Hit and Run

Chapter 3– Light at the end of the Tunnel

Five months later

Layla, Helia and Jennifer visited Flora every night and spoke to her, the rest of the guys visited her weekly, the entire incident was taking a toll on them, they all missed Flora. Layla was sat next to Flora, it was just the two of them, as Jennifer and Helia went to get a cup of coffee in the cafe, Flora's wounds had healed leaving her as beautiful as she was before the accident.

"you've been missing out on a lot of good things Flora, Bloom and Sky are having a child, that's right first of the second generation of Winx club" Layla spoke as she took hold of Flora's hand. "I wish you would wake up Flora, we miss you all terribly" a few tears fell from Layla's eyes. She felt something tighten around her hand, she looked down to see Flora's hand tighten around her own, and hope filled her eyes. "Flora, Flora can you hear me? Come on honey wake up for me." As soon as Layla finished speaking Flora's eyes shot open, she tried to breathe but found it hard to with the tube in her throat breathing for her.

Layla was shocked but quickly pressed the emergency button, within seconds the doctor and several nurses was in the room, "Shhhhh calm down Miss Flora, we are going to remove the tube, I need you to breathe out it will make it more comfortable and easier, okay?" Flora nodded; the doctor took hold of the table and gently pulled it out, once it was clear Flora began to cough. The doctor took out a small torch, shone it in Flora's eyes, and then looked at the machine monitors. "Well well Miss Flora, seems you have made a full recovery. I will be back in five minutes; I will need you to answer some questions for me, okay." Flora nodded once more and watched as the doctors and nurses left the room, it was then she noticed Layla.

"How long?" Flora spoke her voice weak and raspy from her dry throat, Layla sat back down in the chair next to the bed. "How long what?" she asked not quite understanding the question. Flora closed her eyes before opening them again. "How long have I been out, I remember the car then nothing" Flora answered, Layla did not know what to say. Should she tell her, Flora saw Layla's hesitation but before she could say anything, she heard a heavy gasp coming from the doorway.

Both Flora and Layla looked to the doorway to see Jennifer stood there tears flowing down her face and Helia shocked still, "Flora!" Jennifer ran to Flora's side and embraced her in a hug. "I thought I lost you," she whispered into Flora's ear. "I'm okay mum, but please tell me up front, I remember the car, what injuries have I got? How long was I out? And is it bad?" Jennifer knew Flora was going to ask, she pulled back and stared into her daughters eyes and knew she deserved the truth.

"The truth is Flora is the car caused more damage than we wanted, it broke your arm and leg, broke a few ribs and caused internal bleeding. You also had a concussion, but it also done some damaged to your back." Jennifer broke down into tears, not being able to continue. She had practiced this moment so many times but it was harder than she ever expected.

Flora put the pieces together and fear consumed her, she desperately tried to move her foot but could not, "I'm paralysed from the waist down aint I?" Flora's voice was weak and breaking, as she stared into her mother's wet eyes. "Yes baby, you were in a coma for five months. I, I thought I had lost you" the room fell into silence, no-one knew what to say, Flora broke it "how's Rose?"

"She's fine baby, she misses you alot though, she is constantly in your garden working on it" a smile grew on Flora's face.

A knock at the door interrupted them, the doctor entered and walked to Flora's side. "Right Miss Flora, I need you to answer these questions for me, it's just to see if you have any head damage still, okay?" Flora nodded and watched as the doctor got his pen ready to write on the clipboard. "What is your full name?"

"Flora Rosetta Juliet Willow Scott" Layla and Helia looked at Flora with shocked faces; neither of them had heard her full name before.

"Date of birth?"

"12th June 1991"

"Very good, just a few more questions, you place of birth?"

"Oak Cedar Wood, North Linphea"

"Your roommate's names and their realms?"

"Bloom Sparks, Tecna Binary Galaxy, Musa melody, Stella Solaria and Layla Tides"

"Do you have any pain in your head, or anything unusual?"

"Nope, nothing like that"

"Well then you are all clear" the doctor smiled happily.

They all watched as the doctor left the room, "I'm so happy that you are okay Flora" Jennifer spoke as she hugged Flora.

"We all are Flora" Layla spoke softly "but I have to get back to the palace, do you want me to inform the girls that you are awake?" Flora thought for a few seconds before coming up with an answer.

"No not yet, give me a few days!" Layla smiled,

"Sure Flo, anything you want. I will see you tomorrow"

"Bye Layla and thank you" Flora replied as she watched her friend leave.

Helia's and Flora's eyes locked onto each other's and they stared into each other's eyes, Jennifer saw this connection and decided to leave, "Flora I'm going to get a drink, I will be back in half an hour, okay?"

"Yes mum, I'll be fine" Jennifer smiled at how brave she was being about the entire situation; silently she stood and left the hospital room leaving just Helia, Flora and the hum of the machines.

"Hello Helia" Flora spoke softly breaking the silence; a few tears escaped Helia's eyes as he replied.

"Why?" his voice was quiet and seemed forced, "why Flora? I thought I had lost you. I had nightmares of you lying in a coffin and me saying my last goodbyes, why did you do that to me?" Flora hung her head in shame.

"I'm sorry, I, I don't know why I did. I'm so sorry" she replied as she cried, her tears falling onto the sheets. Within seconds, Helia was at Flora's side holding her in a comforting hug while she cried into his chest.

"Shhhhh its okay Flora, I know why you did it!" Flora pulled back and looked into her boyfriends eyes,

"You do?"

"I do, it's because you always think of other people before yourself, you thought about making sure Tanja was safe before yourself" Helia paused and let the thought sink in.

Flora dried her eyes with the back of her hand "Flora look at me" Helia pleaded softly, Flora's gaze reunited with his "Flora I'm so proud of you, you saved her life, and you are a hero, literally. When you get out of here there is something I wish to show you." Flora kissed Helia softly before looking back at her legs.

"Yer I saved Tanja but I lost my ability to walk."

"I'm afraid that you are wrong my dear." Helia and Flora looked up to see the doctor stood in the doorway once more.

He walked in with a massive smile on his face, "Miss Flora, the latest test results have come back. I am happy to say that if you return here each week and take therapy, I believe you could be up and walking on your legs in less than another five months." Flora's face lit up like a child who had just seen their first real fireworks display.

"Really?" The doctor smiled as he saw pure happiness in his patient's eyes.

"Yes Miss Flora, really I don't know how because by the extent of your injuries when you came in you should technically never walk again. Nevertheless, your back is in fact healing. Miss Flora you will walk again."

Tears of joy began to fall from Flora's eyes, "thank you, thank you so much, when can I leave?"

"Well you are well enough to leave when you wish, the hospital will provide you with a chair for the next few months until you are able to walk happily without. When your mother returns tell her and send her to the nurses' station to sign your discharge papers. Good day Miss Flora." The pair watched as the doctor left with a smile on his face.

Helia turned to face Flora, a smile on his face matching the size of Flora's. In pure happiness, they hugged each other, Flora cried onto Helia's shoulder. "What's wrong?" a voice asked through the sobs, the young adults looked up to see Jennifer stood in the doorway staring at them, fear on her face/

"Mum, my backs healing. I'm going to be able to walk again, defiantly within the next year and I can go home" Jennifer broke down in tears,

"That's brilliant honey. Do you want to go home?"

"Please mum" Flora smiled as she looked back at Helia, slowly they both leaned in and their lips met. The kiss started slow and sweet but as the passion grew their tongues started fighting for dominance over the other. Helia was showing Flora just how much he had missed her and Flora showed how much she loved him. They were going to get through this together.