It was early morning when Doctor Kheo arrived, carrying a small tray with a glass of water and some medicine for Celestia. The hospital was still quiet, but that didn't stop him from starting his usual teasing.
"Well, good morning, Miss 'Single Forever Unless You Take Your Medicine,'" he said as he pulled open the curtain by the window.
Celestia frowned while sitting up in bed. She didn't need to see to know he was smirking—she could feel it in his tone.
"Doctor… I'm serious. I really don't like how that tastes," she muttered, leaning slightly away.
"If you don't take this, you'll grow old and die single," he teased, pointing at the pills on the tray. "And you don't want your condition getting worse, right? Come on, no more drama."
"Drama? Seriously?" she muttered under her breath, annoyed but trying not to smile. "I just want to live with some dignity—even while taking horrible medicine."
Doctor Kheo laughed and sat on the edge of the bed. "Dignity? Isn't it more dignified to actually get better?"
Celestia fell silent. She knew he had a point. In the end, she took the glass, slowly swallowing the medicine while wrinkling her nose.
"There you go. Good girl," he said with a teasing grin. "See? You didn't even age a day."
"Why do I suddenly feel like I'd rather grow old—just so you'd stop visiting me," she shot back with a glare.
But she couldn't stop the smile that crept onto her lips.
"Is something I said funny? If you want to grow old and single, then fine, don't listen to me," he said flatly.
"Why do you always mess with me?" she asked, irritated.
"You don't get to ask, Miss Rude," he replied with a playful scoff.
Doctor Kheo stood up and returned the empty glass to the tray. For a moment, he just looked at her—quietly, thoughtfully.
"You're handling things better than I expected," he said, his voice softer now. "But… don't think I haven't noticed how quiet you get whenever her name comes up."
Celestia stiffened.
"Lala," he added, as if she didn't already know.
She turned her face toward the window. "I don't want to talk about her."
"I figured," he sighed, pulling up a chair and sitting beside her. "But you should. Not for her sake—for yours."
Celestia clenched the bedsheet in her hand. "What's the point? She's not coming back. People leave. That's what they do."
There was a long pause.
"Not everyone," he replied quietly.
She didn't answer, and he didn't push her. Instead, he stood up, brushing invisible dust off his coat.
"Well, I'll be back later. And I swear, if I catch you hiding the pills under your pillow again—"
"I didn't!" she interrupted quickly.
"Mm-hmm," he said with a smirk. "Sure. Just remember, the medicine's bitter, but healing always is."
He walked out, leaving Celestia alone once more—staring blankly at the light filtering through the window, heart heavier than she'd admit.
---
POV: Lala
Lala quietly pushed open the door to Celestia's hospital room. She didn't knock. She couldn't. She didn't even know what she'd say if Celestia looked at her—looked through her—and asked who she was.
But the room stayed still.
Celestia lay in bed, her face turned toward the window, fingers softly playing with the blanket like she was tracing invisible shapes. Her expression was calm. Peaceful. Like she had nothing to carry.
Unlike Lala.
Lala stepped in slowly, breath tight in her chest. Celestia didn't move. Didn't even flinch. She didn't know Lala was there.
And that made everything worse.
Lala clutched the plastic bag in her hands—a bag of warm food, now forgotten. She felt it trembling. No, she was trembling. Her fingers. Her arms. Her whole body.
How could she look so... untouched? Like none of it ever happened?
But Lala remembered everything.
The shouting. The things she said. The way she walked out, telling herself she was right, that she was tired of being invisible to Celestia's world.
And now?
Now Celestia didn't even remember her.
Her heart pounded in her ears. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps. Her head was loud—too loud.
I did this.
This is my fault.
I should've stayed.
She stepped back, but the heel of her shoe hit the wall behind her, and her breath caught. For a second, she thought Celestia would turn—call her name, maybe. Ask why she was standing there like a ghost.
But Celestia remained still.
Unbothered.
Innocent.
Lala sank to the floor, knees to her chest, the bag of food crushed against her as if holding it could stop her from falling apart.
She buried her face in her arms, too scared to cry out loud, too ashamed to speak.
She wanted to say sorry.
But what words were left, when the person you wronged no longer even remembers you existed?
Then, suddenly—
"Who are you?" her friend asked.
Lala froze.
"It's me, Celestia… it's Lala," she said, trying to steady her voice. "I'm sorry I didn't knock. Even without your memories, you still sense when someone's near, huh?"
She moved closer and gently sat beside her.
"I'm not numb, you know," Celestia replied. "But I don't think you came here just to stare at me, did you?"
Her brow lifted, and Lala almost forgot how to breathe.
"I'm here to help you. Whatever you need. Anything…" Her voice faltered as she spoke.
"Take me out of this place. I'm getting restless."
Lala hesitated. Was that even allowed? Was it safe?
But she nodded anyway.
"Okay."
"Wow. You're just a puppy, huh? Well, that's great!" Celestia grinned.
Lala felt her heart ache again.
She was ready to serve her—do anything she could. But even that wouldn't be enough to pay for all her sins.
Nothing in this world could measure up to what she had done. She knew she wouldn't be able to breathe freely again until Celestia forgave her… and gave her a second chance.
With every passing moment, the weight of the situation she created grew heavier. She felt like the ground beneath her feet was crumbling—dragging her toward the hell she believed she deserved.
She let out a bitter smile… then the tears came. Quietly, painfully.
They weren't just tears of guilt—they were tears of regret. Of not coming sooner. Of waiting too long.
Now, Celestia didn't remember anything.
And maybe… maybe that was worse than being hated.
Lala reached for her hand.
Just then, Celestia turned slightly and whispered:
"Do you… still love me?"
Lala's breath hitched.
Her answer hung in the air—silent.
To be continued.