Facing Phantoms, Pursuing Flowers

Hummingbird and Thistle

Melody woke up to find herself surrounded by white walls. (see what I did there navybluefoxes :))

A very annoying beeping sound could be heard as she turned to find a heart rate monitor making really, really irritating sounds.

She looked around and saw Brian, Javi, Yuzuru, Nam and Sota siting in a row of chairs lined up by the white wall of the room.

Somehow, it felt so funny seeing them all lined up like kids. And she bursted out in chuckles, as the row of kids snapped their heads up simultaneously, which mad her laugh harder.

'Look at y'all, all line up and all, not nervewreaking at all'

'Dy! Oh you're awake, thank goodness!'

'We were so worried! Are you okay?'

'Are you feeling better, Dy?'

They all asked in concern at the same time.

'Why are you all speaking like I just woke from a coma, it was just a panic attack to the claustrophobia' Melody said dismissively.

'Because you might'ave had a coma, had Sota not found you when he did' said Nam.

'Yeah, the aching in your chest was because while you were passed out, your breathing was really, really shallow and your heart didn't get enough oxygen to pump through your body, so that's why you felt weakened' explained Brian.

'Oh'

Javi gave her a side hug.
'This claustrophobia thing is dangerous, Dy. What happen?'

'Um, there was some strange lady who came and asked me for directions to the Cricket Club and then I told her I was going to the club so she could just follow me, and then she said she recognized me from the Grand Prix Final and she called this van that apparently was full of paparazzi and the press and it was...horribly crowded so I ran and then I fell and then I drifted away into darkness for who knows how long until Sota came and gave me CPR and then he took me here but I fell asleep on the way and now I'm here.' She said all this very quickly without pausing much. (As you can take note of the lack of comas, it was intentional)

'Why were the paparazzi trying to get to the Cricket Club?' Asked Sota.

Melody smaked the back of his head.

'Ouch! What was that for?'

'That was for your stupidity! Why do you think they wanted to get to the Club? Cause we train there, and we are famous! Dumb'

'Oh...that explains it'

Brian clasped his hands together and said, 'Alright, well we are glad you're okay, Dy. But we should leave and you should get some rest. Hope to see you tomorrow'

'But, I might be able to go to night training?'

'Nope, not gonna let you. Take the rest of the day off, no buts or protests'

'Hahaah, Dy is back to her oldself. Protesting and arguing again.' Laughed Yuzuru, as he ruffled her hair.

She frowned and waved goodbye to them and lay down her head on her pillow and looked up the blank ceiling, while listening to Waiting Outside the Lines by Greyson Chance.

Subconsciously, shs said aloud,
'Why do I have to be famous? I hate the press, I hate the media, I hate attention, I hate people in general!'

She let out a sigh of frustration.
'Why can't I just be a normal grade 10 kid, like most other people. Why do I have to be given attention? Why does the press keep bothering me? WHY, WHY, WHY! Why is it me? Why did I have to decide to take up the challenge to compete professionally? Why didn't I just stay as a performer that no one really knew? Why did I have to go international?'