The Cut That Always Bleeds | Cobra Kai

Chapter 21

Every muscle in her body ached every time she shifted in the stiff hospital bed, just trying to get comfortable. A jolt of pain would run through her body, causing her to wince.

"You shouldn't move too much, sweetheart. Even though the doctor confirmed that there's no spinal injury, your body still needs to heal from such a rough fall," one of the sweet nurses tried to comfort Isabelle as she adjusted her pillows to make her more comfortable. Isabelle smiled stiffly as the nurse left, leaving her alone. Her father had called her once she woke up to inform her he had an urgent business meeting to attend in japan. Loneliness crept up on her, only her thoughts to keep her company. She stared at the ceiling, her mind drifting back to the events that led her here. The fight, the fall, the chaos—it all seemed like a distant, terrible dream. Her thoughts then wandered to her friends, wondering how they were coping with everything. She missed them desperately, wishing they could be by her side now. She wondered how Robby and Miguel were doing, hoping they were all right. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room, a constant reminder of her fragile state. Isabelle sighed, the effort causing a sharp pain in her ribs. She tried to take deep breaths, focusing on the rise and fall of her chest to calm her racing thoughts.

A knock on the door shocked Isabelle from her spiraling thoughts. She turned to face a sheepish Carmen holding a huge gift basket, hesitantly entering the room, "Hola, mija. I just wanted to see how you're doing." Isabelle smiled, Carmen truly reminding her of her own mother.

"I'm doing good. How's Miguel? How's Robby? What happened these last two weeks?" Isabelle asked eagerly, wanting to know more about what she missed during her time in her coma.

Carmen sat down in the seat beside her bed, placing the gift basket on the bedside table. Carmen sighed, contemplating how to tell Isabelle everything that had occurred, "Miguel was taken to juvie for a few months, and Robby is still on the run. Everyone else... I don't know." She pushed some of Isabelle's hair behind her ear. Carmen smiled softly, trying to comfort Isabelle. "The gift basket is from the LaRussos, the wanted to make sure you were comfortable here."

Isabelle's smile faltered as she processed Carmen's words. The news about Miguel and Robby weighed heavily on her heart. "I can't believe this all happened because of that fight," she whispered, staring at the gift basket, trying to focus on anything other than the overwhelming guilt and worry.

Carmen squeezed her hand gently, offering reassurance. "None of this is your fault, mija. The boys made their choices, and now they have to face the consequences. What matters now is that you're safe and healing."

Isabelle nodded slowly, though her thoughts were still clouded with concern for her friends. "Thank you, Carmen. For everything."

Carmen smiled warmly. "You're practically family. We'll get through this together. I'll be here every step of the way." Her words warmed Isabelle's heart bringing her a rare sense of comfort since she was used to being the one to care for others.

~

Miguel sat on the edge of his narrow bed in the dimly lit juvenile detention cell, his heart heavy with worry and loneliness. The cold, gray walls seemed to close in on him, amplifying the isolation he felt. The noises of the facility—distant shouts, the clang of metal doors, the shuffle

of feet—were constant reminders that this place was nothing like the life he once knew. Every night, as he lay on the thin mattress staring at the cracked ceiling, his thoughts were consumed by Isabelle. He could still see the horrifying moment when she was kicked over the railing, the way her body had crumpled, the blood that stained her silver hair. The memory haunted him, playing on an endless loop in his mind, a relentless reminder of how he'd failed her. He wondered if she was still in a coma, if she was in pain, if she would ever wake up. The uncertainty gnawed at him, eating away at his sanity. He also thought of his mother, Carmen, and the worry he knew he'd caused her. She had always been his rock, his source of strength, and now he was the one who needed to be strong, but he didn't know how. His mother had visited the day before, leaving his thoughts reeling.