As the st golden rays of sunlight poured through a wide window, ughter and cheerful goodbyes could be heard of the faint beeping and hums of medical machines. Doctors and nurses moved through the halls carrying records and medicine as janitors continued their unending routine. It was a familiar sight for Cra, who for the past three months occupied this bare room. Sitting up and waving as her guest left the room, Cra kept up a smile even as the door closed.

  Only after the janitor passed, did she y back to catch her breath. It was a struggle keeping this up. Looking at her hands, they were much paler than she remembered them. Not only that, but her bones had become visible. She didn’t notice the change at the start. It was only recently that this was brought to her attention. Turning her head to look out the window, she saw the sun slowly moving towards the horizon. Not only that, but saw the flowers that had dropped off. It was much less than when she was first admitted.

  Back then, her whole css left flowers and get well notes. She was happy that so many people cared about her. Up till the point she realized that she realized that her hospital stay had been turned into a css project. It was the thought that counted anyway. Even if her css didn’t visit, her friends did. Some of them. Most were busy. Parents? They were working. Someone had to pay for the hospital room she was in after all. As for the woman who had just left?

  Truth be told, Cra didn’t know exactly who she was, though she looked familiar, or where she worked but she always wore a suit and brought her flowers and talked to her at least twice a week. Maybe she was an office working cousin or one of her family's wyers or maybe a past teacher something. Whoever she was, she was kind to Cra and kept her company.

  Not long before the sun set, a nurse brought her dinner and turned on the TV for her. It was some old western that her dad had watched long ago. She was curious about how it ended, but that would need to wait for another day. This particur nurse was strict with the TV and soon, it was bedtime, and visiting hours had long since ended. That being said, she was expecting one st visit for the day. Soon, she heard a soft meow. Looking out the window, she saw him.

  She wasn’t actually sure what he was, but he looked close enough to a cat, so she didn’t need to think too hard. She also didn’t think too hard about how a “cat” was floating three stories in the air, and how it phased through the thick gss into her room.

  “Well well well, if it isn’t Charming Melody.” The creature said smugly.

  “According to the doctors, it’s Cra.” Cra protested.

  Despite this, she wasn’t actually upset. She had known this creature for a long time. Baxter, she called him. This creature was her friend. Not only that, but her mentor and the one who had chosen her to be a hero of justice. A Magical Girl!

  Smiling as he curled up at her side, she gently stroked his fur. It’s hard to think that it has been three years since that day. Remembering it as if it was yesterday, she thought back to her first transformation into Magical Girl Charming Melody. Or as the enemies of justice would call her, The Green Menace! She wasn’t the only magical girl around. Aside from her, there were currently six other magical girls working to uphold justice. Those girls were her friends and their job to save the city kept them from visiting. Every so often one of them would drop by, sometimes in pairs, but never all at once. Someone needed to keep the city safe after all.

  Though she didn’t want to admit it, it had been a while since any of them had visited. Baxter did keep her company every so often. It was good since tely she had been feeling weaker and weaker. The doctors kept saying that her feeling any change meant that the treatments were working, but she wasn’t so sure.

  “So, how are you feeling?” Baxter asked.

  “Tired.” Cra sighed. “I feel so heavy and slow.”

  “The doctors said that might happen.” He said.

  “They switched my medicine recently, so that might have something to do with it.” She said as if trying to convince someone.

  “Well, the worst thing you can do is give up.” He said. “Just keep fighting and everything will turn out fine.”

  “Yeah.” She nodded.

  Everyday as a magical girl was challenging, but she never gave up. Even though Baxter said to fight, there wasn’t really anything for her to fight. Her body will do that on its own. She just needed to do the easy task of taking her medicine. Though for every day she has been here, she felt as if she was losing something. Everyday she kept cooped up, evil was spreading outside. Luckily her friends were out there picking up the sck in her stead, but they couldn’t keep doing that forever. She needed to hurry up and get better! Raising her arms up as if gathering energy, she willed herself to get better! Nothing happened. Seeing this, Baxter decided that it was time to leave.

  “Alright, you should get some sleep.” He said. “Don’t want to get scolded by the nurse again.”

  “Yeah.” She smiled ruefully.

  “I’ll head on out now.” He said.

  “Before you go.” She started. “How are the others doing?”

  “They’re doing fine.” He said. “Madam Corvis Rue is keeping them busy though.”

  “Ah, tell them to be careful. And to keep an eye on their phones!” She said. “I’ve been trying to call them but they aren’t going through.”

  “You can bme that on Corvis. Recently she took down a cellphone tower.” He said.

  “Really? I didn’t hear about that.” She said surprised.

  “I’m not surprised. With everything that’s going on, one little tower is easy to miss.” He said.

  “Right. Well, can you ask them to come over and visit? If they have time, that is.” She said.

  “I’ll pass along the message. Just go ahead and rest for now.” He said.

  “Right…” She said sadly.

  Baxter looked at her for a moment as it stood up.

  “I’ll make sure that they come over tomorrow.” He said.

  “Really?” She asked enthusiastically. “Wait no, someone needs to keep an eye out for evil.”

  “It’s just one day.” He said. “I’m sure the city can take care of itself for one day.”

  “But-” She started.

  “Come on.” He pced a paw on her head. “They’re your friends. Of course they can take one day off to go visit you. They’ll be in and out before you know it.”

  “Gee thanks…” She pouted.

  “Oh, you know what I mean.” He rolled his eyes. “Now go to sleep. You don’t want to be asleep when they come over, do you?”

  “Alright, I get it.” She said. “I’ll go to sleep.”

  Getting comfortable in her bed, she looked at Baxter who moved towards the window.

  “Goodnight, sleepy head.” Baxter said.

  “Goodnight…” Cra said.

  Walking through the window, he disappeared, leaving Cra alone. Trying not to think about it, she closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep. It was hard when she was thinking about her friends. Eventually however, her thoughts slowed down and she was overtaken by sleep on this moonless night. Though it didn’t st for long.

  Waking up, she felt a sharp pain in her chest and found it hard to breathe. Her entire chest felt as if it was burning and nothing she did could help. Writhing in pain, she heard the cold beeps of her heart monitor. Both she and the machine agreed that something was wrong, but both were powerless to do anything. Remembering what the nurse told her, she looked for the button to call for help. Seeing it, she reached out for it, but her body didn’t respond. Curling up in bed, her breathing became more strained to the point that it hurt. She tried calling out for help, but her words were barely a whisper.

  “M-om… D-a…d” She breathed. “H-h...el…p…”

  And then she was heard no more.

  Grayburne