Madison paced across the floor of a sterile, alcohol smelling hospital waiting room. It had been hours since the ambulance rolled in with a near stranger named Brandon – a stranger who was kind enough to buy her dinner and tragically got in a car accident. This wasn't the way she had envisioned the night of her son's graduation going. In fact if she had it her way she would have had a BBQ dinner at home and spend the night watching a movie snuggled with her kids.

But instead she suffered a fate of sitting uncomfortably in the waiting room surrounded by strangers from other families that were mourning their own tragedies. She felt as though she was intruding on everyone's alone time. But there wasn't anything she could do. She had given the nurses Brandon's name and they were in the process of tracking his family down. But it just didn't feel right to her to leave him there alone.

She took a deep sigh and seated herself in the uncomfortable plastic chair. She glanced over at her children. It was well pass midnight and the girls had long since fallen asleep. But Noah sat awake with his phone open and texting away. "Noah" Madison said softly "you should really be getting some rest".

Noah shrugged it off and kept looking at his phone. His face looked as though he had quickly come down with some incurable illness. It was sunken and pale, for his young age he had worry lines along his forehead.

Madison couldn't help but wonder what was so interesting on his phone that could be affecting him so much. She glanced over his shoulder to see if she could get a better look. She knew it was wrong to do that, as a mother she should have given her son his space but she was concerned.

"Hey" Noah grumbled and leaned away from her "what do you think you're doing" he said sternly.

"I just wanted to see what you were doing" she said softly, her voice filled with guilt "I was concerned".

"You don't have to hover mom" Noah said, "I'm fine". But by the crack in his voice he didn't seem to be very fine.

Madison was going to say something more but an elderly man dressed in a long white lab coat walking towards them interrupted her. He must be Brandon's doctor. "Are you here for mister Haywood?" he asked softly glancing at the sleeping children.

She nodded and stood in order to address him better "I am sir".

He glanced her up and down "we can only give information out to family and I am afraid that only family can go back to see him".

Madison didn't know what came over her. She wasn't usually so impulsive but it appeared as though the events of the night was getting to her because she jumped into her words without really thinking about them first. "We are family," she said quickly. But now she needed an excuse "I'm uh I'm his wife".

The doctor pressed his lips in straight line for a moment. She was starting to think he wasn't going to believe her but eventually he stepped aside and held his arm out in direction "follow me".

She lifted Ella into her arms and Noah took hold of Emma. Together with the little girls they followed after the doctor to a room in the ICU. The doctor nodded to them when they reached the door "I'll leave you all alone".

With a deep breath Madison walked into the room. The room was bare with the exception of the medical tools and the bed with Brandon laying on it. Slowly she walked over to the man and looked down at him. His body was bandaged and stitched. His face was scrunched in pain but was otherwise clear from any blood. His hair was in tatters and fell over his face. Slowly and carefully she reached down and brushed his hair to the side.

"I heard his wife and kids were back here" a middle aged plump woman rolled a cot into the room. "Its nice to see the family reunited again. I'm nurse Margret. I'll be our husbands primary caregiver".

Madison nodded slowly; she hadn't expected the word of her being his wife travel across the hospital to others.

The nurse set out the bed and smiled "the children can sleep peacefully on the cot and I could bring in another one if you want".

She shook her head and placed Ella on the bed. Noah and Emma sitting next to her. "It's alright. I'll take the chair," she said tugging the seat closer to the bed.

"If you need anything you can press this button right here and a nurse will be with you shortly" Margret said walking around Brandon's bed to check his chart. "He is responding well with the pain meds, its hopeful he will awaken soon".

Madison nodded and rested her head in her hands, watching Brandon take his short breaths. The nurse laid a gentle hand on Madison's shoulder "he will be okay soon dear, and in the mean time you can still talk to him. The doctors believe that he can still hear and understand you dear".

She nodded again "thank you".

Margret smiled a little "you're husband will be fine dear. Have a nice night, try to get some rest". She gave the woman one final nod and soft smile and then she left them alone in the room.

Noah glanced over at his mother "so who is this dude anyways?"

His mother couldn't help but sigh a little "I truly don't know baby, he is as much a stranger to me as he is to you". She reached over and gently started to stroke Brandon's hair "the only thing I really do know about him is his name".

Noah eyed her curiously as he continued to fiddle with his phone "well what's his name?"

"He said it was Brandon Haywood," she answered.

