Another Timeline Without You

Chapter 3

3

Breaking News: A bus carrying thirty children, flips over near Spham River, injuring eighteen of them, including two unsuspecting civilians. The news was quite atrocious if you ask me, but those poor children...

And Penny, sadly, was one of the unsuspecting civilians. Unsurprisingly, after the first few lifetimes, Penny had gotten used to this. But unlike the next half, she suddenly had a will to live...oddly.

Lyn frantically called Penny's phone. Come on, Penny, pick up! She kept calling, but her efforts led to nothing. Penny's ringtone annoyingly kept sounding on the ground, as she laid there, unconscious.

Lyn's soft and hushed singing voice echoed through her ears. Wait, Lyn? How was she here? Oh, it seemed Penny's consciousness was coming back, and the smell of rubbing alcohol immediately wafted through the air.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open. She was greeted by the hospital light on the ceiling and Lyn's unmistakable face. Her words came out a soft breath, as her throat was dry from being torpid for quite a while.

Her ears ring as she tries to sit up from the uncomfortable hospital bed, that of which Lyn helps her get up from. Her disorientation tells Lyn that Penny probably needs space, so once she's up, Lyn moves away a bit.

Feelin' better? Lyn had asked, and Penny's answer was a simple nod of the head. Her throat was still dry.

How long was I out..? She said with a shaky and raspy voice, her mind still slightly blank from the accident.

A week. Lyn answered bluntly, but for a reason. Penny isn't a fan of people who beat around the bush. She prefers the brutality of the truth if we're being completely honest.

I thought that would finally be the end of me. Penny mumbled and let out a soft chuckle, coughing right after. She wasn't used to surviving after getting into an accident, and this will most likely be the last time it happens, she thought to herself.

She was cast out of her thoughts as the lights flickered, and certain memories of the past came back to her. She flinched and closed her eyes tightly, trying to get away from the remnants of the dead and buried. Lyn saw her uneasiness and quickly shut the lights, allowing her friend to calm down with a few deep breaths.

You need to get more rest, Pen. Lyn's presence comforted Penny. Her will to live grew stronger the longer she stayed in this familiar jail, that is the hospital.

I want to go home.. Please, Lyn.. She sobbed as she pleaded to Lyn with her eyes, subtle tears starting to form. She knew she was injured, but she didn't want to stay in this cold room on this uncomfortable bed. She wanted to feel the warmth and solace of her soft and cushion-y bed. Where she could reminisce with the thoughts of Von.

You're not well yet. Just stay for a few more days, and we'll go back home, hm? Lyn softly spoke, trying to get her to calm down while rubbing the poor girl's back. It's strange, seeing Penny break down like this.

Lyn had always seen Penny as the strong, independent, and kind friend. She was the shoulder Lyn could cry on, the one who comforted her when she was down. But now, it's her turn to repay that kindness by helping to console Penny through her journey of healing.

Lyn stroked Penny's hair as her sobs slowly began to stop. Her erratic breathing softens and goes back to being steady.

Thank you, Lyn... Penny's words came out a soft breath, as she took her last sniffle before wiping away the tears in her eyes. Penny herself didn't know why she was suddenly getting emotional. Perhaps it was just something in her brain that triggered an emotional response to the trauma of the accident. Or perhaps being filled with thoughts of her past lover just broke her heart too much.

With all that said, she let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes, leaning back onto the still uncomfortable bed.

Perhaps some food and sleep would help, she thought.