Blind

Chapter 1

El's POV:
"I'm so sorry Max." I said, holding her hand as I always have for these past 2 months. Max is still in a coma, even though the party and I have defeated Vecna once and for all. Luckily, when we killed him Hawkins returned back to normal, as if nothing happened, which is good since we don't have to do a whole town clean up.

But us defeating Vecna ended up putting my best friend Max, in a coma. It's all my fault. I should've came back to Hawkins faster, I should've gotten my powers back quicker instead of trying to run away. I should've tried harder.

So now I'm sitting in Max's empty hospital room. The only sounds being the steady beeping of the heart monitor and my voice. Lucas also visits everyday, and normally he keeps Max all to himself, not letting anyone else talk to her or read to her. But for now he's gone out with the party to eat, I'd rather stay here with Max.

"I'm sorry. I know it's all my fault, I know you're probably pissed at me, I know I've ruined your life. Just please, come back to me. If not for me, for the party, for Lucas. Just please. I can't handle it knowing the fact I'm the one who did this to you. So I'm begging you Max, come back to us. If you want to kill me after, I won't even blame you. I'll just be happy you're awake." I said, tears pouring down my cheeks. "Please." I whispered.
Max had been in a coma for 2 months now, and she wasn't giving any signs of recovery, other than her bones healing. I've even tried going in the void to see her, but every time it's empty. I haven't checked for a while, it just breaks me more knowing I can't see her, even in the void.

Before I could say anything else, Lucas and the party burst back in. "El, move." Lucas said sternly. Oh yeah, Lucas is pissed at me now. It's because I'm the reason Max is in a coma now, I'm awake and Max isn't. It should've been the other way around.
I hesitated, I wanted to keep holding Max's hand, but he ended up just grabbing me by the shoulder snd shoving me off the seat. I stumbled but managed to stay standing, so I just walked over to a spare seat next to Will and sat down.

I've barely eaten these last 2 months. Probably only one meal a day at most. I can barely sleep either, I always get nightmares now, reliving the terrors of being in Max's mind. Her lying in Lucas' arms, taking her last breath. My breathing becomes quicker, and my vision blurs. I start hyperventilating and can't control it.
Suddenly, I hear Will's voice. "El, tell me 3 things you can see." He says.
I look around quickly, "A chair, a table, you." I say, still breathing heavily.
"Good, now 3 things you can hear." He continues.
"The machine, the nurses outside, the birds." I answer again, my breathing finally beginning to calm down.
"Good. You ok?" He asked once my breathing had gotten regular again.
"What just happened to me?" I asked, ignoring Will's question.
"You had a panic attack, you've been having them a lot lately."
"Oh..." I said.

"You didn't answer my question, are you ok?" He asked again.
"...yeah." I said quietly, not even believing myself.
"El you can tell me the truth. I won't judge you, I promise." He assured me.
"Max isn't awake Will. It's all my fault, it was my job to save her." I said, tears appearing again.
"You defeated Vecna El! You did save Max, she's not dead because of you." He said, he hugged me tight and I began sobbing into his shoulder. "Shh...shh." He comforted me, rubbing my back gently.
"I love you Will." I sniffed.
"I love you too Ellie." I smiled at the nickname. "Wanna get some rest?" He asked.
I nodded, might as well try. I was exhausted after all. He pulled away slowly and I wiped my eyes before trying to get comfortable in the chair. Once I got in an alright position, I drifted off to the sound of the repetitive beeping on the heart monitor.