"I'm honestly shocked."

"I had no idea Professor Wright was like that."

I was on my way home when Julian's top student messaged me.

"Lily Evans got transferred out of our research group. Professor Wright straight-up dropped her."

"Mrs. Wright, you have no idea!"

"When the professor had the accident and they found out he'd lost his memory, he was desperate to see you."

"Wow… so this is what Professor Wright was like before? He keeps calling you 'babe' in front of the whole ward. The nurses are losing it."

I stared at the messages, not sure whether to laugh or cry.

Ethan sent a voice note next. In the background, I could hear Julian's voice—clear and indignant.

"What do you mean she went home? Go get her. Someone go get my girlfriend."

"Professor Wright, she's your—" someone started.

"My what?"

"…Never mind."

I played it three times.

The next morning, I went back to the hospital. Julian was sitting up, surrounded by textbooks his students had brought, looking bewildered.

"I apparently have a PhD?" He held up a journal with his name on it. "Claire, I have a PhD. When did that happen?"

"You worked very hard."

"Why don't I remember any of it?"

"You will."

He set the journal down and looked at me. Really looked—the way the old Julian used to, before the world piled up between us.

"Claire."

"Mm?"

"I don't know what happened between us. I can tell something did. You flinch when I reach for you."

I said nothing.

"But I need you to know—whatever I did, I'm sorry. Even if I can't remember it."

"Julian, you don't have to—"

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "Because the me who did it should have said it. And apparently didn't."

I looked at this strange, tender version of my ex-husband. The version who remembered only the loving part.

And I thought: maybe this is the cruelest thing that could have happened.

Not losing him.

Getting him back—the him I'd been grieving for years—only to know it wouldn't last.

"Let's get you better," I said. "One day at a time."

He reached for my hand. I let him take it.

Just this once.