The darkness has clouded, not disappeared. It never really leaves you, only hides in the back of a mind, waiting for it's perfect moment to strike.
It's as if that's all you've ever known, enveloping you in a swaddle of aging wounds. The darkness wishes for you to stay down, wrapped up into it's treacherous behavior.
Izzy's eyes open slowly, blinking away the fog from the slept times, pupils winding from the harsh morning light.
She sits up, eyes widening when she realizes she isn't alone in the room. Thalia, Harriet, and Sonya are all in the room, with her.
She can sense the anxiety in the room, the worries, the anger. She tries to think of ways to defuse the tense situation.
She purposely coughs, causing the three girls in the room to look at her. Sonya's expression is tense, but worried. Harriet's seems angry, but sad. And, Thalia, hers is just distraught.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
Izzy is caught off guard by the question, not sure what to say.
"I-"
"Stuff it. Scared the bloody hell outta all of us."
She looks down in shame, wringing her hands anxiously, before looking up slightly.
"Does- does everyone know?"
Harriet sighs, before sitting down on the bed.
"No. Only us three. Possibly Sophia, but I think she was a right bit confused."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
She looks down, not sure what to say next. She feels ashamed, at the worry she's caused.
"Didn't think it would make any difference."
A quiet gasp tears out, and Izzy can tell it's Sonya who made the noise.
Sonya is crying now, loud, wracking sobs. She crumples next to the bed, kneeling next to Izzy.
"Iz, of course it would matter. You're my family. I wouldn't be here today without you."