Find a Light (JenLisa Adaptation)

32

Sunday,

May 11th, 2020

Jennie stared at her. Claudia nervously pressed her hands together as she waited for a reaction but Jennie felt not capable of doing anything but look at her older sister with her mouth hanging open. She actually had the urge to slap her but her behind seemed to be glued to the white comforter, her healthy hand tightly gripping the edge of the bed.

This wasn't what she had expected at all. Jennie had actually believed that Lisa didn't want to see her, only to find out that her... stupidly protective sister had shooed her away. When the fog of surprise in her brain finally cleared, Jennie found herself able to react to Claudia's confession. "I can't believe you would do something like that," she quietly murmured and felt a fresh layer of tears coating her eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I just wanted to protect you from her."

Jennie scoffed weakly. "Lisa isn't some kind of a monster. I don't need protection from her. She's not doing anything bad."

Claudia shook her head and looked to the side, arms crossing. "She kind of is. She keeps hurting you to make herself feel better, Jennie. Don't you see that?"

Claudia's eyes pleaded with her but Jennie shook her head and sniffled. "That's not true," she resolutely said, corners of her mouth pulled down and jaw moving from left to right as Jennie tried to keep her tears at bay, "She may have hurt me but I know she doesn't mean to. She would never hurt me on purpose."

The hospital room fell quiet, the thick tension in the air heavily pressing down on both women. Finally, Claudia sighed. "Okay. Maybe I'm wrong about that. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forbidden her to see you. That was wrong of me, I'll admit that."

Jennie nodded, hand running over the itchy comforter underneath her. "It was."

The sisters didn't speak another word after that. Claudia grabbed Jennie's bag she had packed for her yesterday and quietly walked out of the room with Jennie in tow and down to Jennie's car.

The ride was quiet until Claudia stopped the car in front of Jennie's home, killed the engine and took a deep breath. When Jennie finally managed to limp up the stairs and they were in her apartment, Claudia broke the tense silence. "I'm sorry."

"No, you know... it doesn't even matter what you said to her. Fact is, she didn't come. That speaks volumes."

Claudia sighed. "No, it doesn't, Jen. She didn't come because I told her not to. If you're going to blame anyone, then blame me." Jennie heaved out a breath as she slowly let herself sink onto the sofa. Wincing, she lifted her legs up. "Why are you defending her? You don't even like her."

"I don't like what she did to you," Claudia corrected and took a seat by Jennie's legs, "There's a difference. Besides... you love her. And I think she loves you t–"

"Don't say that!" Claudia's eyebrows shot up at her sister's harsh tone. "She's not in love with me. She told me so."

"Then she was lying."

Jennie closed her eyes and lifted a hand to rub her forehead. "Just stop. My head hurts. Can you go to the pharmacy and get the pills the doctor prescribed?"

Claudia stayed seated for a moment longer and watched her sister, before she sighed and got up. "Yeah, sure." Grabbing her bag, Claudia opened her mouth but was interrupted by a loud, obnoxious buzz. Deciding to save what she was going to say for later, the older Kim walked to the door and pushed the button that would let the visitor in. Before opening the door, she turned back to Jennie. "Do you need anything else? From the supermarket or something?"