Troubled Souls // 5SOS

XII ∞ Revival

• Beth •

This can't be happening.

It was never supposed to end up like this.

It can't happen.

It can't be real.

It can't.

I want to drown out the sounds. The nurses shouting at each other. The long, monotonous beep of the heart monitor. Jade's senseless screaming and yelling and cursing at nothing in particular. The confused and scared whimpering and sobbing of Ashton's siblings. The quiet, fading prayers of his mother.

I just want it all to stop.

I want everything to be okay again.

I want Ashton to return to therapy. To smile with us, laugh with us, cry with us. To just sit with us and do nothing in particular.

I knew all along that it was a possibility. We all did.

But knowing that a healing wound could open again doesn't stop it from bleeding.

Knowing that suffering is inevitable doesn't take away the pain and destruction that it brings.

And suddenly, it does stop.

There is a sudden calm. No more shouting. The cries silence. Luke has somehow gotten Jade to stop her outbursts.

Nothing but a slow, rhythmic beeping.

Wait.

No more long, continuous beep.

Does this mean what I think it means? Is it safe to get my hopes up?

One of the nurses steps out of the room.

"He's back."

I've never heard such wonderful words.

Ashton's not gone. He might not be all the way back yet, but he can get there.

There is still hope.

I hear Luke whispering to Jade, who is still whimpering. "Did you hear that, Jade? He's back. He's okay, his heart is beating again."

Jade throws her arms around Luke's neck, taking him by surprise. "Please don't tell him about any of this," she begs quietly. "He can't know that I panicked like that, it would ruin everything."

Luke smiles slightly. "My lips are sealed."

I'm surprised by this. Where's the Luke I've known since the beginning of therapy? The one who couldn't be bothered to care about anything in the world? Who is this person wearing Luke's skin, showing signs of humanity and compassion?

After a few moments, we are allowed to come into the room. Most of the doctors and nurses move out, but a few of them stay nearby just to be safe.

Ashton's mum is the first one in the room. She runs to Ashton's still-unconscious body, tears running down her face, and holds him in her arms, cradling him like he's a child again.

It dawns on me now that, even though we nearly lost our friend, Ashton's mother almost lost her son. The warmth of sympathy spreads through my chest.

Suddenly, Ashton's eyes are fluttering lightly, and his hand slowly moves to his mother's back to hold and comfort her. "Mum?" He whispers, his voice quiet and groggy like he had just woken up from a long night's sleep.