The Crash of Memory
The rain had been falling for hours, turning the city into a blur of glistening streets and trembling lights.
Liam Davis gripped the steering wheel of his Aston Martin, fighting the fatigue that came after a fourteen-hour workday.
The wipers moved back and forth in a steady rhythm, and for a moment, the quiet hum of the car almost felt comforting.
He glanced at the dashboard clock — 8:47 p.m.
Late. Again.
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he thought about the man waiting for him at home — Ethan.
His husband. His partner in both life and chaos.
He could almost see the soft glare Ethan would give him for missing dinner… again.
That thought made him reach for the digital display, just to send a quick text:
> "On my way. Don't be mad."
It was just one second.
A blinding light cut across the intersection.
Liam barely had time to register the oncoming car before it slammed through the red light.
Tires screeched. Metal screamed.
The impact was violent—sharp—and then everything shattered into silence.
The world dissolved into the smell of burnt oil and rain-soaked asphalt.
Then—darkness.
---
At home, the faint scent of saffron and butter filled the air.
Ethan M. Chen stirred the risotto one last time, smiling faintly at how perfectly it had turned out.
Their third anniversary dinner was supposed to be quiet and simple — just the two of them.
He checked the time. 8:50 p.m.
No message. No call.
Ethan sighed, shaking his head.
"Typical Liam. Probably still yelling at someone in a boardroom."
Still, he couldn't help but smile. Even after all these years, Liam's passion was one of the things he loved most—and hated most—about him.
He reached for the wine glasses just as his phone buzzed across the counter.
Without looking, he said softly, "Finally decided to call me?"
But when he picked it up, it wasn't Liam's name on the screen.
It was an unknown number.
> "Hello?" he answered, still smiling.
"This is Ethan."
The voice on the other end was calm, steady… too steady.
> "Mr. Chen? This is Officer Grant from the City Police Department. I need you to remain calm."
The smile faded.
> "What… what happened?"
> "There's been an accident. The driver's ID listed you as the emergency contact. Liam Davis. He's been taken to Saint Andrew's Hospital."
For a moment, Ethan couldn't speak. His mind went blank — the words echoing like distant thunder.
> "Is he alive?" he whispered.
> "He's unconscious, but breathing. Please come quickly, sir."
The call ended.
The spoon slipped from Ethan's hand and hit the marble floor.The soft clatter sounded impossibly loud in the silence that followed.
The golden risotto on the stove kept simmering — beautiful, useless, forgotten.
He didn't remember locking the door. He didn't even remember grabbing his keys.
The next thing he knew, he was behind the wheel, the city flashing by through the rain.
Every red light, every delay — unbearable.
> "Please," he whispered, his voice shaking. "Please be okay, Liam."
---
When he finally reached Saint Andrew's, he barely felt the cold rain soaking his clothes.
He ran through the glass doors, past the reception, until a nurse stopped him.
> "Sir, you can't go in yet," she said gently, blocking the emergency ward.
Ethan's voice broke.
> "He's my husband."
The nurse hesitated, then nodded.
> "Please wait here. The doctors are still stabilizing him."
Ethan sank into one of the metal chairs in the hallway, staring at the closed door.
The white hospital light was harsh and cold, but all he could see was Liam's smile — the one that had promised him forever.
Now, forever felt like it was slipping away.
---
The hospital room smelled faintly of antiseptic, and the slow beeping of the monitor filled the silence.
Outside, the rain had stopped — but inside, the air still felt heavy, restless.
Ethan Chen stood by the door, still wearing his drenched blue coat.
His eyes were fixed on the man lying on the bed —
Pale face, bandaged forehead…
But it was the same face he used to wake up next to every morning.
Liam.
Ethan's steps were hesitant as he approached.
He reached out, gently holding Liam's fingers —
Cold… but alive.
> "Liam…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
"I'm here. Everything's going to be fine."
For a while, there was no sound except the machines.
Then, Liam's eyelids fluttered weakly.
Ethan's breath hitched.
> "Yes… open your eyes, baby…"
Slowly, Liam's eyes opened — brown, hazy, searching — as if he didn't know where he was.
He looked around the room, confused, until his gaze finally landed on Ethan.
Ethan smiled through trembling lips, tears glimmering in his eyes.
> "Hey… you're awake."
But Liam's face stayed blank.
He didn't say anything.
Then—he flinched, instinctively pulling his hand back.
> "What—what are you doing here?"
Ethan hesitated, voice low.
> "You had an accident. I've been here since last night."
Liam frowned. His head throbbed.
> "Why would you even care?"
Ethan's eyes flickered—just once.
> "Because I'm your husband, Liam."
The words hung in the air, heavy and unreal.
Liam stared.
> "My what?"
Before Ethan could explain, Liam pushed himself up too quickly.
Pain shot through his head and the monitor beeped rapidly.
> "That's not funny," he said, breath ragged. "Why would I ever—marry you?"
> "Liam, please—" Ethan tried, stepping closer.
> "Get away from me!"
The shout cracked through the sterile air.
A nurse hurried in, alarmed.
> "Sir, calm down—"
Liam's gaze darted wildly around.
> "Where's my family? I want my parents!"
Ethan's voice trembled, barely a whisper.
> "Liam… I'm right here."
But Liam turned away, eyes burning with anger and fear._And for the first time in years, Ethan realized
the man he loved no longer knew him.