"When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things not the great occasions that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness."
⁃ Bob Hope
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"Stabbing yourself in the neck huh. Really smart of you to help play the "pretend" part" said lumina each step she took toward Axel leaving cracks of energy under her feet, you could feel the air get heavier.
-WHACK-
The sound echoed through the silent field and all you could see was a boy flying and rolling through the dirt. Over and over axel rolled as his body bounced off the ground as if someone used him as a rock to skip across a river.
"YOU. You almost KILLED ME. I tell you I'm weak and you go and stab yourself in the neck? You're not even a doctor! No warning nothing. You hit an artery and started to bleed out you fool!" Lumina was in a rage.
"If it weren't for me, you would be dead. AGAIN. Stopping the bleeding and moving your artery out of the way healing you used up what energy I had left. You will be able to breathe still when you wake up with or without the tube. When you remove it, you will slowly heal and feel pain so you can play the part correctly. Understand that your little stunt means I won't be around for a while till I regain my strength try not to get us killed. Now begone from here. There is nothing I wish to share with you, and this is not a place meant for your existence. Lumina said waving her hand.
Axel picked himself up off the ground only to see darkness enveloping him in every direction. As the scenery had vanished and with it so did the beautiful woman who he only assumed to be Lumina.
"DAMN she hits hard. Maybe It wasn't the brightest idea doing what I did without thinking oh well too late now." Axel said closing his eyes to rest from all the events happening around him.
When I reopened my eyes, I couldn't tell how much time had gone by. The moon was gone, and the curtains were open. The sun shined through the still open window and the bedroom door seemed to have screws falling out of it for who knows how long. Due to the team of workers on the other side taking it apart.
"What's going on. What kind of dream did I have last night?" Axel mumbled to himself.
The doors busted open, and a crowd of people swarmed in. From Katie to Lex Even my parents who took a plane to see me came tumbling inside most likely fearing for the worst. Only Katie knew Axel was still alive after she visited him.
"We feared for the worse and I was most certain death had come to take you away." Said Dr. miles with his clipboard in hand.
"Death? Why would I be dead?" Asked Axel.
"It seems he is worse than he was yesterday and now has developed amnesia from his concussion get the nurses now." Dr. Miles began to retell the events leading up till now to Axel making him aware of everything happening.
So, my legs are supposed to be broken but I feel them just fine. So last night wasn't a dream?
-POP-
"OUCH" yelled Axel. As the nurses injected the usual serum into his legs.
Dr. Miles raised an eyebrow. "Ow? As in you felt that this time? Hmmm nurses get the x-ray technician in here and re-examine his legs please". He spoke.
Uh oh. Axel thought.
"He's been through enough leave him be for now. We don't wish to pay any further either for the extras you wish to perform." Said Axels dad Cygnus.
"We flew down after hearing of my baby's death and he sits here looking perfectly well aside from the breathing tube. How dare you cause him so much trouble." Axel's mom Shannon said, kissing him on the cheek and hugging him.
"Whatever you need you let us know ok. We apologize for not always being there, but we have a case we must get back to so if you'll excuse us." Said Cygnus.
"Your only son and you're just going to leave him like that?! When he needs you most?" Screamed Katie.
"It's ok let them go. They are busy lawyers it's always been this way." Said Axel as his mom and dad both gave him one last hug and exited the room.
The nurses and Dr. Miles stood there for a few moments and then canceled the X-ray technician and proceeded to exit the room as well.
"I'll be back to check on you later it seems your breathing has stabilized. We will remove the breathing tube next time you are sleeping we will further induce your slumber keeping you under for a bit so we can patch you up. After that we will get ready to release you as requested by your family even though I would love to keep you for a few more days to perform some tests the choice is yours". Dr. Miles said walking out the room.
Dr. Miles walked down the hall turning back to look at the room one last time. "That boy really is peculiar this won't be the last time we meet. He should be dead there was no hope for him in the slightest". He said walking off back to his office.
"Axel if you were inside a game, I think you would be on your last life." Said Lex with wide eyes at all the medical equipment hooked up in the room.
"I'm pretty sure I was born with one life to begin with." I said laughing.
"Now that I know my main guy is alive, I'm going to go work on some more testers for you to try out. Catch you later at the house". Lex said as he was leaving the hospital room.
Lex has been living with me and we look out for each other. My parents know I recently got a roommate and are fond of him, so they let us both stay in their vacation home while we start college. That's all that matters to me. I wonder how long my parents are going to stay this time before they head back out on business.
"So, you're not dead huh," said Katie.
"Oh, did you wish I was?" I asked.
"No just happy to see you doing better" she said blushing and walking off.