Without another word her son started to type away again. They sat in silence for several minutes before Noah lifted his head up and addressed her. "Brandon Haywood is all over the internet" he turned his cell towards her to flash her a quick image of him on Google.

"That's him" Madison took a short breath. There weren't only photographs of him but there were also articles to read. "What in the world" she gasped. Who was this guy?

"According to my research" Noah flashed her a smile "or at least what I could find in five minutes. This guy that you saved seems to be a millionaire and CEO of Canada's largest publishing company, Telling Tales Publishing".

Madison was stunned, she moved closer to him to get a look closer look at the screen "h-he's a millionaire? Are you sure?"

"As sure as I can be mom," he scrolled though he articles "look at them all. Each one covers a different event he held or a new book that was being released. This guy has a lot going for him," he said giving a little shrug. He handed his cell over to his mother "see for you".

She started read through the articles. Her son was right. This man – who she saved – was in fact a CEO and a millionaire. There was everything in the pages of articles, from his trip to Hawaii last summer to the time he graduated from the university of Toronto. She was too stunned to say anything. She handed the cell back to her son and rested her head in her hands.

How could her night have taken such a turn? How could the man that had made her heart skip a beat be a famous millionaire? Not that she wanted a future with him but now she certainly didn't stand a chance with him. She was some loser girl from the slums of downtown that could just get by with the bills.

Maybe she had made a mistake getting her family involved with this man. Maybe they should just get leave. This wasn't the right place for them to be, this was for family only. She was invading.

But than again how could she leave now. She had told the doctor she was his wife, it wouldn't seem right now to walk out on him. And even if she wanted to leave the girls were fast asleep and Noah was even having a hard time keeping his eyes open. It didn't seem as though she had a choice but to stay and let them rest until morning. Once the sun rose she would get them settled in the car and go home.

She watched her kids across the room. The girls were tucked under the covers and Noah was sitting up at the end of the bed but he was slumped back with his head against the wall.

Madison reached her hand forward and clasped hold of his. She sat in a comfortable silence for what felt like hours. The only noise in the air was the sound of everyone's breathing and the heart monitor. She glanced at her children and found they were all fast asleep. Soon the silence came to be too much for her, she needed to say something.

As if uncontrolled she started to tell this near perfect stranger every little detail about herself. She was certain he was fast asleep and wouldn't hear a thing, so she might as well open up to somebody.

"My name is Madison Sweeney. I'm your typical thirty-five year old woman," she said holding onto his hand. "I'm an education assistant in a grade three classroom. I'm a mother of three children. I had my eldest Noah when I was only twenty-one, I know that may seem young but we were in love. He is just your regular teenage boy. He is into all the video games but he doesn't really get a lot since I can't afford them. And sometimes I worry that he might be getting to the age where he will start being into girls, I mean I have already seen him on his cell more often. I wonder if he is texting a girl.

I also had twin girls seven years ago; they are the sweetest little things with strawberry blond hair. Emma and Ella are their names, sometimes I worry that Ella is a little too shy but I suppose Emma makes up for it with how outgoing she is. They both love to colour so much, and I can never seem to get them enough coloring books. Emma loves Barbie dolls and she would collect all of them. Ella however is so interested in stuffed toys".

She sighed a little as tears started to form in her eyes. She had never really let all her emotions out, and she hated to cry about her pain. Usually she was the kind to bottle everything away and not let a single soul into her life. But with the events of tonight her emotions were running high and she couldn't hold back.

"Sometimes I feel like I am failing – actually it's all the time. I don't feel like I can be an adequate mother to the children. I can't give them all the things they deserve. Of course I can give them so much love, but I can never offer them the extra things like expensive toys and games. I feel like... a failure as a woman. I used to dream about my future where I would be a writer but most importantly I would be a wife and mother". She laughed a little nervously "I wanted half a dozen kids, I loved the idea of a big family. I even had my wedding planned out. It would be a winter wedding, held a small country styled inn. There wouldn't be too many guests, only those truly close to us. We would have a family style dinner followed by horse drawn carriage rides. My bridesmaids would be dressed in a dark red wine dress, that's my favorite colour by the way. It would be a winter wonderland.

