Heart and Track

-21-

☆꧁༒Louisa May Pearl༒꧂☆

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The days following my confrontation with Margaret and Richard feel like a blur, a haze of disbelief and heartbreak that I can't seem to shake. Every time I close my eyes, I see Margaret's cold expression, feel the sting of her slap, and hear Richard's cutting words. They've pushed me out of Holden's life, but I can't seem to let go.

I spend hours sitting in my office, staring at my phone, willing it to ring with some news, any news about Holden. But the silence is deafening. Myla has been my only lifeline, checking in on me, trying to keep my spirits up, but even she can't hide the worry in her eyes. I can tell she's scared—scared that I might really lose Holden, that he might wake up and believe the lies his parents have spun.

One afternoon, Myla shows up at my office and she brought coffee, her usual peace offering, and her eyes are filled with that same unspoken worry that's been hovering between us for days.

"Hey," she says softly, setting the coffee on my desk before sinking into the chair across from me. "How are you holding up?"

I try to muster a smile, but it feels hollow. "I'm...trying. Just waiting, you know?"

She nods, understanding the weight of that word—waiting. We've all been waiting, caught in this limbo between hope and despair, and it's wearing us down.

"I know," she says, her voice gentle. "But you can't keep doing this to yourself, Lou. Sitting here, waiting for something to happen... It's not good for you."

"What else can I do, Myla?" I ask, my voice breaking slightly. "They won't let me see him. They won't even let me know how he's doing. I'm completely shut out."

Myla reaches across the desk and takes my hand, her grip firm and reassuring. "We'll figure something out. You're not alone in this."

Before I can respond, there's a knock at the door. Myla glances over her shoulder as it swings open, revealing Aviel standing in the doorway. His usual easygoing demeanor is replaced with a solemn expression that only deepens the knot in my stomach.

"Mind if I come in?" he asks, his voice unusually subdued.

"Of course," I say, gesturing for him to take a seat.

Aviel closes the door behind him and sits down beside Myla. There's a tension in the air, a shared concern that none of us can fully articulate.

"How's he doing?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Aviel sighs, running a hand through his hair. "He's stable, but...there's been no change. The doctors say it's just a waiting game now."

I feel my heart sink, the hope I've been clinging to slipping through my fingers. "And...Margaret and Richard?"

"They're keeping a close eye on everything," Aviel says carefully. "Margaret's been...difficult, as you can imagine. Richard's barely left the hospital, but he's not exactly approachable."

I swallow hard, trying to push back the tears that are threatening to spill. "They won't let me see him, Aviel. They think...I'm the reason he's in there."

Aviel's expression softens, and he leans forward, his voice low and earnest. "Louisa, I know this is hard. But you can't let them convince you that this is your fault. Holden's accident was just that—an accident. And whatever his parents think, it doesn't change the fact that he needs you."