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Post by ISSALYN! on Jun 29, 2012 14:38:59 GMT -5
i promise my love to you
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
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Ryan woke up unusually early, well before his alarm even started blaring it's usual obscenities. He rolled over to stare at the green digits on the clock: 5:42. He groaned and rubbed his eyes, and then rolled back over and buried his face in the pillow. Too early... He just wanted to go back to sleep, if only for another hour.
But as he laid in bed trying to force sleep to greet him, it just wouldn't come. He tossed and turned, twisting the blankets into a wad. He finally kicked them off entirely and lay in bed staring at the ceiling. It felt like an eternity, but the clock confirmed that only 6 more minutes had passed. He knew it was far too early to call Kate. As badly as he wanted to hear her voice and share the excitement of the day, he resisted temptation.
Instead, he sat up and stretched, yawning fiercely. Then he stood up and shuffled through his usual waking routine. His mind was wide awake but, having nothing better to do, he sat down on the couch with a cup of black coffee and grabbed for his laptop. It only took a minute to boot up, and then he scrolled through his email, the news, and the latest sports headlines. Finding nothing to capture his interest, he clicked the lid shut again. He sat there for a couple minutes, staring at the wall as he finished his coffee with one last gulp.
Then he got up and slid open his sliding glass door, stepping out onto his deck. Ryan closed his brown eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the fresh scent of the clear summer morning. He walked the few yards out to his workshop, where he retrieved a stack of listings for local real estate. He really loved his little house, but it had only one bedroom and bathroom and he wanted to give Kate something better. He had a nice amount of savings built up, and after confirming a loan application with the bank, he had started looking at local properties for sale.
His mind finally captivated, Ryan browsed through the stack of papers, losing all track of time. He crumpled up a few and tossed them right into the trash. Too small. Too new. Too far. Not enough land. May flood. He was pretty picky with what he was looking for, and soon he had a stack of maybes and stronger possibilities. By then it was after 7:00, and he rushed back inside and got dressed. Ryan quickly ran a comb through his slightly curly brown hair, splashed some water on his face, and slid on a pair of running shoes. With that, he grabbed his keys and hopped into his car, speeding off for Kate's house.
It wasn't a long drive, and country music on the radio kept him company on the way. He sang along, albeit a little off key, feeling extra chipper this morning. Finally he reached her house, and pulled into her driveway, shutting off the engine. He whistled as he stepped out of the car and walked up to her front door, ringing the doorbell. He did his best to calm his anxious mind, but couldn't stop himself from tapping his foot and running his hand through his hair as he waited.
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The one and only Ryan Bradley, courtesy of Issalyn, for Kate Williams! |
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Post by FREE ♥ on Jun 29, 2012 15:23:54 GMT -5
The doorbell rang, waking her from a deep sleep. Her head was already pounding, and she groaned. She turned over to look at the clock, seeing it wasn't long after seven. But she couldn't remember where she was. She sat up, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings. She had slept in a nice bed, with a rumpled place beside her. Who had been sleeping with her? She put a hand to her head. Why could she not remember where she was, and why was her head hurting so badly?
By now a dog was barking at the door, so she got up. She was in a huge tshirt, something she guessed she might have stolen from a boyfriend or brother, although she couldn't remember having either. She tried to push away the panic, knowing she would soon remember. She pulled on a pair of shorts, not bothering to change her shirt. She padded down the hallway, nearly pausing to admire the decorations. They made her feel peaceful and cozy. No, there was someone at the door. She knew where the door was, something she couldn't remember learning. A tall collie type dog was the one doing the barking.
"Back, umm..." And she couldn't remember the dog's name. He looked up at her, backing away. She smiled at him, earning herself a tail wag. She would have to look at his collar to see if there was a name on it. She opened the door, the bright light causing her to squint and reigniting her headache. She paused a second, letting her eyes adjust before she took in the guy at her door. She wished she had gotten more presentable, but oh well. He would probably get discouraged at the fishing shirt she wore, thinking she had a boyfriend. She honestly didn't know if she did or not.
She waited a second more. "Umm, can I help you?" she asked. He was boyishly cute, with hair she felt the sudden urge to reach out and tousle. However, she didn't know where she was, she didn't know who he was, and come to think of it, she wasn't quite sure what her name was. She started to bite her lip, the collie sensing her disquiet and taking the chance to come out of the door, greeting Ryan as he normally did. The collie was a dignified dog, so this consisted of placing his head under the man's hand and wagging his tail. "Uhh, c'mere." Murphy looked at her, but didn't obey. She didn't seem quite right to him, and wasn't speaking in her normal firm voice, so he preferred to stick with Ryan for the moment. |
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Post by ISSALYN! on Jun 29, 2012 17:00:56 GMT -5
i promise my love to you
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
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Kate answered the door, looking more than a little frazzled. She didn't sound quite like her self, and it wasn't just the fact that she was wearing one of his shirts. He greeted Murphy with a quick pat on the head, and waited for Kate to invite him in, thinking her first greet had been a joke. However, he realized she seemed a little too serious to be joking, and he stood there dumbfound, wracking his brain.
