Luelle slowly blinks awake. There's a faint beep from the monitors. She turns her head… and sees Liam, standing at the window, arms crossed and back rigid.
'Doctor...Was it stage fright? Or just bad sushi?"
'Neither. You fainted because of a condition you've likely ignored your entire adult life.'
'I'm fine. I've had dizzy spells since I was a kid. They always pass.'
'Not anymore. Your scans show signs of Neurocardic Syntheria. It's rare. Degenerative. Stress-induced.'
'What?..That's not possible. I've been on stage since I was twelve."
'Exactly. Prolonged overexposure to high emotional output, adrenaline spikes, sensory overload… you've accelerated the symptoms. Your heart and brain are out of sync. And it's not going to fix itself between concerts.'
'So, what—you're saying I should cancel my tour and knit in silence?'.
'I'm saying the next time you collapse, you might not wake up with cameras waiting. It'll be a coroner.'
The words hit hard on Luelle, she didn't know if she should be scared or not.
'You're really bad at softening the blow, you know that?'
'I don't soften truth. I deliver it.'
'So what now, Doctor Hayes? Do I disappear? Tell the world the superstar is broken?'
'Or... you start choosing life over applause.'
"So, what's the cure, Doctor? What do I need to do—quit music, move to a monastery, breathe lavender for the rest of my life?"
'There's no permanent cure. But there's a containment protocol that could stabilize your episodes. It's highly personalized—neurological recalibration therapy, combined with strict physiological regulation.'
'You make it sound like rehab for my nervous system.'
'It's more than that. It involves syncing your neurocardiac rhythms with controlled, consistent emotional states—calm, grounded interactions, balanced sensory input, zero extremes.'
'That sounds like retirement. Or death.:
'Or it sounds like living a real life. Outside the noise. Around people who aren't demanding pieces of you every second.'
' So you're saying I should stay with People like?"
'People like me.'
'Yeah, nice try doc. You think just... being near you would fix me?'
'No. But routine does. Silence. Stability. A world where you're not Lily Vale. Just Luelle. And in that world... I know how to help you survive.'
'So my options are: risk my life onstage... or try living it offstage, with someone who looks at me like I'm a diagnosis?'
'I don't look at you like a diagnosis, Luelle. I look at you like a decision.'
'Since you think that way, why don't you just marry me? I mean, I'm quite tolerable right? You said it yourself.'
'Listen, I said I'll help you but not by marrying you'.
'Why? Why won't you marry me?'
COUGH!! COUGH!!
Luelle's grandfather came inside. He and the nurse who brought him inside were surprised.
'Luelle dear, you're okay!'
'Not right now grandfather, I'm trying to court someone.'
'What? You.....
'I will take my leave'. Liam left immediately.
'Grandfather, you ...
'i'm sorry..I guess I came at a wrong time '.
'Forget it pops'
'What's the situation now? I would've talked to the doctor but you made him leave'.
*Oh no! I can't tell grandfather about my condition or else he will get me married right here and now. I have to get out of here*
'Uhm grandfather, everything is fine. It's just exhaustion, we can go now '
'Really?'
'Yes'
The old man knows she was probably lying but he didn't want to trouble her.
'if you say so then let's go '.
*I'll just find out later*
***
Luelle scrolled through the news on her phone, it was a mess.
There were people worried about her but there would always be haters.
'Why gid she suddenly fainted. She must've been pregnant '
Luelle was horrified, 'pregnant? You'll pay for that'.
Using her other account, Luelle gave the person a befitting reply.
She dropped her phone and sighed, she remembered what Liam had said.
'Ugh! That doctor is so...no worries, I 'll get him later'.
An idea suddenly came to her mind and she stood up.
***
Liam got back home early as his mother called him for an urgent family meeting.
His mother signaled him to sit down and he did. There were strange faces seated as well but he didn't care.
'I have called you all here because of one person and that is , Liam.'
Liam was surprised but he kept quiet.
*What are they saying now?*
'I have decided to get Liam married to Miss Claire over here.'
'What?! What's going on mom?'.
'silence Liam! Your mother had sent you to a blind date with her but you went to meet someone, a singer at that!'.
'What's wrong with a singer grandfather?'.
'There is no way I'll allow you to bring a singer into this house. They have a messy lifestyle, especially this girl. Do you know about her past?'.
'How does it matter grandfather? How does her past matter? And when did I ever say that I was getting married? The date was nothing but a mistake '.
'Uhm, I guess we should come some other time '.
Claire's parents found the situation awkward.
'No please, you should all sit down. I'll fix it, no worries. Liam will get married to Claire and that's my final decision '.
'I don't think so grandfather, you can't make a decision for me. I'm not a kid anymore and I can decide who I want to get married to.'
Claire's parents looked at each other with worries on their faces. They couldn't allow their daughter to get married to someone who doesn't even like her.
'Sir, we are really sorry but if Liam doesn't want to get married to our daughter then there's no need to force him. We'll take our leave'.
'No wait please.....
Claire's parents left immediately.
Liam's grandfather was furious.
'You insolent fool! I'll give you a week to get married and bring your wife to this house. If you don't get married before next week, then both you and your mom will be thrown out of this house.'
'Should I remind you grandfather that I also have a house, I don't need you to survive '.
Saying this, Liam left the house.
'You!... Cecilia, you better talk to your son or else, you'll be stripped off your rights! And be sure to tell him that a singer is not allowed in this house.'
'Yes father.'
Cecilia sighed and went after Liam.
'Liam! Wait up!'.
'Do you also want me to get married within one week?'.
'it's the only way Liam, you don't have any choice.'
'What if I refuse?.'
'If you refuse then I'll really kill myself.'
'Are you threatening me?'.
'You know very well that I'm not. Listen Liam, do you remember all that I've done for you? If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be alive today. Do you remember what happened years ago?'.
'You shouldn't have brought that up, mother. How could you? You're making me obey you like this?'.
'Don't take it in a wrong way Liam'.
Liam was quiet, that incident is the only reason why he's so obedient towards his mother. She was right, it was all thanks to her that he was alive today or else, he would've been dead. He can't disobey her.
'You should be happy that I have some humanity left mother but here's my condition, I will get married to whoever I want '.
Cecilia watched as Liam left.
*I can't let him get married to that singer, no. I have to do something*.