Chapter 3

9 Months Post-Particle Accelerator Explosion

"Here's yesterday, last year-

Palm-spear and lily… distinct as

…. Flora in the… vast

Windless threadword of a

Tapestry…"

Emilie heard feet shuffling and the sway of a medical lab coat.

"Your braille reading is getting very good Emilie. I heard you from the hall." Dr. Snow said cheerfully.

"Thank you. This book of poems has been so great to read. I'm very glad to have it translated into braille." Dr. Wells had surprised her with her favorite book of poems nearly 3 months ago and she had taken to it quickly. It was much better than the scientific journals they had given her to practice. When she said told them transmutation articles were not really her favorite reading material, Cisco had acted as if I was a personal offence.

"We can get you any book you'd like when you tire of it." I heard the smile in her voice. Caitlyn has been my favorite part of the past 9 months. While I never had a sister, I'd like to imagine that Caitlyn would be doing what sisters do. She has cared for me, taught me how to read and have some sort of semblance of life even if it was just in the confined walls of STAR Labs. "I'm sure Barry would be equally as grateful for a change of reading material."

I laughed. My comatose friend has been on the receiving end of my braille lessons for a long while. I had overheard Cisco and Caitlyn arguing about auditory functions and how they are the last thing to degenerate while in a coma and they agreed that reading to him was a great idea. I am sure that they are regretting that now.

Stumbling footsteps interrupted us. "Hey there Emmy!" Cisco walked up to Barry's bed and squeezed my shoulders. "Reading more Plath to our friend?"

"You know me. Depressing literature at its best."

Cisco laughed. "You brighten up our day. If our day was on suicide watch."

"Haha, very funny. I think Barry likes it."

"Yea, you keep telling yourself that." There was some jostling of papers and Lady Gaga started playing and I moaned.

"Seriously?"

"Now this Barry likes. I saw it on his facebook."

I shook my head and was about to get up when Barry suddenly leaped up and I was roughly thrown away from his side, "Where am I?" I heard the frantic pulling of wires and Caitlyn and Cisco pushed past me to get closer to him.

"Dr. Wells, get down to the cortex, like right now!" Cisco yelled into one of the coms.

"110, pulse over 120. Pupils equally reactive to light."

I walked over to the wall where I had left my cane. I stood by the doorway unsure of what to do or where to go, feeling completely out of place.

"I need you to urinate in this." Caitlyn was speaking so fast I was worried Barry wouldn't be able to follow her train of thought.

"Not this second." Cisco intervened.

Barry was frantic, "What is happening? What is going on?"

"You were struck by lightning dude."

A brief pause then, "Lightening gave me abs?"

I laughed. "Why does he get abs?"

No one answered. I coughed, "Yea, never mind."

"Your muscles should be atrophied but instead they're in a chronic and unexplained state of cellular regeneration. You were in a coma."

Barry took a sharp intake of breath, "For how long?"

"Nine months." I said softly.

"Welcome back, Mister Allen." The familiar hum of Dr. Wells motorized wheel chair entered the room.