ROTBFTD : Broken & Beautiful

14

Elsa's pov

The sterile white walls of the hospital room seemed to close in on me, a stark contrast to the vibrant life I longed for. Days blurred into one another, a cycle of tests, needles, and questions. Then came the results – a diagnosis I hadn't anticipated, a cruel twist of fate. Never before had I wished for a child, but now, the dream of motherhood felt like a stolen treasure.

Despite the somber news, a flicker of joy lit up my days. Jack,  visited after school every day, his cheerful presence a balm to my anxieties. Anna, my sister, filled the quiet hours with stories from our childhood, making me laugh until my stomach ached.

One Sunday, Jack's mom and sister, Lucy, joined us. Lucy brought a board game, and as we played, laughter filled the room. Anna, however, lost. 'Don't worry,' I typed in , patting her hand, 'Losing is okay.'

Later, I typed on my phone, 'Anna, I'm so sorry for what you've gone through. I know I'm not perfect, but you're the best sister I could ever ask for.'

Anna read the message, a soft smile appearing on her face. She hugged me tightly. 'It's okay, Elsa. You're my only sister, and you've always been there for me.'

'Yes, I do,' I whispered, my voice barely a breath.

'What did you say?' Anna asked, her brow furrowed.

Before I could respond, Jack entered the room with a report in his hand. 'Elsa's talking,' he said to Anna, a smile on his face. He then ran to my side, hugging me close and kissing my forehead. 'Looks like your recovery is going well.'

He then handed me the report. 'You're getting discharged tomorrow!' he exclaimed.

My heart soared. Freedom, finally! But a lingering worry gnawed at me. I missed Fae, the girl who saved me, dearly. 'I'll find her tomorrow,' I whispered, a silent plea to the universe.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, a wave of gratitude washed over me. I had my friends, my family, and now, finally, the promise of returning home. Life might have taken a detour, but the journey, I realized, was still beautiful.

Skip to next day 

The familiar scent of old books and polished floors washed over me as I stepped into the school hallway. Finally, after weeks of sterile hospital walls and beeping machines, I was back. I rushed to my locker, my heart pounding with the excitement of being back among my friends.

'Elsa!' Rapunzel and Merida rushed towards me, their faces beaming. 'We missed you so much! You've been gone forever!'

Merida's eyes sparkled with mischief. 'Did you know today is the class president election results?'

I nodded, a wave of panic washing over me. I had completely forgotten about it, caught up in my own recovery.

'You coming to class?" Anna, my younger sister, was waiting for us with a warm smile.

We headed towards our classroom, the buzz of anticipation hanging thick in the air. Jack  and his crew were huddled together, their voices hushed and conspiratorial. I noticed Melissa across the room, her gaze locked on me, a cold, unreadable expression on her face. My insides twisted with fear. I averted my eyes, trying to ignore the icy feeling creeping up my spine.

"What are you girls whispering about?" Fae, our bubbly, outgoing friend, plopped down beside us.

"Oh, just talking about you," Anna said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You should win," Merida chimed in.

Fae blushed. "Oh, I don't know. I'll try my best!"

Suddenly, Mrs. Snow entered the classroom, her face flushed with excitement. "Alright class, it's time to announce the results of the class president election!"

She pulled up her laptop and plugged it into the projector. A list of students from different high schools flashed on the screen.

'The winner goes to...' Mrs. Snow paused, creating a pregnant silence. Everyone in the classroom leaned forward, their eyes glued to the screen, ready to hear the name of their new leader.

'Fae!'

A wave of surprise swept through the room. I felt a surge of happiness bubbling up inside me. Fae was the one person I could truly trust, the one I knew would always have my back.

'Well done, Fae. You are now our class president for this year!' Mrs. Snow announced, her voice brimming with pride.

Fae beamed, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. 'Thank you everyone for supporting me!'

'Okay class, back to our lesson,' Mrs. Snow said, her voice losing some of its excitement.

But I was still stuck in the moment. My heart was filled with warmth, knowing that Fae, with her kindness and genuine spirit, would be leading our class. It was the best possible outcome, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe, just maybe, I was finally back.