I was woken up by the heavenly smell of bacon, my eyes fluttering open slowly to find that all the butterflies from the night before had disappeared. I yawned and stretched out my arms as I got out of bed, my body feeling completely rejuvenated. That was some of the best sleep I had had in a while, and I would have to thank Louis later.

Wait. Bacon. Louis.

Surely Louis was making breakfast downstairs and not my father...right? I was sure Dad would have a heart attack if he found out I let a boy sleep over without his permission, even if Louis and him we getting along well.

My hope was shattered when I heard my father's voice talking to someone downstairs, more than likely Louis.

I quickly got up from bed and rushed down the stairs, my lungs burning and my chest wheezing for breath as I swiftly turned into the kitchen.

Dad and Louis seemed unfazed by my presence, Dad still continuing with his conversation as he cooked bacon and eggs. Louis was eating at the kitchen table, clearing his entire plate only to have Dad cover it again with more eggs, bacon, and toast.

"Morning, Mira." Louis said between bites of bacon, making my father turn and smile at me. My breakfast was made for me, Dad placing the three pills on the side with some juice like always before setting the plate down on the table.

I would've sat down and started eating, but I couldn't seem to catch my breath. My heart was pounding furiously in my chest, my lungs gasping for air like I had just ran a mile instead of only going down a flight of stairs.

"You okay, baby girl?" Dad asked as I placed a hand on the couch, leaning my weight onto it as I still struggled to breathe. His previous look of happiness soon transformed into one of worry and concern as he watched me.

I eventually did catch my breath, the dull ache in my chest stopping as I slowly made my way over to the kitchen table. That was strange, but the aching and breathlessness was over, so I figured I could stop worrying about it.

Louis and Dad seemed to think otherwise as they stared at me. I quickly took my pills before grabbing my fork and preparing to eat my breakfast. The silence was unnerving me, and just as soon as I had picked the silverware up, it was placed back down on the plate.

"What?" I asked both men, a little harsher than I planned to.

"Mira, maybe you should stay home today and just relax." Dad suggested, his attention to the still cooking eggs left alone as he stared at me.

"What? No, I feel fine." I argued, which made Dad raise his eyebrows at me. You sure didn't look fine just then, he seemed to mentally say.

"Please Dad? I really wanna go to the ice cream place in town with Louis today." I begged, Louis' eyes going back and forth between Dad and me as he watched our little argument unfold.

"You need to stay home and relax." Dad said coolly, refusing to let his temper get out of hand again.

"What if we just went to get ice cream and then came back home?" I suggested, knowing the only way I was going to win this argument was if I included coming home in my offer.

Dad seemed to contemplate my offer for a bit before sighing.

"Fine, ice cream and back home, but that's it. Got it, Mira?" Dad said, and I happily nodded before picking my fork up yet again and beginning to eat.

"You see the trouble I have to deal with Louis?" Dad joked at me before chuckling and continuing to make breakfast while Louis smirked at me. I rolled my eyes as Louis smiled at me, wondering how on earth my life got tangled up with two of the most immature men on the planet.

I had wanted to walk to the ice cream shop and get some fresh air, so after getting dressed and ready, Louis and I were off. I had offered to get Louis some of Dad's clothes so he wouldn't have to wear the same dirty clothes from the night prior, but he had only snapped his fingers and with a small puff of air, his clothes smelled clean and fresh from the wash.

"That must be handy." I remarked, which made Louis nod.

"Believe me it is, especially if you run out of clean boxers-" Louis had started, but I had cut him off there. I didn't really want to know about his dirty underwear.

We made it to the ice cream shop easily, though for some reason I felt extremely exhausted like I had been going down the stairs. Louis pretended not to take notice most of the time, slowing his walking pace to make up for me, but once we reached the entrance I was breathless again.

"Mira, you alright?" Louis took my hand tightly in his, worried oceans of eyes staring into mine. "I can take you home if you don't feel okay."

"I'm fine, Louis, really." I managed to say, making Louis press his lips together into a thin line of worry. My heart was beating wildly, not at all like its usual pace. But soon enough it returned to its weak beat, and I managed to find enough strength in me to push past Louis into the ice cream shop.

There were a few people inside, mostly families with young children who pressed their hands against the glass display case to look at the various flavors the shop offered. I didn't say anything as Louis appeared behind me. I didn't want him to take me back home yet.

I was fine. Nothing was wrong.

We patiently waited for our turn to order, each of us getting a small cup of ice cream. I had ordered mint chocolate chip, Louis had gotten plain chocolate. Louis was silent as he dug into his pocket for his wallet once we reached the cashier, my hands full as I began to eat my ice cream.

And it happened again.

A burning in my chest began, painful and scary like it had been that day on the stairs.

However, this pain was different from the others, stronger and burning like fire in my veins. My chest was burning, melting me from the inside. My hand limply dropped the ice cream and spoon to the floor, the other pressing against my chest, as if I could stop the pain with just some pressure. I gasped in shock as my legs grew weak and suddenly couldn't hold their weight, my body collapsing to the floor.

