TWENTY-SEVEN

The evening sun was slowly setting, casting a warm glow over the hospital room where Lyra lay on the bed. She was flipping through a magazine when she heard a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," she called out.

Amanda walked into Lyra's hospital room, glancing around as she did so. Her eyes landed on the television in the corner of the room, and she cringed.

"Is this the boring thing you've been hurting your eyes with all day?" she asked, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

Lyra turned her head to look at Amanda, a hint of a smile on her face. "Shhh," she said, holding a finger to her lips. "You don't want to disturb the other patients."

Amanda rolled her eyes but lowered her voice. "Fine, fine," she said, walking over to Lyra's bedside. "How are you feeling?"

Lyra shrugged. "Better, I guess."

“Well, I got you this,” Amanda handed her a wrapped gift.

Lyra looked at the gift with curiosity. "What is it?" she asked.

Amanda grinned. "You'll have to open it to find out," she said.

“Well, what do we have here,” Lyra smiled in anticipation, unwrapping the gift.

Lyra carefully unwrapped the gift, revealing a small plush teddy bear. She gasped with delight.

"It's so cute!”

It was a fluffy, light brown bear with beady, black eyes that seemed to sparkle in the light. Its arms and legs were long and thin, and it had a wide, welcoming smile on its face.

The bear was incredibly soft to the touch. Its fur was so fluffy that Lyra immediately wanted to bury her face in it and snuggle with it all day long. It had a small brown nose and cute little ears that stood up straight, adding to its adorable appearance.

The bear was dressed in a bright red shirt with a big, white heart in the center. The shirt was made of a soft, cotton material that felt smooth to the touch.

On the back of the shirt, there was a small tag that read "Get well soon, Lyra!" in elegant, black lettering.

The bear had long, skinny arms that were perfect for hugging. Its legs were thin and easy to pose, so it could be positioned in a variety of different ways. Lyra couldn't help but smile when she looked at the teddy bear, feeling a wave of comfort and happiness wash over her.

Amanda had also added a small note to the bear's shirt.

It read "I hope this little guy can bring you some comfort while you're recovering. Get well soon, my friend." The note was written in Amanda's neat handwriting, with a small, heart-shaped doodle at the end.

“Awwww, I loveeee it!!” Lyra beamed as she snuggled.

Amanda chuckled. "It's the least I could do after what happened to you," she said.

"I'm glad you like it," she said. "But really, it's the least I could do."

Lyra looked at Amanda and said, "Please, Amanda, stop blaming yourself. What happened has happened, and it wasn't your fault."

Amanda sighed. "I know, but I still feel guilty," she said.

Lyra shook her head. "You shouldn't," she said firmly. "It was an accident, and accidents happen. The important thing is that I'm alright, thanks to you."

Amanda smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Lyra," she said.

She reached for the handle of the cardboard box she was carrying and began to pull it towards her. The box was filled with assorted fruits, a range of colors from deep greens to bright oranges and yellows. She placed it on the table beside Lyra's bed.

Lyra watched as Amanda opened the box, revealing the vibrant display of fruits. The sweet smell filled the air, and Lyra felt her mouth begin to water.

"You didn't need to do this too," Lyra said, admiring the array of fruit.

"I just thought it would be nice for you to have something fresh and healthy to snack on while you're here," Amanda replied, beaming.

Lyra smiled back gratefully, still feeling touched by Amanda's kindness. Amanda began to sort through the fruit, pulling out a shiny red apple and handing it to Lyra.

"Here, try this one," Amanda said, holding the apple out to Lyra.

Lyra took a bite of the apple, savoring its juicy sweetness. She could feel the cold, crisp flesh crunching between her teeth. It was the perfect antidote to the stale, antiseptic taste of the hospital.

Lyra then watched as Amanda pulled out a bunch of yellow bananas and began to peel one for her. The soft fruit had a delicate aroma, and Lyra could see the gentle curves of its flesh as Amanda peeled away the skin.

"I love bananas," Lyra said, taking the peeled fruit from Amanda's hand.

"I'm glad to hear that," Amanda replied, selecting a green pear from the box.

Lyra watched as Amanda expertly sliced the pear into thin, delicate wedges.

As she sliced the pear, Lyra noticed that Amanda was no longer wearing her jean jacket over her school shirt, which she had seen that morning, but a hoodie instead. The hoodie looked quite big on Amanda, and from the looks of it, she knew it belonged to a boy.

Lyra couldn't resist teasing Amanda, "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" she said with a grin on her face.

Amanda blushed and said, "What are you talking about?"

Lyra pointed at the hoodie and said, "That hoodie you're wearing. It definitely doesn't belong to you."

Amanda tried to defend herself, "Oh, it's just a hoodie I borrowed from a friend."

Lyra raised her eyebrow and said, "Borrowed? Hmm, that's what they all say."

Amanda blushed even harder and said, "Stop teasing me, Lyra. It's nothing like that."

Lyra chuckled and said, "Okay, okay. I'll stop. But you have to tell me who the hoodie belongs to."

Amanda shook her head and said, "No one. I told you, I just borrowed it from a friend."

Lyra continued to tease her, "Uh huh, sure you did. I bet there's a cute guy out there who's missing his hoodie right about now."

Amanda rolled her eyes and said, "You're impossible, Lyra."

Lyra laughed and said, "I'm just kidding. But seriously, who does the hoodie belong to?"

Amanda sighed and said, "Okay, fine. It belongs to my brother. Happy now?"

Lyra grinned and said, "Your brother, huh?

“Stop,” Amanda blushed.

“Okay, okay,” Lyra concurred, laughing.

"So, when did the doctors say you'd be discharged?"

Lyra replied, "I'm feeling much better, and the doctors said I can be discharged tomorrow."

Amanda nodded. "That's great news," she said. "Is there else anything I can do for you?"

Lyra hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Actually, there is something you could do for me," she said.

Amanda raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Lyra took a deep breath. "I want to talk to your brother," she said.

Amanda looked puzzled. "My brother? Why?"

Lyra explained, "It's about something that could help his company. I have an idea, and I think it would be beneficial for him to hear it."

Amanda still looked unsure. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea," she said hesitantly. "My brother is a busy man, and it might be hard to schedule a meeting."

Lyra nodded. "I understand, but I really think this idea could help him," she said. "Is there any way I could meet him officially….?"

Amanda thought for a moment before saying,

"Well, he's quite a hard one to deal with, and trying to schedule a meeting would not be easy. But you could come home with me, if you want. That would be the best opportunity for you to talk to him."

Lyra smiled. "Thank you, Amanda. I really appreciate it."

Amanda grinned. "No problem, Lyra."