He's my boyfriend? He called me baby. I swear, I never thought I'd forget I'd have a boyfriend, especially if I had someone like him. He's a model. Jet black hair, green eyes, dressed very nicely. How could I forget him? I barely remember what happened. Why am I in the hospital? Everything is numb inside, I can't feel anything. Breathing causes soreness, my throat keeps crackling when I speak. And apparently, I have memory loss.

The doctors leave the room and it's just him and I. "I'm sorry," he says, loosening his grip on my hand.

I glance down and let him go. He takes his hand back. "Why sorry?" I ask with a raspy voice. It burns like I have strep throat. "I'm the one who can't remember you. How long have we been together?"

He shakes his head slightly. "You don't have memory loss, I'm sure your memory is quite fine. We're not dating."

Well, that explains why I don't remember him but it's not the answer I wanted. It could have been like those movies where he kisses me and I remember everything. That would have been nice. "Then why did you say that? Just for the doctors?"

"I said you were so I could make sure you were all right. They wouldn't have let a stranger come with."

I still have so many questions. Who is he? If he's not my boyfriend, why does he still look familiar? Why am I in a hospital? "What happened?"

He shifts his weight in the chair, looking at me with sincerity. "I was in town today, oblivious to the passersby. And the next thing I know, you step in front of me as a gun fires. You went down and the mugger runs away." That's why. I noticed him walking toward me and a different guy was charging toward him. I saw him take out the gun and I ran. "The paramedics came and I didn't want to never know what would happen to you."

"So you told them I was your boyfriend so you could stay." He nods. "Well, that was a gamble." I pause, something not adding up. "How did you know my name?"

"Wallet. I checked for an ID to see who you were."

"Oh, okay." I mean, I never would have thought of that in an emergency but he obviously did. That's when I realize another thing. "What's your name? You obviously know mine but I never had the chance to check your ID."

"Gerard," he says.

"Gerard? I like that, uncommon. Does that come with a last name?"

He hesitates for a moment, reluctant to answer me. "Gerard...Way."

"So, Gerard Way, what else do you know about me?"

He purses his lip to the side. "You're an American college student. What are you doing in Austria?"

"It's my senior year, taking a study abroad. I want to be a photographer."

"In Austria of all places?

I smile at him. "It's beautiful here and nobody really knows that. Everyone goes to London or Paris because it's iconic. People travel to South America or the islands to live a paradise. Other travel to Africa or underdeveloped countries on mission trips. But not a lot of people go to Austria. It's a small but nice group."

He smiles at me. "That's a good way of putting it. Something unique."

"Yeah. I've been fascinated with this country since I was little. A few years ago, I started talking to somebody who lives here and when I came, she offered me a place to stay." He nods along, listening to me intently. I don't know why I'm telling him about my life story but then again, he's the one who wanted to stay to get to know me. "You speak fluent English," I point out.

"I'm also American," he says, "but I speak a lot of languages."

"How many is a lot?" I ask.

There's a smug look on his face as he answers. "10. Not including English."

"What?" He laughs lightly. "Are you serious?"

He sways his head. "I mean, it's my job. I'm a financial advisory and translator for an engineering company, specializing in airplane designs."

"That's...awesome." Every second that passes, I'm wishing more and more for him to be my boyfriend. I would have taken the memory loss instead of the truth. "And here I was thought I was cool taking French in high school and knowing some German from the 2 months I already spent here."

"That's still a leg up compared to most people," he says. "How long are you in Austria?"

"I was originally only staying a month but I love it here I'm trying to stay longer. Are you on business?"

"Yes, there's a shareholders event with several other businesses from other countries. Being the only one who speaks both German and Chinese, I'm staying the whole time."

"That's impressive, how long will you be here?"

"It depends but for a few months at least." I have time to get to know him then. Or hope to. "Now my turn to ask a question."

"Hit me."

"Why'd you do it?" His face is soft and concerned but mostly astounded.

I try to shrug but I'm too weak to lift my shoulders so instead, I just shake my head. "I don't know. I saw you and I noticed the gun pointing at you. But you didn't. So I reacted for you. No thoughts, believe me, I'm not the hero type. Had I thought it out, I wouldn't have done anything."

He nods his head along, shifting back. "Well, I'm glad you're okay. I couldn't think of anything happening to you." For some reason, I start smiling at him until he stands up.

"Wait, are you leaving?" I ask. He pauses, giving me a look. "Why?"

"I'm not really your boyfriend. Your family is going to see you they won't know me. And if you have a girlfriend or-"

"Nope," I laugh, which turns into a wheeze. "Not a girl person." Amusement spreads on his face. "And there's not really anybody as a significant other. Do you have a meeting or something you have to go to?"

"No, but your family is still coming to see you," he says again.

"Will I see you again?" I ask.

"I wouldn't count on it, we live different lives. We have different interests."

"Different interests...Are you straight?"

He laughs at my directness. "I don't know," he answers, awkwardly shrugging his shoulders.

I narrow my eyes. "How would you not know? You questioning?"

"Not really, I've never been in a relationship and I see no objective in investing now." I stare at him and he starts laughing again. This guy never dating? He's...gorgeous. It wouldn't be because a lack of volunteers, that's his decision. "You seem shocked."

"I mean, yeah," I respond. I don't say anything else or that'd start getting weird. He can read between the lines. "Perhaps if you don't have work and I don't have an IV in my arm, we could meet up again and figure out your sexuality?"

"Perhaps," he replies, changing his stance. He's not leaving or shooting me down. He's smiling so that's definitely not a no and if it's not a no, it could be a yes. "You really want to meet up again?"

"I mean, you had me at boyfriend."

"Well, maybe not dating but we can meet up again." I'll take it. He walks back over and takes a pen out of his shirt pocket. "You have paper or something?" I extend my arm out and he smiles but takes it. Leaning over me, he holds my hand steady while writing on my forearm, writing a phone number.

"This your cell?" I ask.

"Yes, personal, not the work one. So if I don't answer, it means I'm on business." He closes the pen and puts it back in his pocket. "So I guess I'll hear from you again it turns out."

"Don't sound too disappointed," I say. He smiles again and I watch him walk out of the room.