Chapter 5

“Good evening, Yuri.” Yunho said, as he stepped through the doorway & smiled encouragingly at his wife. Dr. Kim had said to act normally, there was no time like the present to put the advice to use. As Yuri eyed him warily across the bed, Yunho discovered that it was much easier said than done. The situation was anything but normal.

“Hello.” She spoke cautiously, then went back to watching the television. Mrs. Kwon had left minutes earlier in an attempt to give husband & wife some time alone. Yunho felt somewhat lost without the buffer of her presence. Working to hide his trepidation, he walked the rest of the way into the room.

Friends reruns were on. He watched absently for several minutes before speaking, “Yuri, I wanted…” “Everyone calls me Yul.” She cut him off. Her eyes bore into his, saying plainly that he knew nothing about her & therefore, couldn't possibly be her husband.

“Okay, Yul.” Yunho started again. The name felt unfamiliar because he had never called her by Yul before. Perhaps she was someone else, “You always called me Yunho Oppa.” He said solemnly, his emotions carefully hidden behind an expressionless facade. She didn’t know how difficult it was for him to see her this way, almost hating him. As he watched her, her expression shifted suddenly, etching confused furrows across her brow.

“What is it?” He asked, his facade failing him, “Did you remember something?” Anxious curiosity had him moving around the bed to take hold of her hands, “Stay with it, Yuri.”

Yuri looked at him searchingly, confusion evident in her eyes but he could tell that she wasn't looking at him as her gaze was focused elsewhere. Then blinking, she pulled her hands away & shook her head, “It was nothing...um, just a flash.”

“A flash is something.” Yunho insisted, refusing to let go of his hope, “It could be the beginning of your memory returning. We need to get you out of here & back home & then we can go to…”

Yuri’s eyes widened in horror, “I...I'm tired.” She stuttered, “Where's my mother?”

Yunho was brought up short by the urgency of her question, “I'm sorry.” He said, drawing himself away from her & towards one of the bedside chairs, “I should be letting you get some rest.” Then, as if suddenly remembering her question, “Mom will be back in the morning.”

He settled quietly & unseeingly watched the remainder of the episode of Friends. Joy suffused him at the thought that Yuri’s memory might be returning but he felt ashamed of that joy because the proposition so obviously frightened Yuri. Fear assaulted his heart as another thought occurred to him. What if after she regained her memory she didn't want him anymore? What if after the way he had treated her in his office she never wanted to see him again?

He turned towards her & found that she had fallen asleep. Flipping off the television, he moved quietly out of the room.

When Yunho got home, Mrs. Kwon was busy making dinner. Yunho stopped briefly by the kitchen & waved at her, telling her that she didn't need to prepare anything for him & then set off upstairs. The last thing he felt like doing was eating.

Mrs. Kwon was hot on his heels within moments.

“Surely you don't think you're going to get away with that?” She asked him.

Yunho turned & shot her a look, “Mom, I'm tired. I just want to get some sleep. Aren't you & the nurses & everyone telling me how I need to conserve my strength. I'm actually being obedient.”