NOTICE: there is a small change in presentation of the story.
_________
"So how do I look?" Athena asked both her roommates.
"You look fantastic." Fidha replied.
"I still can't find the logic in putting makeup when you are going to see a person who can't see you. If you dress up like this to collage you get a whole buch of suitors." Rachel said.
"Come on Rachel, you talk like she has a shortage of suitors." Fidha said.
"But the princess is not interested in any of them. So we have to increase the options."
"Come on guys, Those idiots don't even come close to Aiden." Athena interrupted trying to bring an end to this conversation.
"You don't know him. You haven't talked a word with him."
"I know him."
"No, you don't. What you know is what his parents and friends know about him. "
Athena said nothing against it.
"Are you really sure, what you are feeling is love and not guilt or responsibility. And have you ever thought about him not waking up and what if he is not into you or he likes someone else or"
"He could be gay." Fidha joined the conversation.
"He is not gay."
"People can change, especially after a brain injury."
"Not like that and if you talk again I am going to burn that precious book collection of yours."
That really did the job as Fidha covered her mouth with her hands.
"And he doesn't have a girlfriend." Athena said this and left the room immediately.
As soon as the door closed behind Athena, Fidha removed her hands from her mouth.
"How could she do that my precious babies? She might have lost interest in them but how could she forget our time with them."
Rachel just stared at her without uttering a word.
Fidha put her hand back to its previous position and walked away.
"Please god, don't make that girl suffer more." Rachel prayed in her heart.
#####
Ariana reached the hospital and entered a room. In that room Aiden lay on the bed with some machines connected to his body.
"Good afternoon." She said to the sleeping Aiden.
She placed the bag on a table and took hold of his right hand.
"Come on, let's do our exercise, ok."
Then she started to fold his hand in all the joints. She repeated this multiple times on both hands and legs, during this time she talked about things. It was an exercise recommended by the doctor to make sure his joints won't be affected by the coma.
After the exercise she took her drawing book out of the bag and started turning its pages. The pages contained various drawings. She found a blank page and sat on a chair near the bed and started to draw.
In the past two years, Ariana found solace in a room where Aiden's presence brought her unparalleled joy. These years marked a magical chapter in her life, a time when transformations happened not only in her heart but also in her physical self. The pimples and black spots that covered her face disappeared, her height increased, and her body sculpted into an hourglass shape that could make any girl envious. From a girl who considered herself below average, Ariana emerged as the college's goddess, attracting a lot of admirers.
However, the newfound attention brought with it a strange twist in Ariana's feelings. While she once dreamt of having a boyfriend and sharing moments together, the reality of boys flocking to her now left her feeling not happiness but rather a sense of discomfort. These were the same boys who had never noticed her before, and now, with her changed appearance, they pursued her relentlessly.
When each proposal came her way, Ariana couldn't help but compare these suitors to Aiden.
'He's not even half of Aiden,' she'd often find herself thinking.
Interestingly, the change in her physical appearance did more than that; it ignited a newfound confidence in her. Perhaps it was this boost in self-assurance that altered her feelings toward Aiden, evolving into something she had never imagined possible. Who could blame her? Was there a girl who didn't dream of a prince charming swooping in to rescue her and then falling in love?
Ariana completed her drawing at the same time talking to Aiden. By this time the sun had started to hide behind the horizon. Like she had done many times before she placed the drawing in front of Aiden and without expecting a reply she asked.
"Doesn't this dog look exactly like you?"
######
After leaving Solarius Aiden found himself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by a screen showing some important events from his past. It was like watching a movie, and he stood there as a mere spectator. After the part about his accident everything faded into darkness. Memories began to resurface, but among them were some memories unfamiliar to him. Memories of a chubby boy, who died at the age of 19.
'Is that my past life? Why am I remembering this?' Aiden asked himself. The identity of the boy remained a mystery, leading him to reluctantly accept it being his past life. Doubts didn't end there. How did this happen? Was this a side effect of Solarius's magic, attempting to restore his memories, or was it intentional? Aiden chose to go with it being a side effect, dismissing the possibility of it being an intentional activity of Solarius.
He sat in the darkness, struggling with these newfound memories, spending time coping with them. Time passed and after an unknown amount of time he started to hear some voice.
Aiden looked around, expecting to see another screen but wasn't any and the sound seemed to be coming from all around him.
'Am I waking up?'
Gradually the sound started to become clear, allowing him to know that the sound belonged to a woman.
'Is that my mom?... No, it sounds young. Who is.. would it be Solarius's daughter. He did say she will be the first person I will see.'
The voice became clear. It was sweet and energetic but what he heard didn't make Aiden happy.
"Wait a little more and my doggy Aiden will be complete. Just some touch up ok."
'Who is she talking to? Is it me?'
Aiden stayed there hearing all the things she said
After some time Aiden felt like he could move his fingers and open his eyes. He opened his eyes but the light was more than he could handle. He closed them and decided to take his time, one eye at a time and when he fully opened his left eye, a drawing book with a dog's drawing appeared before him.
"Look, doesn't this dog look exactly like you?" He heard a voice close to his ear.
He looked and did see its resemblance with his face but he was never gonna admit it.
"No, it doesn't." He said in a weak voice.
"Really , but I …" the owner of the voice stopped midway and brought her face up to look at Aiden.
"Aaaaaaaaa....." she screamed and rushed out of the room saying "Doctor, he woke up."