He'd say she looked drunk, but he highly doubted that was the case. In fact, she looked like she'd just woke up, so a hangover would be a better excuse. Maybe she'd gotten home last night and realized accepting his proposal had been a mistake. Then she'd drowned her feelings away with a bottle of something a little too strong, and awake ready to erase the memory of him from her life. Don't be silly, he thought to himself. It was true, that sort of thing sounded totally out of character for her, but he didn't know what else to think.
Clearing his throat, he fidgeted with his hair again and tried to turn this into something sensible. Good morning to you too, he said carefully with a hint of teasing. I'm sorry, I must have woke you. I should have called. He mentally kicked himself in the shin, thinking this was probably all his fault for coming over so early. Of course she wouldn't be awake yet. What was he thinking? Seriously Kate, I'm sorry. If you'll let me come in, you can go back to sleep while I figure out something to make for breakfast. His voice sounded a little too emotional, perhaps almost pleading. Something in the back of his mind was telling him she wasn't having a bad reaction to the previous night's events...but he couldn't be sure until she quit looking at him like she wished he'd just go away.
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The one and only Ryan Bradley, courtesy of Issalyn, for Kate Williams! |
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Post by FREE ♥ on Jun 29, 2012 19:57:56 GMT -5
He seemed a little shocked at her minimal reaction to him, and she started wracking her brain. Did she know him? Was he her brother maybe? Best friend? Why could she not remember anything? He patted the dog's head, more concerned with her than she was him, causing the dog's tail to droop. Was this his house? What had she done to herself to cause this much memory loss? She didn't know who she was!
The man recovered enough to say good morning, and he did it in a slightly teasing way. Was this his way of hitting on people? She was still trying to sort things out in her painful head when he suggested she go back to bed while he made breakfast. He called her Kate, was that her name? "Is this your house?" she asked. "Am I house sitting?" The dog seemed to know him, so maybe that was it. Maybe her head was really foggy from something last night and it would clear up with a couple hours time and some ibuprofen. Deeming it safe to let him in, she stepped out of the doorway. "Please come in. I'll find some ibuprofen and umm..." She was at a loss. She put her hand on her mouth, trying not to cry. Her head hurt, she didn't remember her name, and she was in this guy's house. She didn't know how to get to her house from here, heck, she didn't even know her mom's name or the phone number for one of her friends that she could call to help her. "I'm sorry." she managed to croak before heading toward the kitchen, leaving the door open so he and the dog could come in and make themselves at home.
She wanted to punch something. She knew right where the ibuprofen was, but she couldn't tell someone her name if her life depended on it. There was a man here to reclaim his house and she didn't know where to go next. She managed to get a glass of water and take two ibuprofen, but that was about it until she lost it. She started to cry, scared out of her mind. She could find nothing to latch onto, no little bit of information to tell her anything about who she was. As she wiped her tears, her attention fell onto a stunning ring on her hand. She was engaged? Married? Widowed? Divorced? She only cried harder. She sank onto the floor, vaguely aware she was having a mental breakdown in this guy's kitchen. She couldn't stop the fear of all that she didn't know. |
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Post by ISSALYN! on Jun 29, 2012 20:07:46 GMT -5
i promise my love to you
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
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Ryan realized Kate looked as startled and confused as he did, and he knew something wasn't right. Was she really just this out of sorts after some crazy night after he had left her the night before? He highly doubted it. Before he could grab her arm and try to figure out what was going through her mind, she turned and walked off in the direction of the kitchen.
He stood on the doorstep for a minute, running his hands through his hair repeatedly. So much that it was starting to stick up oddly. He looked down at the dog who was sitting at his feet and shrugged, giving it a scratch behind the head. "Looks like you're as confused as me, buddy."
Not knowing what else to do, he finally stepped into the house, letting Murphy follow him in and then locking the door behind him. As soon as he shut the door, he turned and headed toward the kitchen. After a couple of steps he faintly heard the sounds of a woman crying, and hurried to find Kate. He found her looking distraught and walked up behind her, squatting down on the floor putting his hands on her shoulders. He squeezed them gently, in a massaging motion.
"Kate, what's going on?," he asked in a genuinely concerned tone. "If I did something wrong, just tell me. I swear I'll do whatever it takes to fix it." He reached up to run a finger through her sleep-disheveled blonde hair, more out of familiarity than anything else. Then he reached out a hand as an offer to help her to her feet. "Maybe you really should go lay down until you feel a little better?" For once, Ryan was at a total loss for what to do with the most important woman in his life.