"We would have lived in a beautiful country like home, maybe a bungalow. With a large wrap around porch and a comfy swing out front where I can watch the sunset. Instead I am stuck in an ugly little apartment with two windows facing nothing but another building. I suppose my life isn't all bad of course. I have my beautiful children, I try to make time for writing and I love to cook. We watch a family movie every Friday night, where we just cuddle and eat popcorn. I love taking the kids to the park, and secretly I love to go on the swings. It makes me feel like I can touch the sky".

Madison stopped talking and laughed a little "listen to me ranting on". She patted his hand softly a small smile playing on her face. "And you aren't even able to say a word."

"I say you haven't yet said enough," a husky voice said from behind Madison.

She spun around in her chair and gasped a little, an older man in his late fifties was standing in the doorway. A clean pressed suit was buttoned and perfectly straight on his body. His salt and pepper hair was gelled back into place, for somebody who was awake at five in the morning Madison was impressed by how well put together he was.

"Let me in" a soft but firm female voice said. A woman around the same age as the man burst into the room. She was maybe a little more ruffled than the man. She was in clean-cut pants and a silk blouse, but the blouse was miss buttoned and her dark brown hair was messy and jutting out everywhere. "Who are you?" the woman eyed her.

"I'm Madison Sweeney" she stood and walked over to the older couple – which had now both made their way into the room "and these are my children Emma, Ella and Noah". She gestured towards the children that were now rubbing their tired eyes and sitting up. Clearly the commotion of the new arrivals had awoken the children. "We found Brandon at the side of the road" she explained.

"Thank you very much for assisting our son" the man said but gestured to the doorway "we would like to have some alone time". The woman had already made a b-line for the bed and latched onto Brandon's hand.

"Of course, I understand" Madison rose and reached to help the kids out of the cot. "I hope and pray Brandon is alright," she said with one final nod towards the elderly couple. She held onto her girl's hands and led them outside into the hallway. She knew she could have taken them home, but she still had this little bit of worry about Brandon. So instead of going home she lead her family down to the cafeteria.

"I want pancakes," Ella said softly tugging on her mom's hand as she pointed towards the trays of food.

Maddie laughed a little and smiled "three pancakes with a dish of fruit it is then" she said grabbing two trays for the girls and Noah grabbed his own. She used the money she saved from dinner to buy the food and crossed the room with the kids to one of the many free tables.

"Are we going home soon mommy?" Emma said digging into her meal. Madison sighed softly and reached out to stroke her little girls tangled hair "as soon as you finish eating we can make our way home".

Noah was already busy on his phone again, focused on it even more than he was before. "Cool" was his only answer to going home.

She sat silently for the rest of the meal, only eating the remaining fruit that the girls had cast aside. When everyone was finished eating Maddie gathered the garbage on the trays but before she could throw everything away the nurse she had met earlier interrupted her.

"I am sorry to disturb you Mrs. Haywood, but your husband is awake and asking for you" the nurse said smiling.

"H-he's asking for me?" he asked confused. How could he be asking for her? He didn't know her at all; he shouldn't want to see her. "I uh, yeah I'll go see him".

"I thought we were going home," Emma asked curiously.

"Just after we see the man from before" Maddie smiled at her little girl and lead them, followed by the nurse, back to the hospital room. She took a breath and entered the room again.

Brandon sat up in bed, leaning back against the bedframe. His hair was tussled and messy. His skin was sickly pale and ashy. But his eyes were bright and warm. When he locked eyes with her it was as if there was a heat between them.

"Baby" Brandon's voice cracked. A large smile formed across his face as he held his hands out for her. "I've been asking for you ever since I awoke. I just wanted to see my beautiful wife".

"W-wife?" Madison had started to walk towards him but took a step away from him when she heard what he called her.

Brandon gave a warm loving laugh "well now I know I've been asleep for some time but I didn't think I was out for so log you would forget about me babe".

"I-I is sorry?" Madison asked in confusion. She was stunned, truly and utterly stunned. This had to be a joke or some cruel game. She wasn't married to anyone – certainly not this man.

"Don't tell me you've forgotten about our snowy wedding" Brandon reached out for her "I know it was fifteen years ago but it was the happiest day of my life. Other than when we welcomed our three bundle of joys". He grabbed onto her hand and gave it a squeeze. In a low voice followed by a wink he said "half way there babe" referring to the amount of kids she dreamed of having.

"What is going on?" she asked finally tearing her eyes away from Brandon. She glanced over at Mr. and Mrs. Haywood with curiosity written all over her face.

