Living With The Beus

Light passed across my eyes, I blinked twice until my eyes adjusted its sight. A white blanket is covering me; I hear the beeping sound of the Cardiac Monitor beside me. I reached for the dextrose on my wrist and felt a sudden pain on the side of my head which have a stack of white bands on it.

"I know it's a lot to take in but she'll be fine, Sir,"a heard the doctor saying. How do I know? Well, he's wearing a white coat just like any doctors. And his back appeared in front of me and looked like he's talking to some guy in which I can't see what he looks like because I'm still having this blurry vision.

"How long does it take for her to regain her memory?"I heard the guy speaking. Wait. Are they referring to me? I'm starting to wonder what really happened to me before I got here. But I can't remember anything.

I heard the Doctor sighing,"Maybe for a while, Sir. I know this must be hard for you to hear but your Wife has Post Traumatic Amnesia because of the car accident. A part of her brain is damaged because of the incident. But if you were able to bring her home and re-do the things that she always remembers, that will help her remember the things little by little."

"I see,"said the guy. Then they walked towards me and they looked glad for seeing me awake.

"You finally woke up,"said the Doctor as he glanced at his paper,"Miss..."

"Mrs. Silvanna Beus,"the guy continued.

Silvanna Beus? Is that really my name? It sounds a bit cheap. I don't know. It feels a bit off.

I looked at the guy who looks in his 30s. Tall, has a dark complexion of skin, has some Mexican features on his face and has this annoying grin that I can't tell why I'm getting annoyed by it. Is that really my husband? And do I really have a husband?!

"So I already explained your condition with your husband, Mr. Aluminus Beus. He will help you regain your memories little by little. Since he's your husband anyway. That will be easier for you to remember everything,"said the doctor as he winked at me. Wait. Does he mean...

"Yep! Me and my wife did a lot of things together,"Aluminus said as he winked at me. I'm not sure if I get it but I think he's referring to—

"Ah. Freshly married couples are always full of honeymoon nights,"said the Doctor like he's dreaming of having one. My eyes widened as I begin to process of what I just heard and tried to remember if I have honeymoon moments with this "moderate-looking" guy. In which I can't imagine it to begin with.

"Do you guys have kids?"asked the doctor with a smile.

"Yep! They are eight of them,"Aluminus answered proudly.

Eight of them?!

"Whoa! You guys have been busy all along! But you're too young to have those many kids. Did she got pregnant when she's 18 or less?" The Doctor asked for more juicy details.

What the hell does this have to do with my situation?! And I can't even recall having any children at all?!

"Uh no. The kids are all adopted by me,"Aluminus said as he scratched his head with awkwardness,"And Silvanna just came along in our lives to help me take care of this kids."

Nothing that he says triggers something in my mind.

"Excuse me,"I finally rebutted and got their attention. I hate it when people talk about me when they're in front of me like I'm not there.

"But is it normal not to remember anything at all? I mean I don't recall having that many kids and marrying someone like this guy here! And I can't recall having a name that is somewhat related to silver when it should've been like goldie or whatever!"

The Doctor and Aluminus glanced at each other with confusion on their looks but after a few seconds later, they burst out of laughter.

"Wait. Why are you guys laughing? I am trying to understand the situation here!" I screamed as I crossed my arms.

"Oh honey. You really are funny sometimes, you know that?" Aluminus told me.

"She sounds like she's been raised in a castle,"the Doctor commented.

"Yeah. She sounds like it. She's a brat and spoiled woman before we were married,"Aluminus said while staring at me like he's telling the truth.

"Really? And did she changed—"

"When she met me of course,"Aluminus continued. Bragging about himself. This guy is a prick. How come I married someone like him? He doesn't even look my type!

"Oh. That's so romantic and kinda cliche,"the Doctor said as he chuckled then he grabbed his bag,"Well, I will not keep you guys any longer here anymore. Your wife needs to get home and be with her kids. I'm sure they must be worried about their Mother."

Then Aluminus gave me a grin that looks like he's planning something evil to me,"Very."

This is so wrong in so many levels.

So I'm finally discharged after my "Husband" paid the bills and process everything to get me out. We went out from the Hospital which even looked like it's just built here in this poor-looking town in which I can't recall living in this shitty town.

We walked on the wild and dirty road with people walking around that I've been worrying if they're going to steal something from us or beat us out of the blue because of how they look like. It's pretty weird because it's not something that I used to. Or maybe I just can't remember everything that's why I'm thinking like this. I just have to come with this Aluminus guy and maybe everything will be back to normal.

"Aren't we going to ride something like your car?"I asked my "husband" while we're walking,"I'm tired of walking to this disoriented sidewalk with this cheap-looking shoes!"

Aluminus scoffed and gave me a look like he's a different person from the Hospital,"Stop complaining, woman. And I don't have a car."

"What?!"I exclaimed.

We stopped at the bus station and rode the bus with people who looked like they haven't have a good life for long. Some of them are coughing. There's a kid whining and crying. The Mother shouts at the kid showing off her crooked teeth. Then this guy stares at me like he's going to do something bad at me. There's this guy who is really dirty like he hasn't showered for weeks or months. Or years.

We sat at the back of the bus, beside to this guy wearing a black coat. He gave us a suspicious look. I just avoided my eyes at him because it's making me feel awkward.

"I just hope that your house is clean and organized or something that I am used to before the incident,"I said after I sighed.

