Chapter Twenty-One: The Verdict
The next morning arrived with a crisp edge, the air sharp and clear after days of rain. Syan woke to Lila's nervous energy—her footsteps darting between the kitchen and his bedside, her voice muttering about breakfast she didn't finish making. Dr. Ellis was coming, and with her, the test results that could shift everything. Syan felt it too, a quiet knot in his chest, but he kept it buried, steadying himself for Lila's sake.
The van rumbled up just past noon, bringing Dr. Ellis and his parents. His mother's steps were stronger today, her cough fainter, and his father carried a box—something medical, Syan guessed, from the faint clink of metal inside. Dr. Ellis entered with her usual brisk warmth, setting her bag down with a soft thud.
"Morning, Syan, Lila," she said, her voice calm but carrying weight. "Got the results back. Let's talk."
Lila perched on the bed beside him, her hand finding his, while his parents hovered near the door, their silence tense. Syan tilted his head, waiting, the knot tightening.
"It's what we thought," Dr. Ellis began, her tone measured. "Neuromuscular degeneration—advanced, but not as fast-moving as it could've been. You've held it off longer than most, Syan, probably thanks to Lila keeping you going."
Lila squeezed his hand, a small, fierce grip. "Told you," she whispered.
"There's no reversing it," Dr. Ellis continued, "but we can slow it more. New meds—stronger ones—are an option now. They'll help with the stiffness, maybe give you more control in your arms. Side effects, though—fatigue, some nausea. Up to you if it's worth it."
Syan nodded, processing. No cure, still, but a chance at more time, more strength. "What else?" he asked.
"Therapy's working," she said. "Mara's reports say your range is improving—slow, but steady. And this—" She tapped the box his father had brought. "A portable oxygen unit. Your lungs are weaker than they should be. This'll ease the strain, especially on bad days."
His father stepped forward, gruff but earnest. "We've got it covered. Insurance kicked in—finally. More coming too, like the chair."
Syan felt Lila's gaze on him, her question unspoken but loud. He took a breath, the air rasping faintly, and said, "I'll try it. All of it."
Dr. Ellis smiled, a small, approving curve. "Good choice. We'll start slow—adjust as we go. You're tougher than you look, Syan."
"Has to be," Lila said, her voice bright but thick with something deeper. "Dragon, right?"
"Right," he said, a faint grin tugging at him.
His parents lingered as Dr. Ellis set up the oxygen unit, its soft hum filling the room. His mother knelt beside him, hesitant. "We're proud of you," she said, her voice trembling. "Both of you."
Lila didn't reply, but she didn't pull away either. The verdict wasn't a fix—it was a fight, one they'd face together, bolstered by tools and a trust that was holding, day by day.
When Dr. Ellis left, promising weekly check-ins, Syan felt the knot loosen. It wasn't victory, but it was ground gained—hard-won and theirs.
Let me know if you'd like Chapter 22 or any changes here!