The Lie She Never Told

‎‧₊˚✧[15]✧˚₊‧

Two days had passed since Danielle's passing, and Haerin found herself lying in her hospital bed. She had one more day before she could leave.

She felt lost and empty. The sounds and sights around her seemed distant, as if she was stuck in a bad dream.

"Hey," Minji said slowly stepping into the room. "How are you?"

Haerin was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when Minji entered the room.

She turned her gaze to her friend and forced a small smile.

"Been better," she said.

She sat up in bed, her movements slow and heavy.

Minji settled down on the edge of Haerin's bed, her eyes filled with worry.

She looked at her friend, taking in the sight of her tired appearance.

"Did you sleep?" she asked softly.

Haerin looked away, avoiding Minji's gaze.

"No," she admitted quietly.

She hadn't been able to sleep properly since Danielle's death. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her face that left her more exhausted.

Minji slowly pulled Haerin into a hug.

Haerin stiffened for a moment at the unexpected hug, her body tense and resistant. But as Minji's arms closed around her, she felt herself softening. The comfort and warmth of her friend's embrace burning into her bones.

She leaned into the hug and just enjoyed the calmness.

"I need to tell you something," Minji whispered. "And you will probably hate me for it, but you deserve to know."

Haerin pulled back from the hug. She looked at Minji, their eyes locking.

"Okay. What is it?" she asked.

Minji took a deep breath.

"Do you remember the day I saved you from jumping off the rooftop?" Minji asked carefully.

She nodded slowly, her eyes still locked on Minji.

"On that day I..." Minji said slowly. "I wasn't there."

Haerin's brow furrowed in confusion, her head tilting slightly to the side.

"What? What do you mean?" she asked.

"I didn't save you that day."

Haerin's expression turned to disbelief, her eyes widening.

"What?" she uttered, her mind struggling to process what Minji just said.

She stared at her friend, waiting for her to explain herself, to say anything that would make sense of this.

"When I got there, in the hospital someone was carrying you to one of the doctors. I can still see it. I remember that... her hair was brown, and it was a little wavy. She was pale and sick, really sick she could barely walk with you," Minji said.

"When your mom visited us she thought I saved you and I couldn't tell her the truth... or you," Minji said. "I'm sorry I should have-"

Haerin couldn't hear. Her ears rang as Minji was saying something to her.

"Who was it?" Haerin asked suddenly.

"What?"

"Who was it??" Haerin asked louder.

"Haerin-"

"Cut it out!! Please, just tell me who it was."

"It was her," Minji answered. "It was Danielle."