"I told Mr Dos Santos that you've been throwing up and constantly feeling nauseous... can hardly keep anything in. He said he'd come around lunch with your medication." Florence told me as she opened the curtains. The sun rays immediately aimed at my face.

"Florence, you didn't have to! I told you that I'd be fine. I suppose it must have been an allergy of some sort."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course...!"

"Please assure him, I'm now feeling much better from that soup you made me earlier."

Finally coming to sit on my bed. I scooted over to the other side. She laid her hand on top of mine and whispered "Dear, I think you should tell him."

Nervous, I stuttered a bit. "I-uhm-tell him?"

"About Lorenzo junior..."

I immediately untangled my hands from hers. Letting out a nervous laugh. I couldn't stand that name. Having hid in my room for the past two days. Hiding away from the man who had done nothing but use me and hurt me. I was afraid if I saw him, I'd be too upset to keep calm. In the time, I had known Florence, she had told me so much about her two sons who were now in college, I knew all too well that the more symptoms I displayed. She'd be able to come to a conclusion faster than anyone else.

"He is literally a racist opportunistic white man who used me to get what he wanted. Doubt any of this would be blissful news. Racists don't rejoice about having children with people whom they already judge inwardly. It's already such a complicated situation. I'd appreciate if you kept it to yourself as well but I appreciate the concern."

"No no Mrs Dos Santos—"

"Just Soraya is fine with me, I'd like to pretend I did not get married to a con artist."

"My nephew loves you very much."

"Nephew?" I questioned.

"Yes, yes... he heard I was having a hard time in Lisbon especially after my husband's passing. Lorenzo said I could come and get a job here. I haven't quite found anything so I offered to simply clean up and take care of the house. He insisted I shouldn't, so did you but I don't mind. He pays for both my boys fees and I couldn't be more grateful to watch the young man, I use to look after now look after me. It's not that I can not find a job, I feel he does not want me to work. He'd much prefer for things to be this way. He gets home sick and it's always nice to have someone to speak to family about and so on."

"That's lovely." I told her. "Very nice of him."

"I'm the closest person he has to family. They don't exactly speak to him especially after—"

"...finding out that he married me..." I finished the sentence and she nodded.

"He also sold the house his father left him that way you could finish your degree. They heard about it and were convinced it was your doing." She added softly.

"I'm really really sorry, I've caused such havoc in your family unknowingly. More reason to not mention anything about... to him or anyone."

"I have to confess..."

My eyes widened.

"I was speaking to my sister and I had mentioned that you were feeling unwell and—"

"Oh God!" I sighed, immediately facepalming.

"I'm so sorry, I was simply excited at the thought of a baby being welcomed into the family. You know Lorenzo is the only boy and—"

"Did you at-least tell his mother it was a false alarm because of she will tell her son."

"All the women in our family can not stand the smell of garlic when they're pregnant. Lorenzo's mother knows and she is coming."

"What have I done?" I whispered to myself.

"Lorenzo thinks it's about her finally forgiving him but in reality. She is here because she heard about the baby. She means no harm. She had taken her passport a year ago, she wanted to visit one way or another."

"This is all too much for me."

"But we will tell her that we're no longer together and we sleep in separate rooms and just assure her that. I'm only getting my memory back as soon as that's over I will leave. I by no means want to fight for a spot in his life. It's best he picks his family."

I couldn't believe this. How could gossip quickly turn into such big turmoil? I was so afraid of Lorenzo's mother. After everything Paula had said, his mother did not seem kind.

"You asked for a divorce. He didn't. If anything that should tell you who loves who."

"That doesn't matter. This is all too much for me. I do not want to be part of this complicated mess. He should wholeheartedly be with someone whom he isn't ashamed of."

She smiled.

"Everything will be just fine filha (daughter)." With that she was leaving. Leaving me in absolute distress of a problem that she had started. What was I suppose to say to his mother? She hated me so much she had disowned her son. There was nothing I could ever do to make the situation any better. I did not know how Lorenzo would react either. Hopefully it wasn't true, I simple fault or mistakenly switched tests anything.

-

I was out, sitting near the pool. Basking in the sun when a shadow suddenly disturbed my peace. Putting my book down to look up, I saw him dressed very casually. This wasn't his usual time. I had memorised his time table to avoid us bumping into each other but of-course that was of no use. He was in and out at any time, he was near by or so. What did I expect from a real estate agent? They practically almost worked at their own timing. I was stuck overthinking the entire day.

"Get dressed."

"I'm dressed." I shrugged at my T-shirt and track pants. "Why are you here?" I was not expecting to see anyone except my therapist, I had no reason to dress up.

