Changes.............

6

I got home after my therapy session, and Leilani was out. I got changed, and got something to eat, leaving some for Leilani if she was hungry. I sat on the couch, thinking about everything. Dr. Crowley had been talking about how I would feel post op, and it made me think about what would happen afterward. Would Lailani understand what I needed to do after the surgery?

"Flower! I'm home!"

Leilani closing the door distracted me, and I turned to see her smiling at me. I got up and walked over to her.She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug.

I followed her into the kitchen, and she thanked me for leaving something for her.

When she was finished, we sat on the couch, and she seemed to realise that something wasn't right.

"Is something wrong, flower?"

I shrugged, and looked down at my hands. She made me look up at her, she was obviously concerned.

"I know you had to see Dr. Crowley this morning. Is everything alright?"

"I..................... He was talking about how I would be if I got the operation."

She grabbed my hand, squeezing it.

"I'll take care of you after the operation. Whatever you need me to help you with, you just tell me and I'll do it."

I shook my head, thinking about that.

"You see, that's the thing....... I'm-"

"Serena Murphy. I will take care of you after the operation and I will do anything you want me to."

I ran my hand through my short hair, thinking.

"OK. I need to explain some stuff."

Leilani nodded, and turned to face me properly.

"I'm listening."

*After the operation, I'm gonna need a lot of help. You understand that right?"

She nodded, and opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off.

"I know, but you need to understand this. When you get an operation like this, there's something you need to do............"

I trailed off and she grabbed my hand.

"Whatever it is, just show me what to do and I'll help you."

I blushed, thinking about her helping me in that way.

"I just............ OK, there's gonna be something I need to do to............. Maintain........... What they do during the surgery. I need to make sure nothing happens and-"

"That nothing causes anything to happen to what they've done. How can I help?"

I was having trouble with the way she was reacting to all of this.

"How does this not bother you?"

She just shook her head, running her hand through her long dark hair.

"I wanna help, and I'm waiting for you to tell me how."

She was biting her lip, waiting. I looked away, thinking of the best way to explain this.

"After the operation, once I've come around enough to actually know what's going on, they'll start the diallating. It's to keep everything open. It'll hurt, but it need to be done........."

She looked at me a little confused, and I got up, grabbing a few things about the surgery before sitting back down next to her. Basically, they were inserted to keep everything from closing up and I'd have to do it daily for the rest of my life.

"Here. I'll have to use these. They're to keep everything how it should be, these need to go in and make sure everything is kept open. It'll be pretty painful at first, and will always be uncomfortable but I'll have to get used to it. I'm gonna need your help when I'm getting better to do this. D'you........... D'you think you could do that for me?"

"Just show me how and I'll do what ever I can to help. I don't the idea of something I do causing you pain. But, if you need it then I'll do it."

I sighed, looking at her.

"Leilani, you don't-"

"Serena stop. I'm going to help you, I just don't like the idea of something I'm doing hurting you. I know it needs to be done, though. So, I'm going to help. You'll just need to walk me through it, so I don't do anything wrong and damge something."

"I will, I promise."

I was amazed at how she just accepted this, and how willing she was was to help me do what I had to after surgery.

"There is one thing I would like while you're getting better, as long as it doesn't hurt you."

I looked at her, and she moved closer, wrapping me up in a cuddle.

"Lots of cuddles while you're resting."

Now, that made me smile.

"All the cuddles Lani wants. I'll be resting a lot, so there'll be lots and lots of time for all the cuddles you want."

She smiled, cuddled into me and suggested watching a movie. I was starting to react to the way we were sitting. She noticed, and kissed me.

"Ssh, it's alright."

I took a deep breath, trying to relax. I needed to get used to this, and I ignored the way I was feeling. I focused on her and the movie.

"We don't have to do this, Serena."

"No. I want to spend time with my girlfriend and if she wants to watch a movie, then we'll watch a movie."

She nodded and we spent the evening watching a movie together.