The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Anastasia grinned and couldn't help but gush, "My husband is drop-dead

gorgeous, sweet as can be, smart, thoughtful-honestly, he's the best man in the whole universe."

"Sweet, huh?" Herman shot back with a teasing smirk. "Are you sure that's how you'd describe me after last night?"

Anastasia's cheeks turned scarlet. Sweet? Last night had been anything but― he'd practically tried to take her apart.

She quickly changed the subject, scooping up some shredded carrots and dropping them into his bowl. "Eat your carrots," she said, then ducked her head and focused on her breakfast, ignoring Monica's latest message.

After they finished eating, Herman got up to do the dishes while Anastasia headed out to water the succulents on the balcony.

Most of the old plants had withered away, so she'd bought a whole new batch, plus a trailing pothos for good measure. With a little greenery, the apartment felt alive again, and her mood lifted.

When Herman came out, he caught her smiling to herself as she watered the plants, and he could feel how much easier things were between them now. The old awkwardness was gone; everything just felt more natural.

Maybe it was because bits and pieces of his memory were coming back. He remembered now-this place, their life together.

As soon as she heard him behind her, Anastasia straightened up, put down the watering can, and asked, "So, what do you want to do today? Or where should we go? I can come with, or if you'd rather hang out with Dailey, that's cool too."

If he still felt weird being alone with her, maybe some time with a friend would help. Sometimes, guys just understood each other better.

But then Herman said, "I went to Willowbrook to see Sandy..."

Just hearing Sandy's name made Anastasia's stomach twist. She tried to keep her cool, lowering her eyes and picking up the watering can again. "You don't owe me an explanation," she said lightly.

"I do," Herman replied, stepping closer, his voice serious. "Anastasia, look at me."

She tightened her grip on the watering can but looked up, managing a small smile. Whatever he was about to say, she was ready for it. None of it was his fault -he'd lost his memory. She couldn't blame him for anything.

"I'm listening," she said softly.

Herman paused, then spoke plainly. "Nothing happened between me and Sandy. When I lost my memory, she told me she was my girlfriend. L stayed at Willowbrook Villa Flofadale and we acted like a couple, but I never slept with her. I went back to see her, and I made it clear to both her and Nicholas-whatever was between us, it's over. No more loose ends."

He didn't sugarcoat anything; he knew exactly what she was worried about, and

he wanted her to know the truth.

He continued, "I'm myself

again-mostly. The Herman you

remember isn't all the way back yet, Anastasia, I don't want you tiptoeing

around me. Let's start over. It doesn't matter what happened before, or how much I loved you then, or what we went through. What matters is this: I've fallen in love with you all over again."

Loving someone, he realized, wasn't a one-time thing. It was falling for them over and over, always finding a new spark. It wasn't about doing the same thing with different people-it was about creating something new with the same person.

Anastasia suddenly understood. She let the watering can clatter to the floor and threw her arms around him. "I'm sorry. I won't push you to remember anymore. Let's start fresh."

For the first time, she realized he really was different now. She couldn't force him to be the man she remembered.

All that did was put pressure on him, make him feel like he had to play a role, dragging him back into a past they couldn't get back. In the end, they'd both only end up hurt.

Did the old Herman even matter anymore?

Not really.

What mattered was that he was here now, with her, and that was enough.noveldrama

She'd always talked about a fresh start, but she'd been stuck repeating the same old patterns.

Now, with everything finally out in the open, there was no reason to hold back.

She said, "Let's not stay here. Let's move back to Southridge Estates or better yet, let's find a new place. Somewhere neither of us has lived before. No old memories, no shadows. Just us—starting over.”