35

Joella's POV

A couple days later, I woke up and looked around to see a nurse checking my vitals. I tried to speak but realized I had what I guess was a breathing tube in my mouth. Fuck, what happened to me?

"Hey there, welcome back. You're in the hospital dear." The nurse smiled gently, "You were in accident. I'll go get the doctor, let him know you're awake. And then we'll get that tube out of your mouth."

I tried to nod but realized I couldn't because it hurt to move so i just blinked. As soon as the doctor came in, they took the tube out of my mouth.

"Miss Durbin, do you know where you're at and what happened?"

"The nurse said something about the hospital and an accident." I rasped out, my throat felt so dry, at least as I swallowed it seemed to be getting better. 

"That's correct." He nodded, "Do you remember anything that happened?"

"No." I lightly shook my head the best I could.

The Doctor explained that I had a huge gash on the side of my head, a couple of my ribs was cracked, and one of my legs was also broken. The doctor even said it was a miracle I wasn't paralyzed.

Because of the accident, I had some memory loss. When my parents had walked in I barely remembered them, when I was asked who they were I had to stare at them a few seconds before I was able to say that they were my parents.

Then I seen some muscular guy walk in with a bunch of tattoo's, the thought popped into my head that maybe he was a brother or something but I still questioned who he was.

"Who's that?"

"Joella, sweetheart, that's Matt Sanders." My mom, Eloise told me as she looked at him then back at me. she started to say something else but my dad stopped her.

Damn, he was a good looking guy. I definitely would like for him to stay and get to know him better, well I guess again since apparently I don't remember him. But then I frowned as my dad led him out of the room. 

Matt's POV

When I heard Joella ask who I was, I looked at them confused. Wait, she not know who I am anymore? What the hell? Is she fucking with me or she being serious.

Joseph then motioned me outside the room so I followed him, "Concerning Joella, the doctor said she's experienced some memory loss. She barely remembered who we were."

Ah that's why she asked who I was.

"Shit." I frowned rubbing my cheek.

"I know the rest of your guy's friends probably want to see her but that's not a good idea right now. I don't want to overwhelm her, I'm sorry."

"No, you're good Mr. Durbin. I totally understand. I'll let them know what's going on." 

I acted like I was fine with it but deep down I hated the idea. We deserved to see her too, we're her friends. Fuck, despite what happened between Joella and me, she's still the love of my life. I definitely didn't want to leave her side now but I wasn't going to fight her parents about it.

"Thank you. And please, you can call me Joseph."

I walked back to the waiting room even though I really didn't want to. I wanted to force myself back into that room, help her remember who I was. The only one that had came with me this time to the hospital was Brian.

"Hey man, what's going on?" Brian stood up when he seen me walk in.

I had to take a deep breath before I spoke up, "She awake man, she finally woke up." I couldn't help smile a little.

"Okay and?" I know he could sense something else was going on, "Her parents make you leave because she not want to see you or something?"

I held my palms on my eyes before looking at him as i rubbed my hands over my head, "No, I mean kinda. She has some memory loss. She doesn't remember what happened. Fuck, I walked in and she didn't even know who I was."

"Oh shit man, I'm sorry." Brian sighed and I shook my head.

"Can you do me a favor? Can you message everyone to maybe get together to let them know the news? I hate this idea but her dad thinks it's best that she be left alone with the memory loss. He doesn't want her to feel overwhelmed."

"What? That's bullshit man. We're her friends, she's the love of your life."

"I know but we have to respect their wishes. It's the least we can do right now. And maybe things will start looking up and she'll get her memory back. But can you please gather a meeting for me?"

"Yeah of course. Anything for you man."

We then set up a time for everyone to meet up. In the meantime I decided to get a hold of Dan, I knew I needed to blow off some steam and my best way to do that was work out. It was my stress relief.

~~~~~

No One's POV

"So what's going on? Brian said there was some news about Joella? Is she okay?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah she's fine, she's alive." Matt rubbed his hands over his head. "She finally woke up earlier."

"That's amazing!" Johnny grinned.

"I'm surprised you're not there with her." Came from Lacey.

"Trust me I'd love to be." Matt sighed.

"When can we see her?" Jimmy asked. "I want to go see her."

"We can't. I was told she needs time to process things."

"Why can't we? What does she need to process." Zack asked before Matt could continue.

"Because due to the accident, she has memory loss. I guess she barely even remembered who her parents were. And she didn't even recognize me when I had walked in. Her parents felt like if we showed up to see her, it might overwhelm her. And as much as we may hate it, we need to respect their wishes, until she's 100% better."

~~~~

Over the next few weeks Joella had been released from the hospital. She still had some memory loss, thanks to her injuries she also had to do some physical therapy.

Everyone did respect the wishes and not go see Joella, no matter how hard it was for them.

But a month after she had been home Matt couldn't take it any longer, he had to go see her.

"Matthew, hello." Eloise said after she answered the door.

"Hello ma'am, I'm sorry I just had to see how Joella was doing."

"Who is it dear?" Joseph walked to the door.

"It's Matthew Sanders, he wanted to see how Joella is." She opened the door more.

"I'm sorry sir, I know you said it was best to not come around with her memory loss and everything. But I just had to see how she was doing."

"You really said that Joe?" She looked at her husband surprised.

"Yes I did. She didn't even remember him. I didn't want him and his friends to overwhelm her." He said looking at his wife then looks back at Matt, "She's doing way better. She has been doing physical therapy. She's resting right now. She still doesn't recall anything."

"But Joe they're her friends. These two love each other. Maybe him visiting might help her remember stuff."

Joseph shook his head some, "I doubt it Eloise. And what if she does start to remember? She told us what you said to her when she had that miscarriage. You really want her to go through that memory again?"

"Well no sir but-"

"I didn't think so. Now I think it's best if you leave."

"Please sir can I at least see her. Maybe it might help. Maybe if we work together maybe we can get her memory back." He said nicely as he held his anger back,

"I said no, that's not a good idea for you to see her." Joseph grumbled.

"Fine but can she at least have this?" He held up a bag that had a photo album, along with a necklace he had gotten her and some other jewelry Jimmy wanted her to have.

Joseph started to say something but Eloise spoke up before he could as she took the bag, "Of course we will."

"Who was that?" Joella asked after the door was shut.

"Just a client from work sweetheart." Joseph told her.

"Oh." She pointed to the bag, "What's that?"

"A get well package for you." Eloise glared at her husband as she handed the bag to her daughter.

"Awe cool. How sweet of them to do that." Joella smiled as she took the bag from her mother.