Stand By Me by Fullmetal Pyromaniac
Chapter eight
The next morning was like the last, grey and dull. Elizabeth waited in her bed for Veronica to arrive, her mood like the pouring rain outside. The tests that day hadn't gone well.
Her legs had given out during her walking exercise, the pain had been excruciating. Merlin and Arthur had paled and rushed to help her whilst Vivian stood, almost amused at the situation. After a few minutes of agony and tears they had managed to get her back in her wheelchair, the pain subsided.
Vivian had wheeled her back to her room immediately. Elizabeth clenched her hands, hearing Merlin and Arthur argue over her, the voices faded eventually and Elizabeths room came into view.
She was pushed inside then left, Elizabeth hauled herself onto her bed and stared out of the window. When Merlin had come in a few minutes later to check up on her, her answers had been short and sharp. Merlin had received the message and left with an apology.
Elizabeth knew she was being a bit dramatic but she couldn't get it out of her head. The feeling of uselessness when she was sitting on the floor screaming, begging for her legs to work. She could move them now but the ache was still there, like it had been since she was admitted here, now she knew what could happen if she put too much strain on them.
A thought struck Elizabeth like lightning, pushing the air out of her lungs. What if her illness was getting worse? Her family was well known in the town they stayed, they were fairly well off and probably the kindest people you had ever met. But also the unluckiest.
How often was it that your wife/mother dies then years later your adoptive daughter finds out she has the exact same illness that took her away.
There was a knock at the door and Merlin stood in the door way, not going in. She had two steaming cups in her hand.
"Elizabeth, I made some hot chocolate. Would you like a cup?" She asked tentatively, Elizabeth nodded.
"Yes, thank you"
Merlin handed her a cup of the hot liquid and they both began to sip on it. Merlin shifted uncomfortably in the white plastic visitors chair.
"Elizabeth, about this morning" Merlin began, appearing to be choosing her words carefully. "There's something we need to discuss, hopefully sooner rather than later. I-"
She was interrupted by Veronica knocking on the door.
"Ellie!?" She chirped, "are you in there?"
Elizabeth sighed but smiled, "Veronica, you can come in if you want"
Veronica pushed open the door and rushed towards her sister, hugging her hard.
"oh Ellie! How I've missed you!" She said her voice strained while squeezing Elizabeth hard. Elizabeth was cringing in slight plain and gasping for air a little.
Noticing Elizabeth's discomfort, Merlin placed a firm hand on Veronica's feathered shoulder, she glared slightly at Merlin.
"Excuse me, it's lovely to see two sisters so close, however please remember that Miss Elizabeth is in the hospital for treatment so please refrain from being too rough"
Veronics scoffed but pulled back, taking the second plastic chair.
"I wasn't being too rough, was I Ellie?" she pressed.
Elizabeth squirmed under her gaze, "You were a little bit. I have missed your hugs though"
Ignoring her first statement, Veronica smiled. "Thank you Ellie, may we have some privacy?" She asked to Merlin who nodded and took Elizabeth's cold drink away, closing the door behind her.
"So sister, how is father?" Elizabeth asked, Veronica's face lit up excitedly.
"Father is doing perfectly okay, he's still quite ill but he's having more 'good days'. He's always been a fighter"
Elizabeth laughed, "That's father, he's always been tough as nails" she paused and wiggled her eyebrows, "and how's Griamore?" She asked slyly. Veronica blushed and covered her mouth with one of her hands.
"Well, you know, he's, we are, we're good" she stumbled. She took a deep breath and looked around the white room.
"It's quite stuffy in here, would you like to go for a walk? That way I can tell you all about Griamore!"
Elizabeth nodded eagerly, "I'd love to! Just let me ask Merlin to bring my wheelchair along, I think Vivian took it back to Arthur's by accident-"
"No, no" Veronica interrupted, "A walk, Elizabeth, no wheelchair, just a walk in the garden"
"I don't think I can do that yet sister, my legs are still aching" she replied cautiously. Veronica stood and scowled.
"Elizabeth please, you look absolutely fine. A little growth pains never stopped you before. Now come on, I want you to be back for lunch time, let's go"
"Veronica, this morning my legs stopped working. I can't walk right now, they still hurt." Elizabeth said firmly, standing her ground. Veronica turned pale, then scowled at her.
"Elizabeth, don't you understand that you are perfectly fine. I don't even understand why you're in the hospital. You don't look ill, you aren't ill. Now get up and walk"
"No Veronica. I can't"
There was another walk at the door and Meliodas walked in, his bed head still ruffled and one eyebrow raised.
"I thought I heard shouting, are you two okay?"
"See!" Veronica insisted, "he's ill and he's still walking!"
"Leave Meliodas out of this Veronica," Elizabeth said lowly, "Listen- I'm ill. I'm sorry but I am. That's its! There's nothing you can do. If you can't understand that I have an illness then please leave"
Veronica stood, fuming for a few seconds before huffing and pushing Meliodas out the doorway.
"okay then. Goodbye Elizabeth" and with that she slammed the door behind her. Elizabeth stared blankly at the door until Meliodas coughed loudly.
"What happened there? Are you okay?"
"Yeah...yeah I'm fine. Could- could we go to the club room? I need to get out of here"
Meliodas nodded in understanding and went to get her wheelchair, Elizabeth felt defeated, worn out, just plain tired. The soft sound of rubber on linoleum alerted her that Meliodas was back and with his help sat down in the chair.
He silently wheeled her along the corridor to the club, it was empty, the rest of their friends would be there later today.
"So" Meliodas said, sitting down on one of the stools, facing her, "you wanna tell me what happened?"
And Elizabeth found her spilling herself to him, telling about Veronica's stubbornness about not talking about her illness and insisting that she was well. And for the first time in years, Elizabeths soul felt a little bit lighter.
End of chapter eight.
A.N. Yo! How have you all been?
So I thought: "Hey it's the October break! I'll have time to write!" And my teachers were like "hahahaha fucking nope"
So that's me got two physics home works, an english story and essay, French learning and a biology test. Great. And I've spent my time planning and writing two Ladybug stories...and crying over Adrien Agretse...(I actually did that, SEND HELP) [Also! AFTER SDCC WHO'S PUMPED FOR S2?! I almost cried!]
But anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, tell me what you thought! also, I need help for 'K' on A-Z of Melizabeth, review me a suggestion on that story and help me please ;/\;
Swe you next update!
-Ruby xxx
P.S. So what about that English story I told you about? Still want me to post it in my wattpad when I'm finished?
P.P.S. I was thinking about starting a Twitter or something?...maybe not, but tell me if I should anyway
P.P.P.S. Look forward to those Ladybug stories ;)
