𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘, ronance

PROLOGUE

rain pours down in torrents, a symphony of relentless drumming against the roof of the car.

the fourth of july fair had been a whirlwind of laughter and flashing lights, but now, as robin and i make our way back to our flat, the atmosphere is sombre, the air heavy with the weight of the impending storm.

i glance over at robin, her profile illuminated by the occasional firework, her laughter echoing in my mind. she's talking animatedly about something, her hands gesturing wildly as she recounts funny moments from the fair.

but my attention isn't on her words, it's solely on her.

from the way her rings sit on her fingers, to the way she smiles, and the way she speaks without taking a breath. but mostly, the way she laughs.

the windscreen wipers work overtime, struggling to keep pace with the downpour. i lean forward slightly, squinting through the blurry glass, trying to make out the familiar landmarks along the road.

the streetlights cast eerie shadows, the rain distorting their glow into twisted shapes that seem to dance and sway with the wind.

"we should've taken a different route," i murmur, my voice barely audible over the drumming rain.

robin glances at me, concern flickering in her eyes. "are you sure?" she asks. "you're the driver, nance. i'm cool with whatever you decide."

she flashes me that smile— the one that could light up the sky faster than the second coming of christ.

i nod absently, my mind preoccupied with the storm raging outside. robin reaches out and squeezes my hand reassuringly. "it's alright, nance. we'll be home soon."

but even her comforting touch fails to dispel the unease settling in the pit of my stomach. something feels off, as if the storm brewing outside is a harbinger of impending danger.

as we continue our journey, the rain intensifies, pounding against the car wiht increasing ferocity. visibility diminishes, the world outside reduced to a blur of dark shapes and swirling colours.

i grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white with tension.

"maybe we should pull over," robin suggests, her voice tinged with anxiety.

i consider her words for a moment, weighting the risks of continuing versus the uncertainty of stopping in the middle of nowhere.

but before i can make a decision, fate intervenes in the form of a deafening crack of thunder followed by a blinding flash of lightning.

instinctively, i slam on the brakes, burning the clutch as my heart pounds in my chest as the car skids across the slick pavement.

time seems to slow to a crawl as we slide toward the edge of the road, the world outside a chaotic blur of noise and motion.

and then, with a sickening lurch, everything goes black.

۵

the sterile scent of the hospital assaults my senses as i slowly regain consciousness. my eyelids flutter open, heavy with sleep and the remnants of whatever medication they've been pumping into my system.

the harsh fluorescent lights above make me squint, but as my vision adjusts, i see her.

robin sits beside my bed, her head resting on her folded arms, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. relief floods through me at the sight of her, dispelling the remnants of the nightmare that had haunted my dreams since the accident.

i try to speak, but my voice comes out as little more than a raspy whisper. robin stirs at the sound, lifting her head to meet my gaze.

her eyes are red-rimmed and weary, but as she notices that i'm awake, a bright smile spreads across her freckled face.

"nance!" she breathes, her voice thick with emotion. "thank god you're alright."

i manage a weak smile in return, my heart swelling with gratitude at the sight of her. "hey," i croak, my throat raw with disuse. "how long have i been out?"

"nearly two weeks," she replies, her fingers tightening around mine as if to anchor me to the present. "you had us all sick with worry."

guilt washes over me like a tidal wave as the memories of the accident come flooding back. "i'm so sorry, rob," i say, my voice trembling. "i don't know what happened, i just—"

"it's alright," she says softly. "it wasn't your fault."

but i can't shake the feeling of responsibility that weighs heavy on my shoulders. i should have been more careful, more aware of the dangers lurking in the darkness. if anything had happened...

but before i can dwell on the thought any longer, robin leans in and presses a soft kiss to my forehead, her lips warm against my skin. "i'm just glad you're alright," she murmurs, her breath tickling my ear.

but our moment of tranquility is shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps. i open my eyes to see my parents and siblings standing in the doorway, their faces a mixture of relief and concern.

"nancy!" holly cries, bounding into the room with all the energy of a child who knows no bounds. she scrambles onto the bed beside me, throwing her arms around me in a tight hug that threatens to squeeze the breath from my lungs.

"hey, kiddo," i say, ruffling her hair affectionately as i try to catch my breath. "i missed you."

mike hovers awkwardly behind her, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips as he watches us. "you look terrible," he says bluntly, but there's warmth in his eyes. "i'm glad you're not dead."

i roll my eyes at his typical teenage apathy as he wraps me in a sideways hug. holly pushes him away, climbing onto my lap as she leans her head against my chest.

"i love you, nan," she whispers, playing with a lock of my hair.

"i love you, too, kid."