Lina had been badly abused. For three full days, she laid in the Infirmary as if frozen in time while all else around her kept moving. The bed sheets, slightly scratchy white, were pulled up just below her chin, and they'd still be there whenever she awoke. Her hands, still numb with the intent to heal were neatly folded just at her abdomen. For those three days, inside her mind a movie played behind her closed eyelids, expressing to her, each detail of love and pain she kept behind those ivory gates. With that knock to the head, there seemed to be no key needed after all, and her old thoughts, dreams, distress began to spill through her consciousness.
When Lina opened her eyes, it was night. She could see the waning moonlight spilling through the window blinds in parallel beams across the floor like a midnight fog. With the light, she could see someone sitting in the chair beside her with his or her head titled to the side, obviously asleep and dreaming. Lina smiled and sighed warmly. She recognized his figure even in the dimly lit room. She closed her eyes wearily and went right back to sleep.
When she awoke in the morning, she saw Zell sitting wide awake in the very same chair. She knew it'd been him. He smiled when he saw her finally awake.
"Good morning, handsome," she laughed. Zell helped her sit up, then went ahead and sat right down next to her, cradling her hand in his.
"Lina, my belle, Gorld's gone for now. It's alright for the time being," Zell said. Lina leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes; his warmth helped to heal her.
"Zell... I remember everything... from meeting you guys, and that silly project, and everything in between," Lina said. Zell chuckled and reeled her in with her arm encircled tightly around her. He looked down into her eyes, which previously had been so empty and dreary, were now light and full of wisdom--those very coffee brown eyes that Zell was so used to.
"I could tell in your voice," Zell kissed her forehead. "That's my Lina."
At that very moment, the others all appeared in the doorway and soon, it was a reunion of friends. "Lina!" Rinoa sighed. "You're all right."
"Of course, and she remembers everything now," Zell explained shortly, loving eyes fixed on Lina. "Yes, everything." The others clapped and laughed--Rinoa had put them through so much trouble to keep it a secret, and she ended up remembering anyways.
The lot of them chatted for maybe an hour or so, of past events, things to look forward to, and little tidbits that always got them smiling. It felt so good to be back! She found herself smiling more than ever, especially with Zell by her side the entire time. At night, everyone but Zell had left her room in the Infirmary. Doctor Kadowaki had insisted she stay one more night just in case. Zell promised as always to stay by her side despite Lina's urges for him to return to his room for some rest.
"You know, for a minute back there, I was afraid I'd actually lost ya," Zell mumbled. Lina chuckled.
"Zell, I feel like I've told you this before though through the amnesia, it's hard to pick our particulars," she nestled her head right in against him. "I love you, Zell." Zell leaned in and kissed her--a gesture that felt so good after that long interval of many desolate months.
"I've always loved you, my Bella Lina." He kissed her again and pulled her in close, sheerly refusing to let go of her until the night was done.