Lillian Crane and her formidable adversary, Coriolanus Snow, epitomized brilliance within their academic and physical competitions, their prowess woven into the fabric of their existence.
However, Lillian's world takes an unexpected turn, stripping...
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Wheeling herself around the infirmary, Lillian sought out her closest friends, particularly Felix. Their longstanding friendship had been a source of support and protection for her over the years. He was tough on everyone but her. He always made sure she was safe and out of trouble.
Unable to locate him, Lillian searched for her other friends before finding a nurse. Concerned and eager for information, she approached the nurse to inquire about the well-being of those she cared about.
She said Felix was in surgery but told her where Coriolanus's room was. Lillian wheeled her way around looking for the number that the nurse told her. She wheeled into the room and saw that he was still asleep.
The TV in the room played the tributes' interviews. Lillian, intent on the screen, hoped that Wovey hadn't gone on stage yet. The uncertainty surrounding her friends' conditions added to the weight of the aftermath of the rebel bombing.
Wovey walked onto the stage, and Lillian, still in Coriolanus's room, watched the TV intently, anxiously awaiting Wovey's appearance.
"Wovey, come on out," Lucky called. Lillian gripped the wheels of her chair, as if it could help her hear better. The mix of excitement and worry filled the room.
"How are you feeling? Day before the games and all," Lucky asked the young girl.
"I just wanna get home," Wovey replied, prompting a quiet sigh from Lillian, careful not to wake Coriolanus. The tension in the room heightened as the events leading up to the Hunger Games unfolded on the screen.
"I bet you do. What are your plans for the games?" Lucky inquired.
"Make it as far as possible. I'm good at climbing, and I can throw." Wovey answered, eliciting a smile from Lillian.
Once Wovey's interview concluded, Lillian left the room and encountered Grandma'am and Coriolanus's cousin outside the door. "Lillian, how are you?" Tigris asked, waving her over to sit with them.
"Oh, hi. I'm sorry. I'm doing good, how are you?" Lillian answered, smiling at the family.
"We're good, worried about Coryo, but I'm glad you're ok. What happened?" Tigris inquired, giving the girl a concerned look.
"There was a rebel bombing. The force made me fly across the arena; my head hit the ground, and my legs hit the ground hard. Coriolanus had the pillar land on his legs." Lillian explained, recounting the harrowing events.
Grandma'am walked into the room after they were done talking. She conveyed the details of the events to Coriolanus, even though he couldn't hear her words.
Tigris was next to go into the room, a tear on her cheek. Lillian wiped it off before Tigris walked in, expressing a shared understanding of the emotional weight that the situation carried. The bond between them strengthened through their concern for Coriolanus.
Tigris walked out of Coriolanus's room shaking her head; the boy was still asleep, and his family couldn't sit still, their nerves going haywire. Lillian hesitated to go in, feeling a sense of displacement as a newly found friend amidst the family's deep concern.
Tigris, recognized the connection between Coriolanus and Lillian, she understood the impact they could have on each other's lives, even if their relationship didn't extend beyond friendship.
Lillian wheeled in, settling beside Coriolanus's bed. She began to ramble, recounting the details of the rebel bombing, her injuries, and the uncertainty surrounding her leg. The vulnerability in her words painted a picture of the challenges she faced.
"I'm so grateful to have talked to you when I had. You came into my life at the perfect time. It couldn't have been better timed. Arachne was my best friend for, well, my whole life. Losing her isn't easy." Lillian shared, a tear falling down her face. Her head leaned on the bed, gazing at the floor.
"I'm glad too." Coriolanus responded in a weak voice, acknowledging the significance of their connection amidst the circumstances.
Lillian shot up to look at the boy. "Coriolanus!?" she exclaimed, her voice still sore. He nodded, sparking excitement in the girl. She wheeled as fast as she could to the door, ready to find the nearest nurse. Spotting Grandma'am and Tigris, she shared the news with them, and they ran into the room excitedly, Lillian continued her search for a nurse.
Finally, she found a woman in a blue coat. "My friend, he's awake now, please send a doctor in." Lillian said, a hint of panic in her voice.
"Who is your friend?" the nurse asked, grabbing her notepad to write down the name.
"Coriolanus Snow," Lillian replied. The nurse nodded before walking in the opposite direction.
Lillian made it back into Coriolanus's room. On the TV, the interviews played, and Lucy Gray was singing a song. It was emotional, about an ex it sounded like. Tigris and Grandma'am were tearing up. Coriolanus looked at Lucy Gray with an intriguing look in his eye.
The song ended, and they all clapped, Coriolanus grateful he didn't miss Lucy Gray's interview. While the four of them talked, Lillian's parents entered the room.
"Honey, the doctor needs to see you again." Her mother said, leading her back to her room.
"Lillian, it's nice to see you out, even if it's in the chair. After further tests, we can confirm that it's a very small break in your ankle. You will wear a cast, and you can either have a wheelchair or crutches, your pick." The doctor explained, evoking a slight emotional reaction from Lillian. The choices ahead, while seemingly small, carried the weight of her recovery and adaptation to a new reality.
"For how long sir?" Lillian asked hoping it wouldn't be too long, she's small and young, how long could it take? "Two weeks." He said giving the girl a heartfelt apologetic smile.
