𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨

Chapter 14 - Family

12th January 2020

Chloé pov - present
The bright Spanish sun shines through the window of my house as I unpack my bag. My room, now cluttered with flowers and get-well cards, is a testament to the support I've received. Today, my brothers Antoine and Léo are flying in from France to see me. I haven't seen them since before the accident, and I'm not sure how I feel about their visit. I hear a bunch of talking outside so I and check to what's going on. Of course. It's my brothers. Causing a commotion as per usual. I take a deep breath and try to ground myself, focusing on the simple act of breathing, something I have relearned to appreciate. I spot Antoine's tall frame first. He has always been the stoic one, but his eyes softens when he sees me. Although, on the other hand, Léo, with his infectious energy, waves frantically, a huge smile on his face. "Chloé!" Léo calls out, rushing to my front door to hug me. Antoine follows, wrapping his arms around both of us. "Hey, sis," Antoine says softly. "You look good."
"Better than I feel," I reply, half-smiling. It's true. Physically, I'm on the mend, but the emotional scars are still raw.

Léo quickly suggests a walk on the beach. So that's what we do. We walk along the coast. We walk in silence for a while, the sand's warm beneath our feet. The waves crash rhythmically, a comforting backdrop to the thoughts swirling in my head. Finally, Léo brakes the silence. "Chloé, we're really proud of you," he says, his voice gentle. "It takes so much strength to fight through what you've been through." I look at him, tears welling up. "I don't feel strong. I feel broken." Antoine stops walking and turns to face me. "Chloé, strength isn't about never breaking. It's about finding the will to pick up the pieces and rebuild. We're here to help you do that." His words hang in the air, a lifeline I desperately need. "I'm scared," I admit. "What if I can't do it? What if I fall apart again?" Léo takes my hand. "Then we'll be here to help you pick up the pieces again. You're not alone, Chloé. You have us, you have Mum and Dad, you have Mapi, you have Steph and we'll face this together."

We sit down on the sand, watching the sun dip towards the horizon. The sky is painted with hues of orange and pink, a breathtaking reminder of the beauty in the world. Antoine puts his arm around me, and Léo does the same on the other side. "Remember that time we built that fort in the backyard?" Léo asks, a mischievous grin on his face. "And we swore it was strong enough to withstand anything?" I laugh, a real, genuine laugh. "It fell apart the next day in the rain."
"But we rebuilt it," Antoine says. "And we made it even stronger." I nod, the memory warming my heart. "We did, didn't we?"
"This is just like that, Chloé," Antoine says. "We'll rebuild, and you'll come out of this stronger." As the sun sets, painting the sky with its final burst of color, I feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe I can find the strength within me, with my people by my side. We sit there, the three of us, a united front against the darkness that has threatened to consume me. And in that moment, I know I'm not alone. We will face this together, one day at a time, even if there not always with me in Spain and I will find the strength to keep going.

13th January 2020

Chloé pov - present
I stare at the screen of my phone, my heart pounding in my chest. The familiar ringtone of FaceTime echos through my quiet room, blending with the sound of my own rapid breathing. I hesitate for a moment before pressing the green button, and Steph's face fills the screen. "Hey, Chloé," Steph's voice is gentle, her eyes filled with concern. "How are you holding up?" I force a small smile, but I know it doesn't reach my eyes. "I'm okay," I state softly, avoiding Steph's gaze. "Just... tired." Steph sighs, and I can see the worry etched into my friend's face. "I heard what happened. I'm so sorry you had to go through that." I look down, feeling a lump form in my throat. The memory of the hospital visit is still fresh in my mind. The harsh fluorescent lights, the sterile smell, the concerned voices of the doctors and nurses. I have never felt so vulnerable, so exposed.