His To Keep

Darkness wraps around me like warm water. Then the pain hits. A deep, stabbing throb behind my eyes. The ache of my ribs with every breath. The sterile sting of antiseptic. A beeping sound pulses beside me. Hospital. I force my eyes open. White ceiling. IV line. Bandage on my temple. And voices. Two male voices—arguing in harsh whispers near the foot of my bed. One low and rough. The other tense and angry. “…you can’t make me do this,” the low voice snaps. “It’s the only option,” the tense one bites back. “She doesn’t remember anything. She doesn’t even remember ME.” My heartbeat stutters. I blink slowly, then open my mouth. “Hello…?” The arguing stops instantly. The blond boy turns first—broad shoulders, varsity jacket still on, face pale and frantic. The dark-haired boy turns slower. Controlled. Eyes sharp as midnight. The blond one forces a smile and steps closer. “Sadie,” he says, voice trembling, “thank God you’re awake.” I stare at him. I feel… nothing. Not fear. Not recognition. Just confusion. “Do… do I know you?” I whisper. His face cracks. Completely cracks. He stumbles back like he’s been shot. The dark-haired boy inhales sharply but says nothing. A nurse hurries in. “Easy, sweetheart. You’ve had a serious concussion. Take it slowly.” “What… what happened?” I ask. “You were in a car accident,” she says gently. “Your brakes failed. You hit another vehicle. You’re lucky to be alive.” “Brakes failed?” I echo. “I don’t remember even driving.” The blond boy swallows hard and shoots the dark-haired boy a frantic look. I look between them. “Who are you? Both of you?” The blond one opens his mouth. But the dark-haired one—Cassian—cuts him a sharp glare. Asher goes quiet. His jaw clenches. His eyes flick to me and then away in guilt. He’s hiding something. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, voice trembling. “I don’t… I don’t think I know either of you.” The nurse gives the boys a pointed look and says, “Be gentle with her. Memory loss is common. Just speak calmly.” Then she leaves. The door clicks shut. And the blond boy—Asher—immediately whips toward the dark-haired one. His voice breaks as he whispers: “She doesn’t remember me. She doesn’t remember ANYTHING. Cass, please—PLEASE—you have to do it.” The dark-haired one—Cassian—stares at him in disbelief. “No,” Cassian snaps. “I told you—no.” “You HAVE to!” Asher hisses. “If she knows the truth right now—if she remembers us—she’s going to think I cheated. She’s going to leave. I just—I need TIME. Just until she gets better.” Cassian’s jaw flexes. “You don’t deserve time.” “Cass, PLEASE,” Asher begs, voice breaking. “I love her. I’m going to marry her one day. I just… I just need time to figure things out.” Cassian stares at him like he’s the biggest coward alive. But Asher isn’t done. “She trusts you more,” Asher whispers. “You’re calm. You’re steady. You’re safe. And if she thinks you’re her boyfriend, she won’t freak out. She won’t remember our fight. She won’t remember me messing things up.” Cassian looks like he might actually punch him. “Do you hear yourself?” Cassian growls. “I’m begging you,” Asher says. “Just—temporarily. Please. I can’t lose her.” My heart starts pounding. They both freeze when they realize I’m staring. “My…” I swallow hard. “My boyfriend?” Cassian turns slowly toward me. His face shutters. His eyes soften. Then harden again. He looks like a man being asked to rip out his own heart. “I don’t…” I whisper. “I don’t remember having a boyfriend.” Silence. Asher nods quickly, desperate. “Sadie, you—uh—you had a boyfriend. You’ve been together for a while. He’s been… worried sick.” I blink at him. “You?” Cassian’s head snaps toward Asher so fast I think his neck might c***k. Asher’s mouth opens— But no sound comes out. Because he can’t claim me. Not now. Not after begging Cassian to take the role. The air goes ice-cold as both boys stare at each other in a silent war. Finally— Slowly— Cassian steps forward. He swallows once. Twice. His voice comes out rough and low and absolutely shattered: “It’s me.” My breath catches. Cassian’s eyes lock onto mine—dark, intense, devastating. “I’m your boyfriend.” Asher lets out a shaky exhale behind him, equal parts relief and heartbreak. I stare at Cassian. I don’t know him. But when he looks at me— My heartbeat stutters like my body remembers him even if my mind can’t. “I…” I whisper, “I don’t remember you.” His jaw clenches. His throat bobs. His voice comes out barely above a whisper: “I know.” My chest aches for a reason I can’t explain. “But you’re safe,” he says softly. “I’m right here.” His voice cracks on the last word. And something deep in my bones reacts to him— like I should know him like I want to know him like I’ve known him forever —even though I don’t remember a single thing.