I Fell in Love with Hope - Lancali

“Why?” C asks softly, closing the magazine.
There isn’t a way to answer him. She’s marred with words in his
accent, lit with a fire cousin to Sony’s, and molded with wit like Neo.
When you meet someone infatuating, someone you can stare at and
listen to and talk to without taking notice of time, someone you think
of constantly, there comes the question of blooming addiction.
Nothing addictive is ever good for you.
Not Hikari and especially not Hamlet.
C drags a hand across my back, patting it. “Don’t overthink it. You
always overthink. That’s why you have no arms.”
Coughing fills the room, an easy kind. C perks up. He’s quick to give
Neo attention.
“Hey,” he whispers, moving the hair out of Neo’s eyes. “How are you
feeling?”
Neo’s eyes flutter open, a darker color surrounding them. “As good
as I probably look.”
“Mm,” C hums, patting down the sheets around him, making sure his
back brace doesn’t pinch his skin. “Drink your juice.”
“Urgh,” Neo sounds, as the straw is forcibly placed against his lips.
“Now, please,” C says.
“I should’ve asked for more sedatives.”
“You’re finally up, huh?” Eric enters, tapping the monitor by the bed.
He gently takes Neo’s arm to change his IV.
“Haven’t I been roughed around by medical professionals enough?”
Neo groans, to which Eric flicks the inside of his elbow. “Ow.”
Our nurse feigns innocence. “I’m just looking for a vein.”