Eternity

Voice

The warmth from before hasn't moved. He's still at my side like he promised. He must be asleep. I try to move but he holds me down. "Don't move just yet. Try and open your eyes if you can." I calm my body down and will myself to open them. Slowly, and one at a time, my eyes open to bright lights around me. But this time there's a shadow dulling it down. I see a blurry face in front of me. "Hello Luka. I'm so glad you're awake." I try to smile but I can only move my cheeks slightly. I see a white blob move over to my bed. "Is he able to concentrate his eyes yet?" He asks Yuuri. My vision is clearing now and I can read the Doctor's name- Kyongju. It's the same man from yesterday. He stands there for a second analysing me as I try to work out his face. "We have new technology where if he focuses on individual letters on the screen you can talk to him. Would you like to try it?" Yuuri almost screams a yes as he moves to sit next to me, still holding my hand.
The doctor comes back with a machine and presses something next to me which moves the bed so I can sit straight without moving. "Okay, Victor. It works like this- concentrate on one letter at a time, okay? Don't move your eyes to other letters that you don't want, move them exactly to where you're aiming. The machine has a camera here to monitor your eye movement and picks up where your looking to select letters. Try it and say hi." I look at the screen and decide to try what he said. I concentrate on the h for several seconds before turning to the i. The machine speaks out in a Russian accent 'hi' making me laugh in my head. I guess it works. "Okay, go at your own speed and I'll leave you two alone to speak." I feel Yuuri's hand on me tighten as he smiles up at me. "Hello." I move my gaze back to the screen. I try my best to form a sentence going letter by letter.
I l o v e u.
I decide to shortened words as it's easier for me.
"I love you too Luka."
I t w a s n o t u r f a u l t.
"It was, if I hadn't of tried to jump you would be fine, you'd be at home smiling. I'm so sorry."
D o n o t a p p o l o g i s e.
I s a v e d u.
T h a t s w h a t m a t t e r s.
I see Yuuri choke up on tears.
D o n t c r y. I m h e r e.
"How can I not cry? You were in a comma for weeks! You fell and almost died!" I want to hold him.
I t w i l l b e o k a y.
I h a v e f a i t h.
"I don't even know how long it will take for you to recover."
I h a v e a s t r o n g w i l l.
I w a n t t o h o l d y o u.
I w a n t t o k i s s y o u.
Y o u m u s t h a v e b e e n
i n p a i n.
"I missed you so much. I want to see you smile again."
Y o u t o l d t h e m.
"What? You heard that? I'm so sorry, you said only I should know."
I t i s o k a y.
I w a n t e d t h e m t o k n o w.
I n m y h e a d i s a i d t e l l t h e m
A n d y o u h e a r d m e.
"Really?"
Y e s.
"I'm so glad. I felt guilty about telling them."
I s a w a l i g h t.
"A light? What kind of light?"
W h i t e. A v o i c e t o o.
S h e s p o k e s o f t l y.
"What did you see?"
A n a n g e l.
"An angel?" He sits there in disbelief.
S h e s e n t m e b a c k h e r e
A n d i w o k e y e s t e r d a y.
S h e k n e w m y r e a l n a m e.
"Then she really was an angel." He smiles warmly and I wish I could smile back. "Yuri and Otabek are here. They're walking over." I look to my left and see them walking towards me. "Hey. You're awake."
H e y g u y s.
"Ahck! The machine spoke!" Otabek and Yuuri laugh at him. "The machine uses that camera there to speak using retinal scans of where his eyes go. He's speaking to you."
He stands there confused. "Really? What's your name?"
V i c
L u k a E m s k y.
"What?" He asks even more confused. "He heard us yesterday. He knows I told you." He stands there with his mouth open. "How old are you?"
1 2 7 y e a r s o l d.
"Wow. You are an old man." He jokes and I still don't find that funny.
Y u u r i ?
"Yes?"
D i d y o u h u r t y o u r s e l f
W h i l e i w a s g o n e ?
He doesn't say anything but jumps at me, hugging me tightly. I take that as a yes and it makes my heart yearn.
W h y?
"I thought I'd killed you. I thought you'd never wake up."
I a m h e r e n o w.
Y u r i o. M o v e m y a r m.
I w a n t t o h u g h i m.
He picks up my arms and places them on Yuuri's back. I grip his shirt with my fingers. It's the most I can move at the moment. "I-I..." I try to speak and fail so I fall back to using the machine.
i l o v e y o u.
He cries into my chest and my grip on him tightens.
D o n o t c r y.
I t h u r t s t o s e e i t.
"I won't. Look I'm fine." He says sitting up again, wiping his tears.
I w i l l g e t b e t t e r.
I W I L L.
I p r o m i s e.
"Okay... you should rest. I'm sorry for taking all of your energy. I'll sit here and wait till you fall asleep before getting something to eat.
N o. S t a y.
i l i k e y o u r w a r m t h.
L i e w i t h m e.
He smiled and lays down next to me, being careful of the tubes. "I'll stay." He rests his head on my shoulder and his arms go around my middle. I muster all my strength into lifting my arm and placing it on him. "Hey, don't move. Rest." He lifts my hand off him, giving my fingers a kiss before placing my arm back on him.
O k a y.
G o o d b y e g u y s
S e e y o u a r o u n d.
i l o v e y o u Y u u r i.
"See ya." They say walking away. I look down to see Yuuri crying again. "I love you too." I close my eyes and try to relax my body. Everything will be okay.
~
I didn't sleep well but Yuuri never left my side. He never ate either. He had better eat something. I wish I could tell him but they moved the machine. I open my eyes and try to speak.
"Eat." I say in a harsh whisper. "What? No I can't eat, I have to stay with you. And don't try and speak without the doctor here, I don't want you getting worse by mistake." I frown internally and sigh. At least I was able to say one word. I try and sleep again but it's no use. I'm too awake, sleeping for 3 weeks makes you barely able to sleep like a normal person. I glance at the TV across the room and listen to it.