End of the Day

6:34 PM (Day 663)

It has been four days since their makeshift procedure. Lauren seems to be doing better, and any signs of infection had passed. It brought intense relief to Camila, but still... there's a new issue.

Lauren, Camila learns, is really good at problem solving. For the past two days, she has sent Camila out searching to find pieces to make a prosthetic to replace the removed limb. When Camila asks how she even knows what to do, Lauren simply shrugs and tells her she's making it up as she goes along.

Camila supposes that's what they have to do now.

Camila had no idea just how headstrong Lauren really is until she was mid-amputation and Lauren was giving instruction through bared teeth. Camila was literally removing her limb, and yet she was somehow calmer than Camila?!

Lauren would have made a great doctor.

(More reasons to love her, she guesses.)

"You're staring again," Lauren brings Camila out of her thoughts. She looks away from the crooked contraption in Lauren's hands and up towards her beautiful green eyes, "You think you could do better?"

"No," Camila says, "I'm just worried."

"You're always worried."

"Only because I want us to be safe. I want you to be safe."

"Hey, if this option doesn't work out, I can always get a skateboard."

"Lauren," Camila scolds.

"What? I'm trying to remain optimistic. Let me have this."

"...I guess a skateboard would be pretty cool."

Lauren smiles, and for a moment it feels like they're the only two creatures left in the universe.

(A very real possibility, Camila notes.)

"Think I could learn tricks?" Lauren jokes.

"I think at the very least, you could pop a wheelie," Camila says thoughtfully.

Lauren laughs, and it's the most beautiful sound Camila has ever heard, "C'mere. Give me a hand."

Camila crawls over to where Lauren is sat up on her bed, listening to direction. She holds Lauren's leg contraption as she screws in another piece. It's a little straighter by the time they're done.

It isn't until Lauren looks up and whispers, "Perfect..." that Camila realizes just how close they are. The loving gaze in Lauren's eyes as she looks up at Camila makes Camila think maybe that has a double meaning, "Camz?"

"Mhm?"

"...Would you be more or less attracted to me if I learn to pop a wheelie?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"If you can stick the landing," Camila raises a suggestive eyebrow, looking to Lauren's lips.
And they kiss.

It's electric. And wonderful. And everything Camila would ever want. Everything she ever imagined.

She loves her.

She just loves her.

And she thinks that, at least right now, it doesn't matter that they're in this situation. It only matters that they're together.

-

Edited 6/22/19