"I'm here to take you out for lunch." He smirked. I had grown to hate his smirk, smile, voice, that wearing out accent— that Florence had but hers was more prominent. I had also asked her to hide away all the images around the house. They made me furious. They made me feel nothing but morning sickness, afternoon sickness, everyday sickness.

"No need, I've already eaten." I turned to the next page of my book. He continued to look at me, I could feel his eye going from my head to toes. He had his hands in his pockets before smiling fondly.

"Thought maybe taking you to your favourite restaurant would juggle up some memories? Besides Florence had told me that you aren't feeling too well."

"If anything I'd like to remember everything except my time with you. Perhaps you could simply drop me off there? Then you won't have to sit next to me or be seen out with me."

He frowned almost immediately as if seemed concerned. "Where is that coming from?"

"You know Lorenzo? I really think as a man who absolutely hates his marriage, you ought to stop wearing the ring around. It's respectable sure but it will really close many opportunities for you as an almost divorced individual."

Coherently asking me to scoot over, he sat beside me. "I prefer having it on."

I laughed a bit too loud before responding. "It was only a suggestion but it's fine if you'd rather not. I mean you're engaged so it's more or less the same." I immediately changed the subject. "I've been feeling a bit bored being home all day. Florence tells me I use to attend aerobic classes at the gym near by. I called Craig and he said it would be a great idea if I went back to my normal routine."

"I could come with you?"

"No need, please I wouldn't want to cause you any inconvenience."

"I insist.." He said clearing his throat.

"No, you could just drop me off and I will find my way around."

"We're seriously not fighting about this?" He lightly joked, almost making eye contact. I laughed along and quickly looked away.

"It's just aerobics, I will be fine. I won't fall off the stairs or balcony and have another head injury." At the mention of this, he seemed very uncomfortable.

"There are so many creeps that hang around the gym." He said softly. "I'm only looking out for you. Like I always do bello."

"Please don't call me that..." I said almost immediately when I remembered that's what he called me in my previous memories. "My name is just okay." I really wanted to form a distance, for my own good. Our own good.

"Oh—" he was a bit surprised but nonetheless replied. "You used to—"

"People change." I interrupted.

"Of course."

"You've been speaking to Craig?" He added.

"Yes, he left his card the other day incase anything occurred and I needed someone to speak to or someone to confide in whenever I have a memory that's overwhelming. Besides I could really use a friend."

"Have you had any memory so far?"

I nodded.

His hand reached for my cheek, I cleared my throat not wanting to cause any tension. His thumb continued to wipe off something that had been on my cheek. Leaving me uncomfortable.

"There!" He smiled. "Now you can tell me about your memory."

"Not anything big but I remembered my graduation and the Ford Focus you bought for me."

"That's amazing!!"

"Anything else?"

"Nothing at least not yet."

He nodded.

"So you're still saying no to pasta?"

"You should go with Paula, then just order aside for me. I will get it whenever you decide to come back home."

"You're too sweet." He whispered more to himself. As he watched me, my eyes left the book only to meet his. I tried not to look at him but his green orbs scanned my face right down to my lips. As if he was having lustful thoughts. I kept clearing my throat to even out the tension. Scooting to my side of my bench. Waiting for him to leave.

"Soraya?" He called.

"Mhm?" I looked up.

"You're so beautiful, bello."

I awkwardly glanced back at my book.

There's that word again.

"I was reading this other book about—"

"I said you're beautiful."

"Thank you.... Anyways I was saying—"

"You always do this."

"Do what?"

"Change the subject when you're nervous." He smirked as if making me nervous excited him. It shouldn't have, I only felt nervous because of the things I knew about him, things I heard about him, things that scared me about having him this close.

"I was just trying to tell you about this boo—"

He was quick to silence me with his lips. I was frozen. My eyes wide open, lips unmoving. I pushed him back almost immediately. Anger was all I felt, turmoil in the pits of my stomach. "If you're not trying to help me remember my past life verbally, please stay away from me! I'm begging you." Standing up to march away from him, I yelled yet again

"Stay away from me."

He seemed genuinely surprised by my actions. When I entered the living room, Florence had this grimace on her face that told me that she was going to say 'baby mood swings' since she had already blabbered out the rest. I refused to believe Lorenzo's mother simply wanted to come and throw me a baby shower and kiss both my cheeks like a happy jolly family. I refused to believe that she had just guessed. Just guessed that hey, that black girl that married my son is expecting. Florence was starting to annoy me. His whole family.

—

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