IT was almost dusk when she awoke, and she lay there for awhile. Her mind slowly adjusted to the log cabin she was in and the strange people taking care of her. She tried to pull herself up and cried out a little in pain. The native woman came in at once and helped her to a position she wanted.
“Just relax,” she told her, “I’ll get some food for you, you must be hungry by now.”

Sarah surely was and she ate a good meal of native and English dishes. Maria watched her approvingly and voiced, “In the next few days, you’ll regain your strength.”
“Thank you,” Sarah expressed and laid back with a satisfied sigh, but her mind was troubled.
The shock of losing her memory slowly resurfaced in her mind and it caused a throbbing pain in her head.

She inhaled slowly, closing her eyes to avoid another breakdown. When she reopened her eyes, Nathan was just entering the room, and seeing him filled her with that new warm feeling again. The glow from the dim light in the room reflected on his rugged handsome features and she knew for sure it wasn’t the herbal tea now.
“Hey. How are you doing now?”
“Better,” she answered softly.
“Quite happy to hear that.”

There was a moment’s pause, and then she asked, “Where am I?”
“You’re in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region on a small resort I own.”
She looked perplexed and felt like crying again.
“I wish I can remember…” her voice trailed away.

“You will,” he consoled her, “It could be just a short-term memory loss.”
“What’s gonna happen to me if I don’t?”
“You’re safe here under our care and the scouts should be back soon with information on the boating accident. From that, we will know who you were with and we can contact your family.”
She sighed with relief, “Thank you for being so kind and helpful.”

He touched her hand lightly and said, “Just relax. Everything will be fine.”
He left and came back later. Maria helped her to have another refreshing bath, and the little girl, Ariel, helped to brush her long hair. He looked at her and took a slow, deep breath, “You look quite refreshed.”

She smiled just a little, happy for the care she was given. “Think you’re strong enough for a little walk outside?” he asked.
“I could try.”
“Here, let me help you.”

He took her arm and leaving the room for the first time, she looked around awed at the beautifully decorated cabin with a unique mix of modern and local furnishings.
“It’s beautiful!”
They stepped outside, the cool air stunning her a bit, and she inhaled deeply with the freshness.
“This,” he presented to her, “is my little paradise.”

Smaller cabins were around, and the ground was beautifully landscaped with palms and flowering trees.
“This is so splendid,” she expressed, awed by its natural beauty and serenity.
For those moments, she forgot her troubles, feeling like she was in a beautiful dream.

He held her hand to ensure she was steady on her feet as they walked around.
“So, this is a resort for tourists?” she asked.
“Yes but on a small scale because I am more involved with the ranch.”

“It’s so peaceful and beautiful, like you’re in a world of your own.”
“And that’s how I fell in love with the place,” he stated.
On the third day, she felt stronger and could leave the room on her own to sit in the living area with its unique décor, it’s natural beauty and coziness radiating a kind of happiness.

On one wall was a shelf with a collection of books that attracted her interest and she sat down with one by the window. Somehow, as she sat there in quiet comfort, she felt like she wanted this.
“I wonder…” She left the thought unfinished as Maria came in with breakfast for her.
Nathan came back from the ranch during the midday hour to see how she was doing, and he was pleased to see that she was moving around on her own.

“It’s kind of a long drive from the ranch to here,” he told her, “But it’s worth the while to see you’re doing better.”
She smiled for the first time from her heart, and that smile filled him with an overwhelming feeling of relief and joy.
They had lunch together and he told her in casual conversation about a little of his work and service to indigenous communities. She found that very interesting, but a shadow flashed across her face and he asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I-I can’t even tell you anything of my life and what I do.”
He reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand, “In time, you will. This is probably just a phase in your life.”

At mid-morning on the fourth day, as she was immersed in a good book, Nathan came in with some papers in his hand. There was a look of relief on his face, slightly shadowed by worry. He sat down, not saying anything for a moment, and then told her, “The scouts found where the accident happened.”
He handed her some pictures that showed the river and rapids, the boat that had taken her up and the group she had made the trip with Her hands trembled as she looked at the pictures, and a loud gasp escaped her lips, and a flashing light exploded in her mind. She collapsed, and Nathan, with quick reflexes caught her before she hit the floor. He called for Maria as he laid her gently on the bed and then they both tried to revive her. Sarah regained consciousness and sat up, gasping with shock.

“Hey,” Nathan said to her comfortingly, putting his hands on her shoulders, “Take a few slow, deep breaths.”
She did that and managed to calm down, Maria gave her a glass of water to drink and after she was calm enough, Nathan asked her, “Did you remember something?”
She nodded.
“Would you like to talk about it?”

She took a deep breath and told him, “I was with a church group doing some community work and spreading the word of God in indigenous villages. The last trip was going up the river through the rapids but the water got very rough and I fell overboard.”
Tears misted in her eyes as she told him her name, who she was and how excited she had been to go on the trip visiting a few different reasons for a little adventure.
“And I almost died.”

She was starting to get overwhelmed again and instinctively he embraced her so she could stay calm. His embrace gave her the comfort she needed, and she relaxed and felt safe in his arms.
After a long while he let her lie back down, saying to her, given her fragile state of mind, “Don’t worry about anything. I’ll send out a message to your family informing them you are safe and as soon as the doctor clears you to travel I’ll send you home with a chartered flight.”

Three days later she returned home to a joyous and tearful welcome from her family and friends, church members and even some children from her class. It was a heartening scene and Sarah was overwhelmed by the show of concern from those whose lives she had touched. It was a hectic week for her with visitors everyday and interviews with different media houses.
Her story of the disaster on the river, her rescue and memory loss, and the strangers who cared for her captured the interest of the nation. One media house travelled all the way to Nathan’s ranch to interview him, which made her story even more interesting.

Her colleagues teased her, “Remember we told you he will find you, though not under that circumstance.”
“Yeah” Sarah smiled, “It was God’s will.”
It had pained her heart that day to leave him and when he had kissed her lightly just before she boarded the plane, she knew he was feeling that pain, too. She missed him so much and missed Maria’s food and her little daughter’s care.

It felt like she had left a big piece of her heart there and Jared, noticing the change in her, knew he could never now win her heart.
Three weeks later, as she lit the candles in her church, she whispered, “I have to go back to him, I can’t stay away longer.”
“That is also my thought,” a familiar voice said from a little way behind her, “That’s why I’m here.”

Sarah turned around and gasped in surprise.
“Nathan, you’re here, and with Maria and Ariel!”
“We missed you too much and the cabin had become kinda dull without you.”|

She laughed, an incredible rush of joy filling her heart as he hugged her.
“I missed you too,” she whispered and for a long moment, they stood in each other’s embrace in God’s home.
“It’s all in God’s will that I found you,” Nathan said in a low tone, “And I want to say I love you.”

Tears misted in her eyes, for that love was also in her heart.
She hugged Maria and Ariel, “I’m so happy to see both of you.”
And they walked out of the church together to a beautiful life that awaited.