Chapter 1694:
Later, after finishing her shift, Belinda drove to the restaurant Elwood had chosen. The restaurant was not far from the hospital, just a five-minute drive away. Upon entering the private dining room, she greeted Elwood with a smile.
After they ordered, Elwood broke the silence first, his voice low. “I visited Carola at the hospital today.”
Belinda was stunned. She hadn’t expected this reason for Elwood’s hospital visit, nor had she anticipated him being so direct with her.
Elwood continued, “Regarding Carola, I can’t recall her face. It’s as if she’s a stranger to me. But when I hear her name, my head pounds, and these fragmented images flash through my mind.”
His gaze grew distant, haunted by shadows of forgotten memories. “I know those are memories I’ve forgotten. Although I’ve never clearly seen the person’s face in the images, I know it’s Carola. There must have been a deep connection between me and her in the past. So, I felt like I had to see her, to understand what she thinks of me now.”
Elwood glanced at Belinda, an awkward smile tugging at his lips. “Sorry, I’m dumping all this on you. I just needed someone to talk to, and you… you feel like someone I can trust. So…”
Belinda offered a gentle smile, her voice soft with understanding. “I get it. When the weight on my chest becomes too heavy, I also look for someone to talk to.”
She looked at Elwood, her tone warm and reassuring. “You’re opening up to me because you trust me. So go ahead, I’m all ears.”
Elwood’s lips curved into a grateful smile, and he gave a slow nod. “Alright,” he murmured, “I’ll keep going.”
His gaze dropped for a moment, clouded with emotion. “Today, when I saw Carola, she wasn’t just cold to me; she was openly hostile. She looked me dead in the eye and said she didn’t even know who I was.”
He let out a breath, the pain in his voice barely hidden. “But I know that wasn’t the truth. I could see it in her eyes—she was lying. And I can’t help but think… maybe I did something to hurt her in the past. That must be why she’s acting like this toward me.”
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Elwood let out a low, self-deprecating chuckle. “Before all this, my family used to stop me every time I tried to dig into the past. They always said that if something had been forgotten, there was probably a reason for it, that whatever was buried must’ve been too painful to carry. So, I shouldn’t try to remember any of it…”
His gaze lifted slowly, landing on Belinda with a searching intensity. “But if it were you, Belinda, what would you do?”
Belinda’s lips pressed into a thoughtful line as she took a moment to consider. Then, with quiet clarity, she answered, “If it were me, I’d admit that they weren’t wrong. I know they meant well. Sometimes forgetting does protect us. But…”
After a pause, she continued, “I believe that every memory—no matter how painful, how tormenting, or how sweet—is part of what makes us whole. The joyful ones, the ones that scar… they’ve all shaped who I am today.” Her eyes held his. “So, I would want to remember everything. But I wouldn’t chase the past down with desperation. If the memories return, I’ll welcome them. And if they don’t, I’d let them be.”
