to-"

"Because they are you!"

The anger faded from his face. Instead, confusion took its place. He didn't seem to know what to say. I didn't either.

This was it. The moment I'd been agonizing over. It was finally here.

The woman who was always honest, the woman who wasn't afraid to share her feelings, the woman who always kept her promises. That's what he really thought of me, and until now, I'd never lived up to any of it. It was time for that to change.