Melting Gray [Gratsu]

30

Chapter Thirty

☆ Natsu Dragneel ☆

"Airports see more sincere kisses than wedding halls. The walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of churches." -Anonymous

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Have you ever had something you loved mercilessly ripped away from you before you knew it?

That feeling when you simply just cannot continue, because your heart has shattered into a million pieces, your brain has shut down, and the world just blacks out?

Where you feel like you'll never be the same because that thing you loved was missing and you could never get it back?

Well, on this fateful day, I felt the exact opposite.

"He's okay!" Mika screamed rejoicefully through her tears. "Gray made it, oh, thank you! Thank you!" She cried, her voice cracking. She pulled Silver into an impassioned hug, who also began to shed salty tears.

I felt myself sway back and forth, staring with gumball eyes at the bleached-white doctor. He nodded at me politely. "The surgery went well," He confirmed to me proudly. "But..."

Here it comes.

The dreaded but. Now he'd tell me Gray'd still have horrible side effects, like mutilated irises or something you'd find on a zombie on The Walking Dead. I held my breath, preparing for the worst and hoping with everything I had for the best.

"Gray has to rest his eyes for at least twenty-four hours, so we can remove the bandage tomorrow morning. His brain has to get used to the new nerve endings, and if they caught light too early, the surgery would go unsuccessful," The doctor, whose name tag read Doctor Eucliffe, explained lightly, making the whole thing sound like a big, fat euphemism.

Silver was listening intently while Mika was brushing her tears away, sniffling. They both nodded civilly. I nodded alongside them, filled to the brim with questions, but one flew off my tongue like greased lightning.

"How is he?" I wondered.

"He's still under the anesthetic, even though it's wearing off, so he'll probably be asleep for a while. He really does need his rest," Dr. Eucliffe said.

I felt myself internally break down, but I forced my composure to stay upright and I faked a smile. "When will he be awake?" I asked calmly.

"That, I don't know," Dr. Eucliffe said ruefully. "I'm sure you'd be satisfied with the knowledge that he's fine, ne?"

I huffed. "I guess."

"Alright, then! Mr. and Mrs. Fullbuster, if you'd like to come with me, I can explain to you a bit more what's going on," the doctor ushered to the room. "If you kids would wait here for a few minutes, they'll be right out."

The parentals followed the attractive, blue-eyed doctor into the room while I slunk back into my chair and finally felt my heart rate slow down. The surgery went okay, but the real test was soon. Most of my brain was swirling with pessimistic ideals, but a tiny part of me prayed the results would be successful.

That's right- I needed to be strong. For Gray.

My dreary gaze trailed over to Loke, who was unusually quiet. His hands were stuffed in his charcoal-coloured hoodie and he had a hazy look in his eye. "Loke?" I quipped.

"Wha-? Oh, hey. You okay? Your face is all tear-stained and blotchy," Loke worried, tilting his head to the side.

"I'm fine," I lied, smiling fakely.