Are you feeling better today,Yuri?" Victor asked,offering the younger man a pen and paper. Yuri raised a shaky hand to grasp the pen, scribbling a short note on the page and pushing it back to the silver haired man.
I feel so weak and it still hurts to breathe and swallow. It's cold.
"I'm so sorry,Yuri." Victor said sympathetically. "the doctor said it won't be that way much longer. You might not realize it, but you're getting a little stronger each day. Soon you'll be talking to us and breathing without pain. You're cold because you're still a little anemic. You had a lot of bleeding." Victor explained, turning to the recliner and pulling off the blanket he had been using, lovingly placing it over Yuri.
"Is that better?" Yuri gave a short nod,scribbling another note.
Thank you. Victor smiled.
"You're welcome,Yuri. If you need anything else, just let me know."
Victor, am I dying?
"No. Why do you think that?"
I lost a lot of blood,I'm weak and cold. Doesn't that Victor took his hand.
"No. It just means that you need someone to help take care of you for a while. You're going to be fine, I'm not going to let anything happen to you,I promise." Yuri put the pen down and gazed up at Victor.
"That's what...friends to for each other." Yuri picked up the pen once again.
we're friends?
"that's right,Yuri. I'm a friend. "
I'm sorry I don't remember. were we close?
"Yes, Very close. But it's okay Yuri. Everything is going to be okay. Just stay focused on getting better so you can get out of here. Then you'll stay with me for a little while and when you're strong enough,I'll take you home. Would you like that?"
yes. but Where is home?
"Hasetsu, Japan." Victor said, Yuri moaned painfully,allowing his head to turn away from Victor.
"Another headache?" The silver haired man asked, receiving a nod. Victor reached over, dimming the lights above the bed.
"I'll bring you a cool cloth for your head,you can also push the button for your pain medicine." He handed the device to Yuri,pointing to the button and hurrying to grab one of the cloths Hiroko had left on the bedside table. He made his way into the bathroom and soaked the object. Once he squeezed out the excess water, he returned to Yuri's bedside,placing it on his forehead.
"There, this is going to help you. Try to sleep now. Rest is good for headaches.
I just want them to stop
" So do I, Yuri. I don't like seeing you in pain. I'm hoping they're only temporary and it doesn't go on for long. You did have a pretty bad head injury. sometimes they cause headaches. I think you've been having migraines. Light makes it worse and sometimes you tell me you feel sick with the pain. Give yourself time, that's all we can do right now. " Victor said quietly.
Yuri closed his eyes and soon, with the help of the medication,he slept soundly.
Victor sighed,leaning back in his chair, his eyes still on the younger man.
"My precious Yuri, one day I'll help you remember everything. You'll know how much I love you again. That's my hope anyway. If you don't, if You never havefeel the same way you did before..It would hurt me,but I still couldn't walk away from you. I'll be whatever you need me to be. As long as I can be near you...I'll take friendship over losing you completely. It's good to see you able to communicate with us. You're still the most beautiful person in the whole world." Victor turned his attention to his phone where he scrolled through his pictures.
Images of himself and Yuri sitting in a restaurant together, surrounded by their friends caused Victor to smile faintly.
He scrolled through several more, each one serving as a reminder of what used to be. Finally stopping at a picture of Yuri and Victor resting on the sofa in Victor 's home. Yuri rested his head on Victor's chest, both smiling at the camera. It was in the private moments when he had Yuri to himself and got the younger man to open up to him that Victor cherished the most. Everything seemed right in the world when Yuri was with him. With a heavy sigh, Victor put the phone down.
"We've made so many beautiful memories,Yuri.I hope you give me the chance to make many more. You've come a long way from when I first met you. You're my everything."
" Victor, how did it go? " Hiroko asked entering the room, she removed her coat and pulled him into a hug.
"It was all right for a while. He was writing to me and then his head started to hurt so I told him to rest. He hasn't been asleep long but hopefully he's feeling better when he wakes up."
"I'm sure he will. Did you talk to him about the apartment?"
"I mentioned him living with me for a while, he seemed okay with it. I told him when he's strong enough, I'll take him home."
" how did that go? "
"He asked where it was.I think he's having trouble remembering what we've been telling him. When he woke up, we decided to take it slow and I told him I was a friend," Victor paused.
"It was very hard for you,but I'm thankful that you did what was best for him. A lot of people wouldn't have been able to do that."
" Yuri's my entire world, he'll always be first. It came up today and he asked if we were friends and if we were close. I told him we were and it upset him because he didn't remember. What if-"
"What dear?"
" what if it's too much for him that I'm here, what if I'm actually hurting him by trying to -" Hiroko pulled him close to her.
"My son wouldn't be alive without you. He needs you here,you're not hurting him at all. He's a little confused that's all. From what I've seen, he enjoys being with you. He's getting more comfortable with us each day. Don't you ever think you're doing anything other than helping him. My family is so grateful for everything you've done for Yuri, just helping him find his confidence and seeing him through the season...then you gave him back to us. We need you here, Victor. You're part of this family and no matter what happens,you always will be." Victor threw his arms around her.
"I'm sorry." Victor said softly. "I know I -"
" Shh, you'll feel better after you eat something. I can order something and pick it up. "
"It's not necessary, I'm fine. But thank you for -" Hiroko sighed.
" Victor, dear. I'm a mother, I've had two children and I can tell when you're keeping something from me and you haven't eaten today. A mother always knows, there's no use trying to hide things. Pick something, anything you want. " Victor thought for a moment.
"The restaurant down the street has a good menu, and I'll pay for it it's not a problem."
" you most certainly will not. I insist, it's the least I can do. "
"But You really don't have to -"
" don't worry about it, it's fine. I won't hear another word about it. Victor smiled faintly. There was simply no arguing with Hiroko.
