Michiru was taking her nightly shower when Haruka began to choke. Haruka had been reaching to her dresser for some of the grapes Michiru had left for her dessert. She was halfway into chewing one of the small green fruits when she was suddenly was unable to swallow. Haruka tried to spit it up, but it was too far down her throat to do any good. The water continued to run even as Haruka began to cough. Haruka grabbed at her throat as if it would suddenly allow her to breathe. She struggled for nearly a minute before her body began to convulse. Then her heart ceased to beat.
Amazingly, Haruka could still hear Michiru turn the shower off. A second later Michiru stepped out of the bathroom. She looked happy until she saw Haruka on the bed. Michiru rushed over to Haruka's side instantly.
"Haruka? Are you alright?" she asked, shaking Haruka's body back and forth.
Haruka, of course, couldn't answer.
Michiru gave up on shaking her lover and then slapped her slightly on the cheek.
"Wake up silly! You must be having a nightmare!" Michiru laughed.
Haruka's eyes snapped open. She looked around to see their bedroom as it had been before the accident. There were racing magazines on the small table on her side, and Michiru's violin case was where she kept it handy on her side. More importantly, there was no wheelchair to be seen. Haruka shot out of bed instantly taking Michiru by surprise. Then Haruka looked down at herself. She was standing.
Haruka shook her head, her mouth wide open in disbelief.
"Michiru! I can stand!" she exclaimed.
Michiru nodded, staring at Haruka. "And…?"
Haruka's eyes were bulging. "Michiru, I'm, I'm paralyzed…"
"Haruka, don't be silly, it was just a dream."
Michiru gave her lover one more questioning look and then went to dry her hair.
Haruka still couldn't believe that it had all been a dream. Everything had seemed so real. Eventually, Haruka sat back down on the bed, gazing at her perfectly functioning legs that would probably serve her another good sixty years.
"Hey, Michiru…would you like to go to the aquarium?" Haruka remembered it to be their destination before the crash.
Michiru turned around from her mirror and smiled at Haruka. "Yeah! But first, would you mind a little breakfast? I'm really hungry."
Haruka was more than happy to be able to do something for Michiru. She made a hearty breakfast for the both of them, and then packed a lunch for the aquarium. Haruka drove under the speed limit for the first time in her life. Michiru took several glances at Haruka to see if she was alright, but she didn't have to remind Haruka to slow down. Halfway into the drive, a report of a pileup at their exit came on the radio.