ROTBFTD : Broken & Beautiful

21

Jack pov

The silence in the hospital room was suffocating. Months had passed since Elsa had been admitted, her body a lifeless vessel, her mind a mystery. The only flicker of hope was the steady, rhythmic beep of the heart monitor, a constant reminder that she was still... there.

Anna had fallen asleep on Kristoff's shoulder, his arm wrapped protectively around her. The others were glued to their phones, their faces illuminated by the cold blue glow of screens, a stark contrast to the sterile white of the hospital room.

Then Merida burst in, her face a mix of shock and sadness. 'Guys, look at this!' she exclaimed, holding out her phone. 'This news article says a 17-year-old girl was found dead on the skyway bridge. It's Melissa. I knew her from school. And look... they found videos of her being bullied by Elsa and others. She even made a video apologizing to everyone, including Elsa, before taking her life.'

The air grew thick with tension. The weight of guilt, of unanswered questions, hung heavy. Merida continued, her voice barely above a whisper, 'But... I think Fae might know more. She's been acting weird ever since Elsa... well, ever since it all happened. And the other day at the beach, I saw Elsa talking to Fae for hours. Like they were best friends or something.'

Merida's words resonated with me. Fae had been distant, her usually cheerful demeanor replaced by a brooding silence. It was as if she was carrying a heavy burden. Could she know something about Melissa, about what happened? Could she be... responsible?

The night descended, shadows creeping into the corners of the room. A group of nurses entered Elsa's room, their movements quiet and deliberate. They began to disconnect tubes, their gentle hands disconnecting her from the machines that had kept her alive all these months. It felt like a funeral, a final farewell to a spirit that might be gone forever.

The room was thick with unspoken grief. My mom covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes welling up. Lucy's face was a mask of despair, her tears flowing freely. I felt a knot in my stomach, a hollow ache in my chest. I wanted to scream, to rage, to shake the heavens and demand answers. But there were no answers, only the silence of a life seemingly snuffed out.

One of the nurses rushed out of the room, her face pale and drawn. The other nurse, her demeanor calm and reassuring, spoke in a soft voice, 'Well, this is good news. She's... she's woken up from the coma. It's a miracle. You can all see her now.'

The words hung in the air, a beacon of hope in the darkness. I couldn't believe it. Tears streamed down my face, a mix of relief and joy. I rushed towards Elsa's room, my heart pounding in my chest.

Elsa's eyes opened slowly, the brown orbs filled with a familiar spark of joy. Her hand moved slightly, a hesitant wave. I rushed to her side, my arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace.

The room was filled with joyous cries, the weight of sadness lifting. There were still so many questions, so much to understand, but in that moment, all that mattered was that Elsa was alive.

I saw Fae in the corner, a small, shy smile on her face. She turned to leave, but I caught her eye. She gave me a brief nod, then disappeared into the hallway.

As the doctors ran tests and the nurses buzzed around, I stood by Elsa's side, holding her hand. I knew there was a long road ahead, a path filled with uncertainty and fear. But for the first time in months, I felt a glimmer of hope. Elsa was back. And we would face whatever came next, together.

The mystery of Fae remained, but the hope for Elsa, the hope for a future, burned bright. As I looked at her, finally awake, a small smile playing on her lips, I knew that this was just the beginning of their story, a story I was eager to see unfold, a story that could only end in a happy, miraculous way.