Pasio University: Sophomore and Junior Years

Chapter 52- Solar Flare

Lillie POV

I looked up with my misty eyes after feeling my hand get grabbed. Meeting my eyes were the beautiful blue ones of Elio. I lost myself in absolute euphoria and screeched "ELIO!!!" I launced myself on to the bed and wrapped my arms around him as I continued to screech. I heard him laugh very softly, I then remembered that he might not know who I am, or where he is, or anything. I cleared my tears as much as I could and shakily said, "D... Do you remember m-me?" Elio looked at me and replied in a raspy voice, "Of course I do Lillie, how could I ever forget you?" I wailed in complete happiness and sunk in to him again, letting my tears soak in to his shirt, just like I used to so many times before.

I heard the door open behind us as the doctor came in for his scheduled check. He walked forward and his eyes widened. He dropped his stethoscope temporarily before shaking his head and picking it up, "I don't believe it..." He muttered in pure shock. I cuddled closer to Elio as he was holding me close to him already. He looked up at the doctor, and asked seemingly honestly, "Am I dead?" The doctor chuckled, "No, but you absolutely should've been." Elio looked confused, I looked at him, "Elio, you've been in a coma for almost 7 months now." His eyes widened, "Seven months?" I nodded, he scratched his head,"Urgh, that might explain why my arms feel so weak..." The doctor looked at him, "Do you want me to call your family? Tell them you're back awake?" Elio and I both nodded. The doctor walked out of the room, still visibly shaken by the medical miracle that just happened before him. The door closed and I had finally temporarily stopped crying. We just stared at each other, he joked weakly, "Well what can I do for you miss?" I said tiredly, "A kiss would be nice... Or a few..." He leaned in, "That can be done."

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Selene POV

I made a humming noise and flipped through the pages of my grass type studies text book, I looked over to Mama, "Hey Mama, did you know that Cacturnes don't have blood, but rather just kinda have sand there instead?" Mama did a double take from her busywork and looked at me, "What?" I nodded, "Yeah... Say don't you think Lillie's taking an awful while at the hospital?" Mama shook her head, "She's been off today, I think she needed a bit of alone time." I heard a knock on the door, Mama walked over to the door and opened it. There standing at the door was a doctor. Mama reeled in shock and nearly dropped to her knees. The doctors showing up at the door can only mean the worst news. I began to tear up, you fought hard brother... The doctor put his hands on Mama, "Mrs. Celeste, it's not what you think! He's- He's awake!" She covered her face and cried out loud, "My boy! He's alive!?" He nodded, "And well. You two should come see him." Mama and I both ran after the doctor back to the hospital, which was a 10 minute walk from our house, but it was more like 3 at the pace we were going.

We got up to the room and saw Elio sitting up with Lillie cuddled up against him. He smiled, "Mama! Selene!" Mama began to cry, "My son!!" I smiled back, "Of course you pulled through. You wouldn't really be my brother if you weren't the most stubborn dork on the planet." He chuckled, "Good to see you too Selene." He said this while Mama was draped on him opposite Lillie. Lots of tears. I don't know if anyone in this room isn't crying. The other doctor walked in and she was amazed, "This is unreal. Never did I think..." She pondered things for a moment, "So... Elio, do you remember everything?" He nodded, "I remember Lillie, and my family... And my team... Something about a Kyogre as well... Gym Leading stuff... Am I missing anything?" The doctor shrugged, "I wouldn't know." I chuckled, "Nah you've got it all down." The doctor then pointed, "How do your muscles feel?" He groaned, "Weak. Really weak. My arms feel shot. Don't know about legs though." She motioned, "Want to try to walk for us?" Lillie and Mama cleared from him and he swiveled himself slowly in position to get out of the bed, he stood up and immediately lost his balance and fell forward, hitting the ground hard. Everyone gasped, we probably should've seen that coming. He shook it off, "Gah... I can support myself but... I forget how to... I just can't seem to put one foot in front of the other..." Lillie and Mama helped him up to his feet, where he kind of slumped, he looked up, "Is this... Is this permanent?" This doctor shrugged, "Could be, might not be, I don't know anything as it comes to you anymore. He looked around, "What do I need to do to have the best chance at walking again?" The doctor sighed, "It'll take a few months, but if you have a physical therapist with you, they can help strengthen your leg muscles and try to return your balance." He grimaced in pain, "I might give that a try... Thanks for watching me for... Seven months if what I heard is true..." The doctors nodded, "Anytime. We wish you the best in your future." He smiled back, "Now if I could get a wheelchair or something..."

Lillie POV

I wheeled Elio out of the front doors of the hospital in his new wheelchair and I said to him, "Elio... I've missed you so much, you have no idea..." He scratched his head, "I guess I don't. It felt just like a particularly long nap... But the longer I've been awake I realize I can't do stuff." I continued to push along the road as we finally made it back to the house. We had a makeshift ramp in the form of a random wood plank we had lying around so we were able to push him in to the house. I was so tired, and it's about 11 PM now. I looked around, "Oh! I forgot... I stole your room Elio. You can have that back. I'll sleep on the-" he grabbed my arm weakly, "Sorry- would you mind staying with me tonight?" I looked to Celeste who nodded, "Hey, we're just happy to have you back son. Lillie can stay in your room with you." He thanked Celeste and then looked at me, "Would you mind Lil?" I smiled softly, "I'd love to."

We got in the room and I wheeled him to the queen sized bed, "Alright, can you make it up there yourself?" Elio grimaced, "I'll try." He gripped the edge and tried to pull himself over, it wasn't working. I grabbed his arms and tugged him forward on to the bed. He groaned, "Oh. Thank you Lillie." I smiled and jumped in to bed next to him, "Anytime." He stared at me thoughtfully, "Hey...I feel like I remember a few things, and I have a few questions for you if you don't mind..." I smiled, "Sure. What's on your mind?" He looked at me, "Did-... Did you really visit me in the hospital everyday for 7 months?" I nodded, "Yes." He looked away, "And... And you didn't ever regret it... And you thought I'd make it?" I sighed, "Elio, no one thought you were going to make it. But I wanted to be with you every moment I could." He put his hand on my cheek, "You're so pretty... You have such a good heart... You could've given up on me and been just fine, but you chose to stick by me. I-..." He began to cry. I cuddled close to him as he cried in a pure state of overwhelmed. He recovered himself after a little bit, "I- I don't have the words Lillie... I can never repay that kind of love..." I comforted him, "You don't have to, and in my mind, you already have." He shook his head, "I've never deserved you. Thank you so much Lillie. Thank you so much." I giggled, "It's nothing, really. You'd do the same for me. That being said, you want filled in on what's happened since you've been gone?" He smiled, "Sure."