"Viola?"
I jump forward in my chair and look down at Todd, lying in the same place he has for weeks now. But now his eyes are open and looking around the room desperately. And his Noise is groaning in pain but at the same times it's filled with relief. Relief that he's made it, relief that he's here and as his eyes meet mine, relief that I am, too.
I stoke a hand across his face then turn around quickly, ready to shout for Ben, but then he speaks again. And his voice is so quiet, so confused that I can barley here it above his Noise. "Viola. Viola, yer here. Yer really here." And his noise glows happy, so happy I feel that I can't really look away from it again.
"Of course I am. I told you Todd Hewitt, I told you that I aint never leaving you again, ever." I smile at Todd, my Todd and he smiles back. He starts to move closer to me but quickly grimaces and his Noise yelps with pain.
"I feel like I've been shot, Viola. It doesn't feel so good."
I stand up quickly, "I can get you something for the pain, and I should tell Ben that you're awake. He's here too. Everyone is, everyone's waiting for you." I smile at him again as his Noise brightens up just at the sound of Bens name, but as I turn to leave the tent I here his Noise saying my name. Saying it over and over again, almost as if he can't really believe it's me. I reach the opening of the tent and quickly turn back to him, his Noise still filled with so many emotions at once and I say it again, one last time so he knows it's true; "I aint leaving you Todd Hewitt."
"Ben! Ben, he's awake, he's finally awake!" I smile as I run up to Ben to tell him the news, so excited I nearly knock over a group of Spackle on the way. But as Ben turns to me, he doesn't look half as happy as I am. To be honest he just looks plain exhausted, and I don't blame him. The new settlers have only been here for a couple of days and they're still not used to the Noise, still not used to the ROAR of everything.
Are you sure? he says, Are you sure it isn't just his noise again? It's been getting louder and closer for days now. And that's when I realise that Ben isn't just tired, he's giving up hope. He's giving up on the thought of the settlers ever being able to just be left to themselves, giving up on the prospect of a new built town (after the old one had been completely destroyed by the floods) and he'd almost given up on Todd ever waking up. But Todd has woken up.
"I'm sure Ben, it's really him. He's awake but he's in pain. I need to get him something for the –"
I'll get him some. I jump and look up at 1017 as he shows us that he's willing to help. Willing to try again to show how sorry he really is. I nod hesitantly, but I still nod. I still say that it's okay and his Noise shows that he is grateful. But I don't want his thanks.
Thank you Viola, thank you for letting him help. Says Ben calmly, as if nothing else has been said at all.
"Don't you understand Ben? He's awake. Todd is okay, he made it, he –" I stop there, as Ben's eyes widen. As if he's hearing me for the first time ever. And then he's running faster than anything, running towards the tent.
I smile, yet again, as I hear both his Noise and voice shouting "TODD!"