Choices

Recovery

Alric's Pov

"Alric you have to get some sleep."

I look up at Aqua with dead eyes. She puts a hand on my shoulder and looks at me with worry.

"I'm fine Aqua." I say.

"No you're not. You get less than two hours of sleep a day. We'll watch her just go get some sleep." Aqua replies.

"I'm fine." I repeat.

She sighs and look to Blaze. I turn back around and look back at closed eyes.

Oh how I long to see her purple eyes again.

Animila has been unconscious for two months now. Everything seems normal with her. Her breathing is fine. Her magic is back. I sense nothing wrong with her. Yet she's still unconscious.

It seems like every time it seems like something good happened something bad happens right after it.

I just miss Animila so much. I finally got her but I can't even hear her voice anymore. I can't see her gorgeous eyes. I just wish she would wake up.

I barely left her side ever since she fell unconscious. Surprisingly that worried the others. Not only that, my vine and creatures noticed my sudden depression. They help the others bring me food and try to get me to sleep.

The twins try to cheer me up. They would play pranks like they used to but it doesn't make me laugh. Animila used to play pranks. They tell jokes and remind me when we used to rob people. All of it just reminds me of Animila.

"Alric you know Animila wouldn't like it if she saw you like this." Blaze says.

"I'm not leaving her." I reply.

I feel one of my creatures pull on my pants leg. I gives me the look a puppy would give it's master when it wants something. I just look back to Animila.

"Come on you need to move. This isn't healthy." Aqua says.

With a swipe of my hand I create an invisible barrier separating me from them. I can see them and they can see me, but I can't hear them and they can't reach me.

"I said I'm fine so you all cam relax and stop worrying about me. Worry about yourself you guys don't get too much sleep either. Go rest." I say.

I see Aqua huff and stomp her foot like a little kid. She's usually not that childish. I was almost tempted to laugh. But I wasn't. They eventually leave.

I just by Animila's bedside and hold her hand.

"They're right you know." A familiar voice says.

I look up and in front of me is Animila's mother. She looks like a projection. She stands on the other side of Animila's bed.

"You never cease to amaze me." I say.

"This is healthy. Animila will be very mad when she finds out that you did this." She says.

"I'll take the risk. I see no point in being happy or taking care of myself if the light of my life isn't here." I reply.

"I understand your feelings. Animila felt the same way when we died. She didn't see the point in going on. But she realized the ones who loved her would hate that. Whether we were alive or not. It is the same for you. You must keep going for her." Her mother says.

I look at Animila.

"What's wrong with her?" I asked feeling tears swell in my eyes.

"Her body is recovering from the damaging affects. It affected her for a long time so it makes sense that her recovery is slow." She replies.

"It's all my fault. If I controlled myself none of his would've happened. It's my fault. My parents are right, I am a monster." I say with tears streaming down my face.

"I'm sorry Animila. I'm so sorry." I cry.

I continue crying. I'm terrible. This is all my fault.

"Why does it seem like I'm always telling you not to cry?"

I look up through the blur of my tears to see Animila awake with a small smile.

"You're awake." I gasp.

Relief and joy wash over me and I hug her tightly.

"Alric...need...air." Animila says.

I let go smiling. I guess I have a tendency of hugging her to hard. What can I say I keep thinking she died on me.

She smiles back at me but then I see her eyes focus on something else.

"Mother." She says.

Her mother smiles at her.

"I'm glad you're ok my child. Now I know I shouldn't say but... he wasn't taking care of himself. He barely slept. He rarely ever ate. He never left your side." Her mother says pointing to me.

I sit there surprised that her mother went from being so mature to girlish. And did she just tell on me?

"Oh really well looks like I'm going to have to deal with him since he's been a bad boy." Animila says with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

She and her mom start laughing.

"Umm is this how mothers are supposed to be? I wouldn't know I didn't have a good example." I ask.

"Yup. They're your best friend. I just happen to have one that appears when she can." Animila says.

Her mother goes to her and hug her and Animila hugs back. I didn't know she could physically be touched.

"I'll see you soon my dear. Most likely before your wedding." Her mother says with a wink.

Animila blushes. I on the other hand am quite confused at this. I never seen a mother act like this with their child. It's amazing.

"Don't worry soon you'll be my son-in-law and we'll have a relationship just like this." Her mother says to me.

Now it's my turn to blush.

She hugs me and I return the hug. It feels so good in a mother's embrace. She let's go and waves goodbye to both of us. She disappears and it's just me and Animila.

"So you missed me huh?" Animila says.

"That is the biggest understatement ever. I was miserable without you." I reply.

"Well I'm not leaving you anytime soon so don't worry." She says.

"I'm going to hold you to that. Now come on I'm sure the others want to see you." I say.

I lift her up bridal style and carry her.

"Hey Animila." I say.

"Yeah." She responds.

"I love you so much." I say.

"I love you too." She says.

She leans her head into my chest.

It feels so good to hear her say she loves me.