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The one and only Ryan Bradley, courtesy of Issalyn, for Kate Williams! [/color] |
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Post by FREE ♥ on Jun 29, 2012 20:30:43 GMT -5
Kate was too far gone to care what the guy was doing. She was already on the floor when he made his way to the kitchen, knees pulled up to her chest. He knelt down to grab her shoulders, massaging them, but the tension wouldn't go away. A small part of her brain classified him as at least a friend, if not brother or good friend. His words didn't help at all.
"I don't know what's going on!" she said, tears still streaming down her face. "I don't know who I am, yet alone who you are. I don't know the dog's name, I don't know how to get home, and I don't know where I am!" She tried to wipe away her tears with her hands, but she was still crying, nothing had changed. His hand touched her hair, and it gave her pause. Maybe he was someone important to her. She looked up at him, momentarily in control, with tears still falling of their own accord. Vulnerable blue eyes looked up at him, studying his unfamiliar brown eyes. Why couldn't she remember him? She ignored his hand, eyes searching his face. Nothing was familiar, nothing looked like she had seen it before. His face was a little stubbly with hair, his hair sticking up at strange angles. Nothing rang a bell. His eyes were wrinkled in concern, but she couldn't help him.
She lowered her face into her hands again, taking a couple deep breaths to gain at least a little bit of control. She ran her hands through her hair as she stopped the tears, and reached out for his hand, letting him pull her up. She didn't say anything as she padded into the living room, sinking into a couch and hugging a pillow, setting her chin on the top. She should probably leave this guy's house and calm down, but the dog had followed her in. His head was sitting on the couch, looking at her with brown eyes that adored her. She could tell he just wanted her to feel better, and the tears threatened again. She wanted to know this dog's name. Her hand stroked the head, and she just wanted to be able to murmur his name. Was that too much to ask for her brain to give her? |
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Post by ISSALYN! on Jun 29, 2012 20:44:49 GMT -5
i promise my love to you
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
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Kate's words rang through Ryan's mind, and he struggled to make sense of it. Why on earth was she so disoriented? Was she just making this up as some way to try to get rid of him? No, he didn't think she was that good of an actress. Something was wrong. Really wrong.
He stood there speechless, retrieving his fingers from her hair and shoving them into his pockets. His eyes met hers, but then drifted away as she stood up and walked away. If only he knew how to answer her. Better yet, if only he knew how to fix whatever was wrong with her. Not knowing what else to do, he reached down and pinched himself, hoping this was all just a terrible nightmare. Nope, it seemed pretty real.
Sighing with worry, he trudged off to follow her into the living room, where she sat on the couch with Murphy, ever loyal, nearby. He sat down next to her and reached out, offering his hands to her. "Kate. Your name is Kate. Katerine Elizabeth Williams," he said slowly, studying her face for some sign of recognition. Then he went on. "I'm Ryan. Ryan Bradley? Um, your fiancee, I guess." Gosh, what was happening to them? Was he losing her completely? He looked down at the ring on her finger, sparkling as a shaft of light glistened off of it. He put that picture in his memory, not wanting to imagine her delicate finger without it.
"This is your dog, Murphy. And your house. We went out on a date last night and I proposed. You said yes," he continued, beginning to speak a little faster. "We've been dating for awhile. I'm one of your brother's best friends. Does any of this make sense to you?" He was starting to get really nervous. He wondered if he should call the hospital or her parents or something. Without realizing it, he ran his hands through his hair again and cleared his throat. "I think maybe you should see a doctor Kate. This seems kind of serious," he spoke softly. "I'm worried," Ryan added in little more than a whisper.
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The one and only Ryan Bradley, courtesy of Issalyn, for Kate Williams! |
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Post by FREE ♥ on Jun 29, 2012 21:31:39 GMT -5
She was still petting the dog when the man followed her, sitting at the sofa. She momentarily regretted making him follow her around the house. She briefly contemplated his hands before giving him her hand, her left hand. He began to tell her who she was, and the tears brimmed over. She wiped them with her free hand. Kate. Short for Katherine. Then when he told her who she was, more tears brimmed over, but she didn't start all out crying again. "I'm sorry." she whispered. She empathized for him, having fiancee not remember him. But she seemed oddly detached from it all. It was something that happened to someone else not her. She didn't know this man.
