âJaime,â Another name to remember. Another person that apparently cared for her. Even if she didnât know these people, she was at least starting to put some of the pieces of the puzzle in place. She didnât even know if HR was right about it or not. Maybe there was someone else. âI donât⊠is she okay?âÂ
She frowned again at HRâs explanation. So she was a rough person? She felt nothing but fragile right now. She hadnât complained or turned away help while in hospital, and she hadnât been angry with anyone. Just frustrated by her own self. â⊠Did I hurt you?â
Charlie. Finally, something clicked. She knew that name. Sheâd said it so many times in the past; she could feel the emotion in her voice as she said the name. Sadness. Hurt. Betrayal. Love. âA long time.â Her voice was hollow as she took a moment to try and bring back those flashes of memories, make out a face, make out anything, but it wouldnât come to her. But Charlie and the sandy-haired man were one and the same. That much she knew.
Her smile grew as she realised that sheâd gotten something right. Sheâd remembered something right. âA found family. People to love.â She had to look away for a moment, realising her eyes were starting to sting with tears. Why had that made her sad? âI canâtâ I canât even find myself. I donât know who Erica was. ⊠I donât know who I was. Do you think you couldâ?â The correction at the end made her feel so strange. What if sheâd been cruel, horrible, rude? What if that was why Charlie had left? What if that was why she didnât have any family to speak of that had come down to visit her?
Would she want to be the person that everyone had said she was before?
He swallowed hard. âI donât know, Miss. I think I... heard she went to the hospital. But I donât know which one,â HR admitted. He needed to find out, he absolutely did, because Erica and Jaime belonged together. Erica needed Jaime.Â
His eyes went wide, and he shook his head. âNo. No, Miss, you didnât hurt me. It was rough, yes, but I wanted it. I wanted every moment I had and will have with you. I swear, youâve never hurt me,â HR promised her, leaning closer in his fervor to convince her that maybe sheâd inflicted physical pain, but sheâd never really hurt him.
His head dipped in a nod. âYes. I... it hasnât been long since Iâve known you, but you and Charlie go back a long time.â His voice cracked on the switchâs name, and he had to look away to keep from crying. How different would it be with him here? Would he be with HR, helping Erica find herself again? Or would he be in another room, forcing the sub to split his attention between the two? He shook his head, not wanting to think about the man he still loved like this. That would be something he couldnât handle.
HR got up, bringing both hands to cup Ericaâs cheeks gently, mindful of her injuries. âI will. Iâll help, Miss. Everyone who loves you will. Weâll find you again, I swear.â Carefully, he leaned in, brushing his lips lightly against hers, hoping the action wasnât something that would make her more upset. âYouâre not alone in this, my Miss. Youâre pretty stuck with me.â