On The Menu

He thought it was their first date, she knew it was their anniversary. She turned her head away to block the tears that tried to betray her as they threatened to make their way down her crimson cheeks. Sitting by the fire was nice as she gently held the hand of the man she had been married to for twenty years now. She couldn’t cling too much or show too much emotion or it would push his senses into something he wasn’t ready for.

Dave had been in a coma for the past five years of his life. Falling from a precariously placed ladder had almost taken him from her. She visited and prayed silently as the days and weeks sped by like molasses mocking her in it’s downward spiral. But finally, he squeezed her hand and later fluttered his eyes.Miraculously he awoke from his deep slumber. Dave was told he had been in a coma. He seemed to take it at face value and had worked hard to re-gain the strength he had lost. After a year of strenuous physical therapy he was able to leave he re-hab facility.Nothing seemed akilter from his coma other than the amnesia that clung to the recesses of his psyche. Amanda had taken a job as a receptionist at the facility he had been in. His first uttered sentence when his clouded eyes looked into hers after his awakening, “Have we met before?”, clawed at her insides until it almost drove her mad. Regardless, he and she had become the best of friends in their new roles, but nothing more. He never remembered the life they had shared, and she was too distraught and scared to try and remind him. She feared he no longer saw her that way, and was shaken beyond her core with grief that he never again would remember the years before his coma. Daves parents had died long before, he had no siblings, they had no children, and his friends had long since given up on him. Amanda had been alone in her grief filled years sitting by his side. The doctors had told her there was a very little chance of him ever recovering, and if he did that he would never be the same. Her parents and even her friends felt pity for her trying to cling to a life she would never have again. She however, could not let him go that easily. He was her husband, the other half to her whole. He was her whole world, her whole everything. She knew that he would do the same for her, and she felt that somehow he could feel her through it all.

She told no one when he had woken up. She feared their discreetly snide comments about his amnesia would give them more fuel, proving them all right. She couldn’t bear to look in the melancholy faces of her loved ones and give them that satisfaction.

Finally, their names were called and they made their way from the cozy fireplace, in Daves favorite outdoor store, to the elaborate dining area that seemed a little out of place, yet again fit so perfectly.She smiled at Dave across the table with its linen cloth bathed in candle light. Her stomach was rebelling and turning in on itself. She feared that food would only make her feel worse at this point. She knew however, that she should be excited and carefree at what he thought was their first outing together.

She was trying so hard to keep the nausea at bay that she almost missed Daves fidgety assessment of the establishment. She saw the smile fade from his face and the confusion set in.

After a few moments she broke the silence and asked him if he was alright.

“Well,” he blurted as he continued to look around, “I know you wouldn’t know, but I feel like I must have been here before.”

“It’s a pretty popular place, I bet you have.”Amanda offered as an answer.

“No really, I feel like I must be missing something obvious about this place. My thoughts are right there almost tangible, but just out of reach.” He shook his head and let out a sigh as he looked down at his tightly clenched fists resting on the table.

Amanda dared to reach across the table and gently squeeze his clasped fist. She was shocked when he opened his hand, grabbed hers, and squeezed back. Then he held a little tighter than he had been doing lately. That gave her the courage to give him a little encouragement about his amnesia. “The doctors say it will come back. Just don’t try to rush it.” They also said it may never come back, but she left that part out as she stared at her husband with a forlorn look in her eyes.

“You’re right.” He offered another gentle squeeze to her hand before he let go and picked up his menu. “I guess we better see what they have here.” With that he raised the brightly laminated parchment and began to study.

Amanda let out the soft sigh she was holding in as she too picked up hers as well. They both were quiet for a couple long minutes. Amanda closed her menu and sat it down first.

“I know what I’m having, do you?” She asked.

Dave didn’t answer at first, so she thought he must not have heard her. “Dave.”She reached across the table to get his attention. He let one hand drop and tenderly grabbed hers with it. Slowly he lowered the menu. With tears in his eyes he smiled and said, “Now I do.” He went on to explain to her how his memories had hit him all at once. The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon holding each other and wiping tears, sharing laughter and memories. They never did get to their lunch, but they somehow found just what they needed on the menu.