Following the doctor’s advice, Anthony returned home, his heart heavy with sadness and confusion. He couldn’t fathom how she had no memories of him at all; it felt as if their five-year relationship had never existed. “How is that even possible?” he questioned himself repeatedly as he made his way back.
Once home, he headed straight to his wardrobe, retrieving a camera that held precious moments of their life together. He carefully removed the memory card, inserted it into a card reader, and connected it to his laptop. The memory card contained three folders labeled: Best Moments, Fooling Around, and For the Kids. He stared at the folders for a moment, his heart racing, before clicking on the “For the Kids” folder.
Inside were about ten video clips, each titled with a different name. He clicked on one labeled “Pregnancy Reaction.” As the video began to play, tears streamed down his face, memories flooding back of the moment that led to the recording.
They had just finished making love, lying next to each other in the dim light of the room, completely vulnerable. She turned to him, a playful smile on her face, and said, “We haven’t used condoms for days, and I’m off my pills. I hope you’re not planning on getting me pregnant.”
“What if I do?” he replied, teasingly.
She laughed but then grew serious, expressing her fears about being a mother. Suddenly, she sat up, still naked, and said, “Show me your reaction if I tell you I’m pregnant.”
As he started to rise, she added, “Let me grab the camera. We should record this—create some pre-pregnancy memories.”
While she fetched the camera, he tied his robe, anticipation bubbling within him. The video captured their laughter, their love, and the playful banter that defined their relationship. As the clip ended, he wiped the tears from his eyes, closed his laptop, and lay back on the bed, drifting into a troubled sleep.
Three hours later, he returned to the hospital, his heart still heavy. Before heading to her room, he stopped by the doctor’s office. He laid out some of the items he had brought, seeking the doctor’s advice on which memories to share first.
The doctor cautioned against overwhelming her with too many memories at once, explaining that it could lead to a nervous breakdown. Instead, he suggested starting with smaller, more manageable memories—like how they met or their first kiss.
With that guidance, Anthony knew exactly which folder to show her first: the “Fooling Around” folder, filled with pictures from their early days as friends before they started dating. Although he wasn’t a picture person, she had a passion for photography. “Life is all about memories,” she would often say. “Capturing those moments is what makes it worth living.”
One particular picture in the folder made him chuckle through his tears. It was a snapshot he had taken of her in a public restroom during a date. She had needed to pee, but when she got there, she discovered she wasn’t just doing number one—she was doing number two. While she was in the stall, she called him, her voice urgent. “Bae, please bring my bag! I think my period came early!”
Being the perfect gentleman, he rushed to her aid, only to find out she just wanted him to snap a picture of her in that embarrassing moment.
As he recalled that day, a bittersweet smile crept across his face. He hoped that these memories would help her remember the love they shared, the laughter that filled their days, and the bond that had once felt unbreakable.