Chapter 384
Ellie turned her attention away from Alex and looked to the other side of the hospital bed. Seeing Joanna, Ellie was surprised. “Mom, how did you get here? Where’s Dad?”
Ellie’s words were like thunder crashing over everyone’s heads. They exchanged glances, and their expressions changed dramatically.
Diana was shocked. “Ellie, don’t scare me like that! Are you okay?”
Ellie looked at Diana and asked in confusion, “Sorry, who are you?”
“I’m Diana, your best friend. How can you not recognize me?” Diana replied. She was almost in tears. “I’m going to get the doctor!”
After the initial shock, Aaron quickly left the room.
“Ellie, tell me if anything else is wrong. Does your head hurt?” Alex held Ellie’s hand tightly, his voice noticeably shaking.
Ellie glanced back, seeing Alex holding her hand in front of everyone, she quickly pulled it back. “Alex, why are you here too?”
Ellie said, “I was supposed to be interning at the hospital today, so how come I’m lying here?”
Alex thought, ‘Internship? Isn’t this from over two years ago when Ellie just got back to Jaslands?‘
Alex felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest. Even when the medical staff came in to check on Ellie, Alex couldn’t calm down.
The doctor asked Ellie, “Think hard, were you working or resting at home yesterday?”
Ellie closed her eyes, listening to the doctor’s words, struggling to remember despite the splitting headache.
The doctor asked, “Do you remember what you had for dinner last night?”
Ellie replied, “Last night, I was packing up in my apartment, getting ready for today’s hospital internship. I was too busy and didn’t eat, then just went to sleep.”
The doctor asked, “Think carefully. Did you meet anyone or did anything happen before you went to sleep?”
The more Ellie tried to remember, the worse her head hurt. In the end, she just held her head in her hands and started to cry on the hospital bed.
“That’s enough!” Alex interrupted the doctor sternly. He knelt by the bed, holding Ellie tightly. “Ellie!” As he felt her body go limp, Alex realized that she had fainted once more.
Over an hour later, the team of specialists returned with their diagnosis: Ellie suffered from traumatic memory loss due to the psychological shock of falling into the water. This stress response the body triggers is a natural defense mechanism against such extreme trauma.
Aaron asked, “If she has memory loss, why she still remembers her family?”
The doctor explained, “The memories Ellie has lost are likely related to the traumatic events she went through. Generally, in
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Chapter 384
cases like this, her memories of other things should remain normal.”
Alex asked, “How long will it take for her to regain her memory?”
The doctor replied, “Ellie’s memory loss is usually temporary. Recovery might be as fast as a few weeks or as long as one to three months, and in some cases, it could be six months or even longer.”
The doctor said, “Usually, with help from a professional therapist, she should gradually start to remember soon”
Once the doctor left, silence settled over everyone. Ellie’s memories were stuck two years ago when she returned to Jaslands to start her internship. She couldn’t remember anything that happened after that.
Alex’s breathing was already uneven. He stood by Ellie’s bedside, his eyes red as he stared at her without moving. Over two years ago, Ellie liked him a lot.
****
Ellie remained unconscious the whole day.
