Aurora Lockheart was once the sunshine girl-bright, kind, and full of life. But one night changed everything, leaving her a shadow of who she used to be.
A year later, just as she's beginning to think she'll never find her way back, her ex-best fr...
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Mrs. Kavanagh stepped out of Johnny's hospital room, her face tired but still warm as she greeted us. "Shannon, love, Aurora," she acknowledged, giving us a small smile. "It's lovely to see you two again."
"Hi, Mrs. Kavanagh," Shannon replied, her voice hoarse, as though holding back more than just the words.
We had been standing outside Johnny's door for over ten minutes, and I could sense Shannon's growing impatience. She shifted from foot to foot before finally pushing off the wall, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
"Is Johnny okay?" she asked, her voice tense with worry.
Mrs. Kavanagh hesitated, biting her lower lip before answering, "Well, love, he's a little off-form right now."
Shannon swallowed hard. "Can I see him?" she asked, her voice tight, like she was barely keeping it together.
Mrs. Kavanagh frowned slightly, clearly torn. "Please? I'll be really quick," Shannon begged, her eyes wide and pleading. "I just... I just need to check on him, make sure he's okay."
With a heavy sigh, Mrs. Kavanagh nodded. "Alright, love, go on in. But he's not quite himself at the moment."
Shannon didn't need another word. She slipped past Mrs. Kavanagh and into the room. I hung back, unsure if I should follow, but Mrs. Kavanagh turned to me with a small smile. "C'mon love, you might as well come in, too."
"Are you sure?" I asked, hesitant to intrude on such a personal moment.
"Of course," she said gently, holding the door open for me.
Stepping into the dim room, I noticed Johnny lying in the hospital bed, wires hooked up to machines beeping softly around him. His dad, who looked like an older, wearier version of Johnny, sat to his right, while Gibsie stood at the left side.
"Hi, Johnny," Shannon whispered, her voice barely audible.
Johnny groaned, clutching his chest dramatically. "Boom, boom, fucking boom, Da," he slurred, his words thick and sluggish. "I'm done for."
Gibsie burst out laughing, doubling over, while Mrs. Kavanagh groaned in frustration.
"Bring the lights back, Da," Johnny continued, his voice fading in and out. "Light up the world. You need to see this girl."
"Johnny, behave," Mrs. Kavanagh warned, but her tone held more fondness than sternness.
"I wanna see her, Ma," Johnny whined. "I can't see her."
"Me?" Shannon squeaked, her voice high with surprise.
"Always you," Johnny groaned, his eyes half-lidded but still trained on her. "Fucking balls."
"Shannon, don't mind him," Mrs. Kavanagh said quickly, her voice apologetic. "He's not himself right now."