"We don't understand either" Mrs. Haywood said glancing away "he has been talking this way ever since he awoke".

"We called for the doctor," her husband added.

"And I told you guys I was fine" Brandon said trying to get their attention back but it went unnoticed when the doctor walked in.

"The nurse will lead you to my office. In a few moments I will join you, just after I discuss a few things with mister Haywood here" the doctor said getting right down to work. Stunned without ever being able to clear her head Madison followed silently behind the nurse to an office down the hall. She truly couldn't think and when the nurse asked if she wanted her to watch the children all Maddie could do was nod.

She sank into one of the free chairs and stared at the wall in confusion. He thought he was her husband? He even had what their wedding was like in their mind? And how many kids she wanted to have? How was any of this possible? It had to be a dream; there was no other way around it.

"What did you do to our son?" the man growled at her. "Just what did you say to him to make him think you're his wife?"

"Now Jonathan lets relax for a moment" the woman said calmly and took a seat in the other free chair. "I am sure there is a logical explanation to this all".

"Damn right there is Rebecca" the man – Jonathan hissed "this woman did something to our son. She could be making him say this for all we know. In fact she could even be blackmailing him".

"B-blackmail?" Madison stuttered out "I only found him n a car accident at the side of the road I swear".

"And who do you think you are?" Jonathan said sternly.

"I'm Madison Sweeney," she said softly.

"And what do you want with my son?" Jonathan hissed again "money? Cause you're not getting anything".

"I don't want anything" Madison nearly whimpered, "I only want to make sure Brandon is okay. I swear that is all I wanted".

"That is enough now John" Rebecca scolded.

There was a soft knock on the door before the doctor stepped inside. "Thank you for waiting, I'm doctor Haslet. Now I want to discuss these events. As I have come to realize," he said glancing at Madison "you are not in fact his wife".

"I'm sorry, but I didn't want him to be alone so I'm afraid I made that up" Maddie said.

The doctor nodded "I thank you for your apology but I am afraid that right now it doesn't matter very much. The trouble at hand now is the issue of Brandon believing that you are his genuine wife".

"And what has caused him to believe such a silly notion?" John demanded, "Was it something this little girl said to him?"

"I suppose in some ways it might be everything she said" the doctor answered. He raised his hand when John looked like he was going to snap. "She didn't do it on purpose. In fact it falls onto me. I told her it would help if someone talked to him".

"So talking to him made him thinks this stuff?" Rebecca asked confused.

"That and the accident. It is something very rare called delusion disorder. It is a disorder that affects the functioning of the brain; it makes it so the person will be unable to tell what is real and what is imagined. Studies show that abnormalities of certain areas of the that control perception and thinking might be involved in the development of delusional disorders. It can also be affected by stress or isolation," the doctor explained. "In this case we figure that it is an onset from the affects of brain damage he received in the accident. Of course he will still be able to function as normally as he did in the past".

"I don't understand" Madison looked at him feeling very lost and confused "why does he think we are married than?"

"There are several types of delusions" the doctor took his time to explain "in this case he has a delusional disorder that causes him to believe that another person, often someone important or famous, is in love with them. It seems as though through the stories you told him and by saving his life you became this important person".

"So what do we do?" Rebecca asked, "How can we help our son?"

"There are several medications we can try that should help, therapy is a good choice too but usually these things can take time. His true memories and thoughts will come back soon enough".

"We just wait it out?" Rebecca asked.

"There must be more than that" Jonathan growled, "We can't just sit by and do nothing".

"I am afraid there isn't" the doctor said softly "I wish there was more I could do but I will write you a prescription and get you in touch with a good therapist".

"Thank you" Madison nodded to the doctor as she got up. She felt as though she was walking on air and couldn't yet get her footing. "But I think it might be best if I excuse myself. I do hope that Brandon is feeling better soon" she glanced at the Haywood's and then rushed out of the room.

"Come on kids it's time for us to go" she said grabbing onto her daughters hands. She rushed down the hallway as if se was running from a nightmare – and maybe she was.

"Mom?" Noah asked confused and concerned as he followed after his mother "did something happen?"

"Nothing to concern yourself with dear" Madison said. But was that maybe a lie? Was there something to concern her over? Maybe she did have reason to worry. But than again there wasn't anything she could do about his memory and it wasn't her fault. She didn't do this to him – but if that was true why did she feel as if all this was her fault?

Photo: Brandon