Le's Soldier

Part 30!

Leah POV

Leah didn't remember driving.

She remembered the sound of her phone ringing.
Katie's voice breaking.
One word over and over.

"Bathroom. Blood. Please."

Everything after that felt like running underwater.

When Leah hit the flat, the smell was the first thing—metallic, sharp, wrong. Her heart slammed so hard she thought she might throw up. She didn't even take her shoes off.

Then she saw her.

Lilly was on the bathroom floor, glass everywhere, hands red, shoulders heaving as if her body didn't know how to breathe anymore. Tommy had her from behind, arms locked around her to stop her hurting herself again. Katie was kneeling in front of her, shaking, trying to keep pressure on her knuckles with a towel that was already soaked through.

Leah's knees hit the tiles before she even realised she'd moved.

"Oh baby," she sobbed, hands immediately cupping Lilly's face. "Oh my love, look at me. Please look at me."

Lilly's eyes flicked up, unfocused, terrified, like she didn't recognise where she was.

"I'm sorry," Lilly whispered, voice shredded. "I'm so fucking sorry. I tried to be strong. I swear I did."

That broke something open in Leah's chest.

"You don't have to be strong," Leah said, pressing her forehead to Lilly's. "You don't have to do anything right now. I've got you. I'm here."

Lilly sagged into her, body finally giving in, sobs wracking through her so violently Leah could feel them in her own bones.

Tommy swallowed hard. "Leah... we need help. She's not coming out of it."

Leah nodded, even though every instinct screamed don't let go.

"I know," she said hoarsely. "I know."

The ambulance lights painted the inside of the vehicle in red and blue, flashing over Lilly's face as she drifted in and out, Leah's hand locked around hers like an anchor.

Lilly kept mumbling—half sentences, broken thoughts.

"I didn't mean to—"
"They were kids—"
"He said it was my fault—"
"Please don't leave me—"

Each word felt like a knife.

Leah stroked her hair, whispering the same thing over and over.

"I'm here. You're safe. I'm not going anywhere."

The paramedic spoke gently but firmly. "She's having a severe PTSD episode. We're going to give her something to calm her system down."

Lilly flinched when the needle came into view, panic flaring again.

"No—no—please—don't—"

Leah leaned in close, her voice steady even though her hands were shaking. "It's okay, baby. It's just to help you sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up. I promise."

Lilly searched her face desperately. "Promise?"

"I swear on everything I am."

The sedative took hold slowly.

Lilly's breathing eased.
Her muscles unclenched.
Her eyes fluttered shut.

And Leah finally let herself cry.

The hospital room was quiet except for the soft beep of monitors.

Lilly lay pale against the white sheets, bandaged hands resting on her stomach, chest rising and falling evenly now. She looked smaller. Younger. Too breakable for someone who had carried so much.

Leah sat beside the bed, holding her hand like it was the only thing keeping the world upright.

She felt sick with guilt.

I pushed her.
I made it worse.
I should have seen this coming.

Tommy stood near the door, arms folded, jaw tight. Katie sat on the other side of the bed, eyes red but dry now, watching Lilly like she might vanish if they blinked.

"She's not weak," Katie said quietly, like she was answering Leah's thoughts. "She's been surviving on sheer will for years. This was always going to catch up."

Leah nodded, wiping her face. "I just don't know how to help her without breaking her more."

Tommy finally spoke. "You don't fix this. You sit with it. With her. That's all."

Leah squeezed Lilly's hand gently. "Then I'm not going anywhere."

Later That Night

Lilly woke slowly.

The first thing she felt was exhaustion—bone-deep, soul-heavy. The second was pain in her hands. The third was fear.

She turned her head slightly.

Leah was right there. Curled awkwardly in the chair beside the bed, head resting near Lilly's arm, fingers still laced with hers.

Lilly's breath hitched.

"Leah?" she whispered.

Leah was awake instantly.

"I'm here," she said softly, eyes filling. "Hey. You're okay. You're safe."

Lilly stared at the ceiling, shame crashing in waves. "I'm sorry."

"I know," Leah replied. "But you don't have to apologise for being hurt."

Lilly swallowed hard. "Did I scare you?"

"Yes," Leah said honestly. "But losing you would scare me more."

Tears slid silently down Lilly's temples. "I don't want to be like this forever."

"You won't," Leah said firmly. "But you're not doing this alone. Ever."

Lilly turned her head, eyes glassy. "You still want me?"

Leah didn't hesitate. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to Lilly's forehead.

"There is nothing you could do that would make me stop loving you."

Lilly finally let go.

Her eyes closed again, this time peacefully, fingers tightening weakly around Leah's hand.