I just keep moving forward

Chapter 22: Wake Me Up

Eren POV:

As I'm walking back down the hallway to my changing room, a feeling of warmth overcomes me

I forget about the revenge I've just had, I forget about the anger and the outcome of the fight

I feel enlightened and positive

It's like a warm wave of happiness just drowned me, but instead of struggling to breathe, I can feel every molecule of air enter my body

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale

I notice that I'm alive, I'm here, I exist

It's a good feeling

I walk into my changing room and we begin celebrating

Me, Annie, Shadis, Mum, Dad and Mikasa

As well as my cornermen

We spent nearly an hour singing and dancing, jumping up and down and screaming

Eventually I got changed into my normal clothes and walked out of the changing room again

Out of the exit and into the sunshine

I figured that after an hour everyone would be gone but-

Girl 1: "Eren can I please have a photo?"

Interviewer: "Mr Jaeger, we'd like to ask you some questions"

Girl 2: "Can I kiss your cheek?"

Loads of flashing was in my face, as well as the clicking of cameras

The amount of mics being shoved into my face was unethical

My mum was stopping to politely decline every person whilst my father and Shadis just pushed past people and told them to ever so kindly fuck off

If looks could kill, Mikasa would have put the Zodiac killer to shame by now

Annie just forced my head to look at the floor and used her other arm to move people out of the way

I couldn't understand this, I'm a 12 year old amateur, I shouldn't have fans

I finally stepped into the back of my dad's car, sitting in between Mikasa and Annie

We said goodbye to Shadis and drove off quickly, probably breaking some speed limits

We were heading towards the hospital to check on Armin and tell him we'd won, even though he couldn't hear us

We pulled up in the car park and got out the car

We were about to enter Armin's room until-

Doctor: "Sorry, we're operating on him"

Eren: "What do you mean operati-"

Doctor: "He's awake but he's in bad shape"

It replayed in my head

'He's awake but he's in bad shape'

'He's awake'

Armin is awake

Against all odds, he's survived

I couldn't believe it

All of us were ecstatic and filled with emotion

I began hugging everyone individually, Annie started cheering, my mother was actually crying whilst my dad was smiling brightly with Mikasa

We took our seats outside the room and waited...