I'm burning, I thought, I'm going to burn to death.

My mind tried to fight the pain, waiting for the moment when the flames would stop like usual, but they never did. Louis' eyes were wide as they stared down at me, his ice cream falling next to mine as he dropped to his knees next to me.

"Mira? Mira!" He yelled in fright as I felt my heart clench up and suddenly stop, my blood feeling like ice water as my body immediately started to fall into unconsciousness. My eyes quickly began to close as I heard Louis scream for someone to call 911, the pain dulling as darkness became the only thing I saw. But even that wasn't the scariest thing I remembered from that day.

No, the scariest thing I remember was seeing how frightened Louis was as he became utterly helpless for the first time in his life, none of his talents able to fix the problem with me.

---

I dreamed of nothing and everything simultaneously, my mind a daze of swirling technicolor and amorphous shapes. I was partially aware and yet partially asleep at the same time, my body begging to be whisked away back to the dreamland while my mind strained to clear the haze and figure out what was going on.

The only thing I made out of the haze my head was in was a voice, two actually.

"Is she gonna wake up soon?" I recognized Louis' voice, and I soon realized he was talking to my father.

"That's the hardest part. You never know when she'll wake up." Dad said with a small sigh. They sounded close, like they were right by my bedside. I felt cool fingers take hold of my left hand, the smooth skin that held it making me think it was Louis. Dad's hands were rough and calloused from his much longer life and work.

It was silent in the room for a few moments until Louis spoke again.

"She was born this way?" He asked, but Dad didn't say anything. I assumed he nodded.

"Mira never spent a night in the hospital until she was seven though." Dad explained. I still remember that day. I had been out playing with several stuffed animals in the front of the house while Dad did some yard work. He had rushed over to me faster than I had ever seen him move when I suddenly collapsed and wasn't moving. I had woken up hours later in a hospital room with pink walls and all of my stuffed animals in bed next to me, a nurse telling me Dad had rushed me to the hospital and then left to go home and bring every one of my stuffed toys to my bedside before I woke up so I wouldn't be scared.

Thinking about that memory now almost made me cry. Dad had always been cautious, always been there for me, and no where I was not more than twelve years later from that day pretending like if I ignored my problems then they weren't there. I ignored the pain, and it made me wonder if maybe I was just scared of it. Maybe Louis was wrong that day in the woods. Maybe I'm not scared of falling. Maybe I'm scared of pain.

I wanted to talk to Louis and Dad, apologize for how stupid I was being. I only caused them worry and stress because of my foolishness.

My fingers twitched ever so slightly in Louis' grasp as I felt the heaviness weighing over me being lifted.

"Mira?" Louis' voice was a little hoarse, like he had been crying. "Mira, can you hear me?"

I can, believe me, I can.

"You're okay, baby girl." Dad whispered to me, and I felt one of his hands on my head brushing my hair back.

With a deep breath for strength, I tried opening my eyes. Bright light made me wince, my eyes blinking quickly until they adjusted and I could see Louis and Dad at my bedside.

"Hey, sweetie." Dad smiled, leaning over to kiss my forehead. "You're alright, just had a bit of an incident."

My head still felt foggy, like I was looking at the world through translucent glass.

"I'll go get a nurse so your doctor knows you woke up." Dad said before slowly getting up and leaving the small hospital room, leaving Louis and me alone.

I stared at Louis for a few moments before trying to speak.

"I-I'm sorry." I stuttered, Louis shaking his head and immediately leaning over to kiss my lips.

"This is my fault, we should've just gone back to the cabin and your Dad when we had the chance..." he mumbled, both of his hands reaching up to hold his head, his fingers digging into the chestnut strands of hair and pulling them tight.

"It's not your fault." I weakly argued, unable to say much from the deep breaths I needed to take. I felt like I was on top of a mountain and struggling to get enough air. "Louis..."

I tried to reach over and hold his hand, my tiny fingers lightly brushing his arm. Louis immediately looked to me, sighing before both of his hands held one of mine. His warm lips kissed the back of my knuckles before his watery blue eyes looked to me.

"It'll be alright." I spoke softly, making Louis nod silently and gently squeeze my hand.

"It'll be alright, Butterfly." He whispered.

"Butterfly? You came up with a nickname for me?" I asked, a small smile forming on my face. Louis smiled back and nodded.

"Since you liked the butterflies last night so much I thought I'd call you that." He explained, getting up from his seat at my bedside so he could lean over and kiss my forehead.

"It'll be alright, Butterfly." Louis repeated against my skin before pulling away, my smile growing bigger. "Your wings might not work just yet, but you'll be flying again soon. I know it."

A/N: Dedication goes out to @PurpliciousJelly for her great comments, awesome username, and even better profile pic. Mira's dad, Mark, in the multimedia!