𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑵𝑨 ||𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘻||

𝑰𝑰𝑰. 𝑵𝑶𝑾 𝒀𝑶𝑼'𝑹𝑬 𝑮𝑶𝑵𝑵𝑨 𝑷𝑨𝒀

ONE STEP FORWARD and three steps back, or more like, one step forwards and falling to the ground. That's how Vienna felt as she practised walking with Lilly. Every time she managed to take a few steps on her own, a blackout would hit her and seconds later she would hit the ground. And when she fell, those horrible images returned. Having her memories coming back also meant having the memories of that fatal first day of school coming back.

"Alright, that was one step more than the last time," Lilly tried as she helped Vienna stand up and brush the dirt off her sweat pants. Being able to stand for short periods of time did mean she got to wear her own clothes.

"Yeah, one step before I face planted," Vienna scoffed as she held her head that was spinning and hurting. She let out a sigh and looked at the wall she shared with Miguel. "How is he?"

"He's having that big surgery on Friday, that could mean big things," Lilly told her as she sat her down in her wheelchair. "Why don't we go visit him." She said and watched how Vienna's eyes lit up. Lilly wheeled her out of the room and into the room next door.

"Vienna," Miguel smiled as he saw his girlfriend. Lilly helped Vienna stand up shortly and Vienna softly kissed Miguel before sitting in the chair next to his bed.

"Hey," She smiled at him as Lilly left the room. "How are you today, Mi abeja?"

"The surgery is coming up, so I'm pretty nervous," Miguel sighed as he held Vienna's hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "You?"

"These blackouts are really..." Vienna stopped for a second as she tried to find the right words. "Killing me." She found it after two seconds. But it was enough to make Miguel feel an unhealthy amount of guilt.

"They still have you in a wheelchair?" He asked while eying the contraption at the door.

"Yeah, but Lilly says I'm making progress, says that next week I might be able to make the sweet, sweet upgrade of going over to crutches." Vienna joked at managed to get a small chuckled out of Miguel, but on the inside, she was terrified of the idea.

"Hey," The couple turned to the door and there they saw Sam.

"Hey," Miguel replied as Vienna sent her a kind smile.

"I hope it's okay, me just showing up like this. How are you two?" Sam asked the two and Miguel sighed while Vienna looked at her lap. "I mean... Sorry, I... It's a stupid question."

"It's okay," Vienna told her as she lifted her head but clenched her eyes shut when her head got attacked by a headache again.

"Vien?" Miguel asked her carefully.

"Headache," She replied as she opened her eyes again and looked back at Sam. "It happens from time to time." She explained.

"But I have a surgery on Friday," Miguel added as he tried to lift up the mood. "Some doctor from out of state who supposedly works miracles."

"That's great, right?" Sam asked the two.

"I'm not getting my hopes up. The surgery costs a ton. My mom's gonna be in debt," Miguel sighed and Vienna squeezed his hand. "And there's no guarantee it'll work, but..." Miguel shrugged before looking back at his girlfriend. "Plus, Vienna keeps having these blackouts."

"I think if anyone can beat the odds, it's you two," Sam replied and Vienna smiled at her.

"Thank you, Sam," She told her before her eyes landed on the wound on Sam's upper arms. "Twins." She tried joking as she looked at her own wound.