[ three ]
Neymar didn't wake until next morning, but when he did, April was there with him. She had stayed by his side all night as soon as the doctors said it was okay for her to be in the room. Carolina took Davi Lucca home to sleep and his parents had gone back home to shower and eat some breakfast. It wasn't expected that he would wake up that night. But April refused to leave his side until she could talk to him.
"April..." He croaked weakly, his eyes opening slowly, taking a moment to adjust to the light.
"I'm right here." She said, quickly getting up and rushing to his side. Taking his hand in hers, she brought it to her lips and kissed it. "I'm here." She repeated to him as though fearing he hadn't heard her. The hot tears wouldn't stop as they ran down her face.
The young Brazilian groaned loudly. "I'm in so much pain..."
"I know." She cried. She wanted to seem strong in front of him, but she knew she failed. "The doctors are doing everything they can to help you."
"What did they tell you about my injury?" He asked her, though he already knew the truth. He had overheard the doctor giving April the news. But he hoped it was all just a bad dream.
April bit down hard on her lip. She had no idea how to begin, but she thought the best thing to do was to wait until his family was present. Giving him the news would be difficult for him to handle and he would need everyone's care.
"We all decided the best thing was for everyone to be present." She explained to him.
Now he dreaded hearing it because he knew the news wouldn't be good.
.
.
.
.
It was a few more hours before everyone arrived, except Carolina who thought it best if Davi Lucca stayed at home with her. Everyone agreed that having the child seeing his father in such a fragile state could be scarring for him. Neymar took one look at his family's faces and had his answer in their expressions.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he urged them, "What is it then? Talk!"
"Ney," His sister heaved a tired sigh, fidgeting with her hands nervously. She wouldn't look him in the eyes, none of them would. But it wasn't that they didn't want to, they just couldn't face the hurt in his eyes. "The doctors did everything they could to have you back to normal..." Rafaela trailed off when she felt a lump form in her throat.
"Will I..." He gulped, "be able to walk again?"
There was silence in the room for several seconds. Neymar's mother excused herself for a moment and stepped out of the room. She was out in the hallway, but they could hear her sobs which she was attempting to keep quiet. Unsure of how to break it to him, his father coughed awkwardly. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound would make its way out.
Finally realizing none of them would be able to do it, April took a deep breath to steel herself. "Meu amor..." My love, she told him in Portugese. "With the operation, you'll be able to walk again. But..." She sucked in a breath, her eyes closing for the last bit of news she had for him. "The doctor said you will not be able to play football anymore."
The news hit him like a brick wall. It was like the breath had been knocked out of him and everything shattered before his eyes. "No," He shook his head in denial. "That's a lie." He buried his face in his hands and cried without consolation.
April cried with him as she continued to speak. "But you need to be strong. We're all here for you."
"How do you expect me to be strong when I just lost everything?" He argued, pulling away from his hands to look at her. "My entire life is over." There was so much pain reflected in his eyes; it broke her heart. April moved in to hug him, but he raised his arms up to stop her. The machine that measured his heart rate started to beep faster and faster, worrying his family and April. Neymar shook his head, "Please go away. I want to be alone. I need to be alone for a while." He begged.
As his heart monitor beeped more rapidly, Rafaela motioned to rush out of the room, saying, "I'm going to get a nurse."
"Meu amor, please calm down." April frowned, reaching for his hand and taking it in both of hers. "We'll do everything we can to get you back on a football pitch, but right now you need to focus on your recovery."
"What's the point?" His shoulders shook as he sobbed. "If I can't play football I'm useless. That was the only thing I was good at."
She talked to him calmly, trying to say encouraging and soothing words. "I'm sure there's an infinite number of things you're good at." She ran a hand through his soft hair which he had died with blonde at the beginning at the world cup. Brining her lips to his forehead, she added, "You aren't useless and you will recover. You'll see, you'll return stronger than before."
"Its over for me, April." He insisted.
April knew nothing would get him to recover if he didn't feel motivated, but she also knew she wouldn't give up on him.
-
new chapter for the story.
i wrote this on friday and then i just went back and made some corrections and added a few sentences.
so i hope you all like this.
thank you for reading, voting, and commenting.
i love you ^.^
-clary xx