Aluminus gave me this grin again. What's his plan, really? He's not acting like any husband should. Or maybe I just have no idea what a husband does anyway. I'm not even sure if I'm a good wife to him before.

The bus stopped and we walked again in a street that is quiet and clean which I find it relieving finally. Then we stopped to this simple and medium sized house. The plants are not even alive. The grass looks like it hasn't been trimmed for months. And there are some clothes lying around on it. Including some toys that are new and old.

We got inside and I'm hearing screams from children. The furnitures are not organized. There are rotten foods almost everywhere. There's a crack on the medium sized TV. The frames and other decorations don't look like decorations but trash. And I'm not sure which smell is the worst: the unwashed clothes, rotten food, burned food and kid's poop.

To make my description short and simple, the house is a disaster.

"Kids! Your Mother is here!"

Aluminus called out after he stood beside me. The kids went down one by one and some of them act like they're zombies because of how aggressive their actions are. A little kid grabbed my shirt that I almost had a heart attack because she suddenly appeared beside me. Her clothes are messed up. I'm not sure if the stain on her clothes are just chocolate or poop. Until I smelled it. And you don't want me to describe it anymore.

"Mama!"she says. Her blue round eyes staring at me with a smile. And even after that smell, atleast I have found a way to like her because of how she stares at me.

"Don't get so overwhelmed,"said the teenage girl who has Mexican features on her face. She's chewing a gum like a goat and is wearing a crop top and a very short shorts,"Zan's only word is Mama. She refers to everything as "Mama"."

I thought that kid is just saying that because she doesn't like me. But when I glanced at Zan who is still smiling, she pointed out the garbage that is across the living room and said,"Mama".

"I think she meant that you're trash!"the black teenage girl with an afro hair said and the kids laugh. Is this how they treat their foster Mother?!

I even found Aluminus laughing beside me but it looks like he's just hiding it,"Anyway kids, you know what happened to her. So that means she doesn't know you for now."

And just by staring at them, nothing triggers in my memory. Maybe if I woke up tomorrow, some memories will come back. I just have to endure this situation first.

"So, let's introduce yourselves one by one!" Aluminus said as he clap his hands together. The tallest kid with a blonde hair forwarded in which I assumed that he's the eldest among others. Given that he looks like a teenager.

"I'm Cecilio,"he says."This one here is Natalia,"he introduced the mexican teenage girl who is still chewing her gum.

Their attention stayed on the boy who is like playing on his cellphone like he's missing this moment now. You know, the kind of moment that the kids should be crying and hugging me saying that they miss me.

"That's Bon. He loves video games,"Cecilio introduced him instead.

The black girl with an afro hair raised her hand,"I'm Terine. Probably the smartest kid here."

Atleast they have someone who acts and thinks like normal and easy to deal with. But I started smelling that something is burning. Turns out that Terine's dress is on fire. She started freaking out that she ran over to the kitchen to splash herself with water. I noticed the two boys who have blonde hair hid behind the ruined three seater couch laughing mischievously.

"What the hell Leon and Theon!"she screamed angrily as the two boys continued laughing.

"And that's the twins, Leon and Theon. They love doing this ridiculous pranks,"Natalia said.

Then my attention to them switched to the same kid who called me and the trash "Mama". She bumped herself on me like she's not looking of her running around in circles earlier while the other kids are introducing to me.

"And that's Zan. She's three and she's the youngest,"said Cecilio.

Zan ran again in circles after bumping to me like it never happened. What is she, a robot?

"She's a little different,"Cecilio added as we stared at her running endlessly in circles.

Then a girl who is I think the second to the youngest of them forwarded and lend her hand to me. Even if she's young, her clothes are the most elegant and clean compared to the rest of them. She has this curly and orange hair that is well combed. She gave me this sweet and confident smile at me.

"Hello Mother! My name is Yvonne and I'm 6 years old!"she introduced enthusiastically. I took her hand for a handshake. And atleast there is one kid that I can relate myself into. I think we have the taste of clothes and looks.

"Your dress is beautiful!"I complimented her.

"Thank you!"she said with a smile. Then her expression suddenly switched to the opposite of her happy expression,"Now go prepare our Dinner! I'm hungry!"

What the hell. She became a scary kid from being a sweet one real quick!

"And we have another sibling. She is just in her room all day. And her name is Bea,"Cecilio said.

"Why isn't she here? Doesn't she feel excited to see her Mom?"I asked with curiosity then they chuckled. I have no idea what's funny of what I just said.

"We rarely see Bea because she's always stays in her room,"Aluminus said.

"Only when she takes the bath,"Natalia added.

"How does she eat?"I ask.

"We gave her food and leave it at her doorstep,"Cecilio answered.

This family gets weirder as I know about them.

"Well! Introduction is now done!" Aluminus said as he clap his hands together again,"Now, Silvanna, you know what to do."

I gave them a confused look because they all stare like they're going to do something bad at me. Then Aluminus gave me a mop and a bucket of water with some spray and cloth. In short, he gave me some cleaning materials.

"Since you've been gone for a while, clean the house and prepare our Dinner,"he said with this annoying smile. And they started walking away and do whatever that they are doing earlier.

"Wait. Don't you guys have a maid or something?!"I said.

"You're the one who does all the cleaning and other household chores,"Aluminus said,"Plus, we don't have enough money to hire a maid." Then they left me without hearing me another word.

So this is who I am?! A Foster Mom who cleans and does all the work in this disastrous house?!