A Soulmate's Love

Chapter 16 - Letting Go

George's Perspective - Time jump 5 days

It's been 5 days of pure torture. I go to see her every day in the hospital wing along with Fred and Elise, who doesn't leave her side. We haven't joked once, haven't performed a single prank, it's been quiet. Roya, Angelina, and Lee come to visit every day but they are ushered out to make room in the infirmary.

Her injuries have gotten better thanks to Madame Pomfrey, but you can still see the traces of bruise marks and cuts on her body. Her mocha skin is pale, and she hasn't moved since we found her outside. I still have to go to class but I can't focus. Higgs has been expelled, and it makes me sick to my stomach to think of what he's done to her, what he's told her. Fred hasn't been any better. He had begun treating Althea like his sister, and I know he's trying to be strong but it is killing him as well. But he has Angelina, I have Althea, who is gone.

Ms. Pomfrey told us that she should be waking up any day, and the wait is excruciating. Today it was snowing, and everything looked so peaceful. Since it was Sunday classes were off so I sat with Elise and Fred at her bedside, praying today would be the day she woke up.

It was late in the afternoon and just when we thought that there'd be no hope for today, we heard shuffling. We all looked up to see Althea open her almond eyes and struggle to sit up. Fred and I were stunned, and I felt my eyes fill with tears. We didn't know how to react, we couldn't move, let alone speak.

"Theia babe, I've missed you," Elise spoke softly and lovingly. I looked over to Althea's face that hadn't moved. She just turned her head to her best friend without saying anything. Her face was empty, her eyes void of any emotion. Elise nodded towards me, hinting at me to do something, anything.

"Althea love..." I muttered, at a loss for words. I went to reach for her hand and she flinched, moving away from me. I felt an overwhelming feeling of pain and sadness. My breath hitched in my throat and I couldn't breathe. Fred finally moved and put a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. She was scared of me, that I would hurt her as he had done.

The rest of the night passed in a blur. Every time someone went to touch her, she backed away, and whenever she was asked what had happened the only words she'd say were "I'm fine."

Madame Pomfrey told us that this was no out of the ordinary for victims of violence and that it wasn't our fault, but it killed me that she went through it all alone. I gave her time alone with Elise who seemed to be the only person Althea felt comfortable with.

She spoke with no purpose, no hint of emotion or humanity even. She refused to share any detail of what happened in the Astronomy tower with anyone, and the phrase 'I'm fine.' became something we were all accustomed to.

The Next Morning

"Althea dear you are cleared to go back to school, but your professors have each offered to help. You do not have to go back until you're ready." Ms. Pomfrey assured sympathetically.

"No, I'm fine I want to go back." She spoke neutrally. Of course, this didn't come as a shock to anyone.

"Are you experiencing any physical pain or discomfort?" She inquired, "Your body has gone through a lot of trauma, there is no shame in taking a few more days to recover.

"I don't feel any pain, I want to go back today." She continued, holding Elise's hand.

"Alright then, but I would like you to come back if something changes."

"Yes, I will."

What worried me the most was that Althea showed no evidence of trauma. She spoke as if nothing happened, and she was essentially back to normal. But she wasn't. She still didn't allow anyone other than Madame Pomfrey and Elise to touch her and hasn't given one piece of information on what happened.