Oh no sly remark or insults from her? That's strange maybe this whole situation affected the people close to me more than I thought. I didn't even know I had people close to me until this all happened in the first place.
A few hours went by, and the procedures went smoothly with my neck being bandaged up and that way nobody could see the hole slowly healing still at a faster pace than normal. The nurses helped lift me off my bed and into a wheelchair. Since as far as they know my legs are still broken, I played the part and started to make my way outside.
It's been strange not hearing from Lumina for a while. I guess the quiets not to bad now that I know I'm not going mad.
I wheeled myself to the elevator and started to make my way down. This could have been my life if my lungs didn't collapse, I'd have the rest of my life learning how to do things for myself all over again. Without Lumina she said my body would go back to how it was. I guess I have a ton of internal healing to do for now. She said something about sharing power with me. I'm not quite sure what she means but considering the healing properties I've experienced I shouldn't just brush it off.
I made my way outside only to see my parents still waiting by the doors. They both had offered to give me a ride back to their vacation home that me and Lex stay in. I couldn't refuse even if I wanted too.
"Ready to go son?" My dad asks me as he comes up behind me and starts pushing me along to the front desk, so I no longer have to wheel myself around.
"Ready as I'll ever be I guess." I looked over to the elevator I just came out of seeing Dr. Miles rushing over toward us.
"I'm afraid I won't be allowing you to be released unless we discuss some sort of plan moving forward with all of this." Dr. Miles said while giving my mom and dad a sharp look. You could tell he wasn't keen on letting me go anywhere at all in the first place. If he, had it his way there would probably be more than just a tube in my neck and my legs might be inside out under a magnifying glass. I shudder at the thought and turn my head away from him.
"What's there to discuss? This isn't a kidnapping or a hostage situation my son can leave as he pleases seeing as he is just as much of an adult as the rest of us. Don't they make liability wavers for cases such as this or something." My dad smiled down at me, and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh of course which didn't go unnoticed by the Doctor.
"I would just like young Axel to do a follow up appointment with me to see how he progresses. As well as this prescription I've wrote him for pain medication. I also have arranged to have nurses come and preform rehab at his residence. It's all written right here and you are more than welcome to read it over and sign or decline. Dr. Miles hands over a short stack of papers with a huge smile.
Me and my mom and dad read over everything. I can't tell what's really going on or if this guy has any ulterior motives. Lumina is also sleeping or resting I don't know how life works for her right now but no input from her either. I can't believe I'm already used to her snarky remarks and sharp comments. In the end we decide to sign the paperwork. Couldn't hurt to play along like I was advised to do anyway.
After reviewing everything and having a few more short conversations with the Doctor we proceeded to the checkout desk, and I signed myself out. As well as signed a waver saying the hospital wasn't responsible for my early release. Dr. Miles handed me over a baggy with a copy of my paperwork and some pain medication called perco something or another. I'll look at it again later. Will pain pills even work on my body anymore?
"Come on honey let's get you home."
"Mom I'm fine you don't have to always treat me like a baby."
"I'm your mom that's precisely my job actually and if I wasn't so busy with work, I would be babying you nonstop until you're better. To help with this hospital and their rehab proposal. At least they did keep you alive and help you heal long enough to be out of danger, so I'll give them that much." My mom stormed on out still babbling on about the staff, nurses, and doctors.
All of which made it clear they were staring at her on her way out with very unsettling and anger ridden faces. Nobody said anything in fear for losing their job though. I could see my dad rubbing his temples in frustration at the sight of it all.
"You married her that's your wife." I said smiling up at him.
"Yeah, and that's your mom and I can see she gave birth to a smart ass. No matter I love you both and that will never change. Let's get you out of here."
My dad wheeled me out the giant automatic double doors and to the parking lot. Where all I could see was a brand-new top of the line BMW. Jet black outside with a bright white interior with gold trimming up and down the leather seats. The back was big enough to accommodate my wheelchair which I could have sworn belonged to the hospital, but my dad insisted we took it anyway so after helping me into the back seat he folded up the wheelchair and stashed it in the back. Mom was already ready to go and was waiting with her arms crossed looking out the window up at the hospital before still mumbling under her breath god knows what. My dad wasn't having it anymore as he got in and started up the car, he shot her a quick glance before she stopped speaking and started pressing some buttons on the cars touch screen.
"Ready to go?" My dad asked me.
"Yeah, if I don't have to come back here for a long time, I'll be glad" I said leaning back and letting out a big sigh finally relaxing after everything my whole body exhausted.
Little did I know that multiple floors back up in my hospital room the nurses had my things already packaged up mostly the cards and game I requested and ready to be sent to my address.
And right in the middle of it all was Dr. Miles staring down at our car driving out of the parking lot with a grin on his face.