Her attention was drawn to her left hand, with the ring sparkling on it. His ring. The ring he had given to her last night. A different her. A her who knew him and loved him. He continued, telling her the dog's name. A watery smile at the dog made him wag his tail, woeful eyes urging her to feel better. Her blue eyes were drawn back to his face. He was worried. Concerned. "It all sounds nice." she said quietly. "But none of it feels connected to me." He took his hands away to run his fingers through his hair, a gesture that she was quickly coming to recognize. Something she probably already recognized, somewhere deep within her memory. She nodded at his suggestion to see a doctor. His barely audible statement brought the tears back. He cared for her. Loved her, by the ring on her finger. She grabbed his hand, bringing it to her face. She was touched that he cared so much, and it felt natural to have his hand on her cheek.
It almost scared her, how easily she showed affection to a man she didn't know. But she did know him. She just couldn't remember. Maybe she was just bold like that, to take a stranger's hand. But it was more for him than it was for her. If only she could remember him! |
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Post by ISSALYN! on Jun 30, 2012 13:06:00 GMT -5
i promise my love to you
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
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Ryan looked at Kate for a moment, and then stood up and stepped away. He motioned with his hand toward the couch. "Just rest for a minute okay? I'll be right back." Checking to make sure that she wasn't going to move, he turned and left the room.
He didn't want her going to the hospital looking like a total wreck, so he went to her bedroom to try to find her something to wear. He found a pair of shorts and a t-shirt (that was actually her own), and then grabbed a pair of flip-flops and a hairbrush. All this happened rather quickly, as he was more concerned about hurrying back to her than making sure anything matched.
Finally he had his hands full and practically ran back into the living room, fearing she'd gotten worse than when he left her. "Are you okay honey?," he gushed, before realizing now was probably not the time for terms of endearment. He showed her the clothes and then left the room again, telling her as he walked out to yell if she needed any help. While he waited, he whistled to Murphy, and led the dog into Kate's bedroom, where he shut the door. Normally he knew Murphy wasn't locked up, but he didn't want a dog underfoot as he tried to get Kate maneuvered out to the car.
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The one and only Ryan Bradley, courtesy of Issalyn, for Kate Williams! |
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Post by FREE ♥ on Jun 30, 2012 21:06:16 GMT -5
Ryan told her to rest, which she irritably resisted. She wasn't an invalid, she just couldn't remember who she was. Instead of being physically impaired, she was mentally impaired. It was nice to know she was in her own house, but terrifying to know that she couldn't remember a thing. She picked the furniture, the colors, and the pictures. She liked it, but she couldn't remember a thing. She hugged herself, getting up to look at a calming picture of a rider and horse walking along a beach. It was beautiful.
Ryan burst back in, and she turned to face him. Again she searched his face for recognition, but all she could see was the man who had showed up at her door a short while ago. It felt like forever, but she knew it hadn't been long. She gave a half smile at his words, knowing he knew that answer better than she. He knew all that she had forgotten. She didn't. She took the clothes, hesitantly looking at him before he left the room. She quickly changed, not even caring enough to look at what he had given her. Her mind was still consumed with fear and loss.
She exited the living room, looking down the hall to Ryan. He struck her as someone she would like. But right now, she didn't understand where the push to date him had come from. He seemed pretty average. She nodded at him. "You should drive; I don't know how to get anywhere." Her voice was as normal as she could make it. The fear was barely controlled. If he knew her so well, he could probably tell she was strung tightly. She might appear to be okay, but waking up with no memory was not something she was equipped to deal with. |
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Post by ISSALYN! on Jul 1, 2012 8:02:53 GMT -5
i promise my love to you
FROM HERE TO ETERNITY
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Perhaps it was the stress and terror of the whole situation, but Ryan burst out laughing. He knew he shouldn't be laughing about something so serious, but he just couldn't help himself. It was a long, hard laughter that left him gasping and clutching his sides at the end. He looked back at Kate with tears in his eyes. "I'm...sorry..." he spoke in between breaths of air. "You...must...be...crazy!" He held up a finger to indicate he needed a second, and then he finally stood up and got control of himself again.
"If you think for one minute I would consider letting you drive...," he trailed off, shaking his head. He clicked the remote unlock button on his navy blue Ford Fusion and walked over to open the passenger door. "Your carriage awaits, madam," Ryan said to her with a sparkle in his eyes. The situation might be serious, and he could tell she was more than a little worked up. However, something had to lighten the mood and relieving a little of the tension couldn't hurt.
Only then did he really look at her. She had thrown on the pair of shorts she had given him, which were some of her cuter ones, being plaid with pinks and browns. Her shirt, however, was purple with green writing. It didn't match, but she still looked as beautiful as ever. Her memory may have gone out the window, but she still looked like the Kate he knew and loved. He could only hope the rest of her would return to him as well. The sooner, the better. There had to be something doctors could do to fix this, right?
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The one and only Ryan Bradley, courtesy of Issalyn, for Kate Williams! |
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