Seventeen

"How exactly does a new heart affect his brain? What's the connection?" I asked the doctor once I was wheeled back into my ward. I knew it was in no way her fault, but I was so dejected, I wasn't thinking straight.

"I tried to warn you before you left," she stated. "It's a case that happens in over fifty percent of heart transplant cases. Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction."

"What does the fancy medical lingo mean? Does that mean he's never going to recognize me again? He's lost his memory forever?"

I was panting heavily and my legs had become so weak that I had to collapse on the bed. Why had the entire universe conspired to ruin me? The only person whose recovery my life depended on did not even remember who I was. The person for whom I'd married a monster like Davis could not recognize me. This was even worse than almost dying.

"Calm down," she said, going closer to the door, obviously in a hurry to leave. "I have other patients with cases I have to look into, so I'll just te