Problematic patient

Wednesday 8th of february 3026

Emma was walking through the hallways of the hospital with a cup of coffee and two croissants in her hands. She had gone to get a quick snack while the nurses changed the bedroom’s sheets and pillows. When she got to Nyco’s room she found a nurse screaming at Nyco.

-What’s happened?-, Emma asked the nurse.

-I can’t with him, Mrs. Litdawn. You tell him something!-, the upset nurse told her.

When Emma walked in and saw Nyco, she understood why the nurse was upset. Nyco had his feet up in the wall and had his hands on the floor. The problematic man was doing handstand push-ups.

-Don’t worry. I’ll handle this-, Emma said calmly. When the nurse left the room, she put the croissants and coffee on the table and walked towards Nyco. -Could you explain to me what you are doing?-, asked Emma in a neutral tone of voice.

-I’m doing… handstand… push-ups… the rehabilitation program… in this hospital… is useless…-, the man said between pushups.

-I see. You are a doctor now eh? Very good… Are you finished?-, Emma asked.

-One second… 45… 46 … 47… 48… 49…. and 50-. The boy put his feet down on the floor and got up. -Did you get my croissant?-, he asked with a smile on his face.

-I did, yes. But wait… there’s something in your hair…-, Emma reached out her hand next to Nyco’s ear.

-What? What is it? What did you… aaah Aaaah-, he complained as Emma grabbed him by his ear.

-I told you a million times that you need to rest. No push-ups and no sit ups-, she scolded him.

-But these are handstand push-ups-, he argued as she led him by the ear to bed.

-No push-ups of any kind Mr. “I don’t follow people’s orders even if they are good for me”-, she sentenced.

When Nyco was finally in bed she let go of his ear. The woman then sat down in a sofa next to him and gave him the croissant.

-Mmmm, tasty-, he said with a smile.

-You have to listen to what they say or you won’t get better-, Emma said with a worried tone.

-Don’t worry-, Nyco said, taking another bite. -I haven’t… had a…. syn…-. Nyco could not end the sentence as he suddenly lost consciousness.

-Nyco? NYCO!?-, screamed Emma.

Almost three weeks had passed since Nyco woke up from the coma. Ever since then, the poor man had had syncopes every other day. Nyco lost consciousness at random times and then spent hours, and sometimes days, without the ability of waking up. No matter what they did, the doctors couldn’t find a way of making them stop. They said that his brain had been so damaged that it sometimes shut down without any warning. Since they could appear at any time, they couldn’t let him leave the hospital.

Emma had warned him not to do any extreme exercises but he always found times to do them. The doctor’s said that he would have the syncopes regardless if he did exercise or not, but they definitely didn’t help. But Nyco felt the need to get his body stronger. Emma thought that it must be because he was a Star-finder. They just never wanted to rest.

Nyco woke up to the sound of Emma’s voice. The sweet blonde woman was holding his hand as she told him a fun little story about their childhood. In it, Nyco had apparently grabbed a golden beetle and showed it to her. Apparently he laughed when she got scared of the beetle when it started to fly.

The nurses had told him that she always did that. For 5 years she had been by his side talking to him and remembering old stories of their past. Emma heard that sometimes, patients could hear them when they talk. Nyco didn’t know if he could hear her when he was in a coma. He unfortunately had no memories from before he woke up.

Nyco squeezed her hand gently in order to tell her that he was up. Emma looked at him and hugged him.

-Oh, Nyco!! You are finally back-, she celebrated with a tear in her eye. He had been unconscious for two days.

-Yes… Sorry for worrying you-, he apologized. Emma kissed him on the cheek, happy to hear his voice again. Nyco felt how his cheeks started warming up after feeling her lips in his face.

-Please take care of yourself-, she pleaded.

-I see... You know… I must have been one helluva guy to have such a sweet woman beside me when I wake up. I wish I could thank that guy personally-, he joked to see Emma’s smile. He hated seeing her frown or cry, and unfortunately, he gave her too many reasons too.

-You are and always will be “one helluva guy”-, Emma repeated, amused by his stupid joke.

-Thanks. You know… These past weeks I’ve been having this constant thought in my mind-, he said.

-Mmm? What?-, Emma asked curiously.

-Since you work making 5-S experiences… Could you… when my mind isn’t a disaster obviously. Could you make experiences with all the funny memories you have of us? I… I would really like to remember them. But if I can’t remember them… I would really like to live them… again-, the man announced.

Emma thought long and hard about it before giving him an answer.

-Ok… But you will be awake the whole time. I don’t want you entering the virtual world ever again. I can… show it like it’s a video… If you want…-, she offered.

-I would love to-, Nyco celebrated.

He would be able to relive the special moments he’d had with her. Nyco could not be happier.

In the few weeks of knowing her, Nyco had felt how he needed her company more and more as the days went by. He knew it in his gut that he was falling in love with her, again.

The man felt a sudden tear of happiness fall down his right cheek.