Forever and Always

four // folded envelope

I hear the heart monitor beeping as I wake up from my slumber. My hand is still wrapped around hers and my head rests on her chest. I wasn’t supposed to fall asleep in here. I look up at Lisa who sleeps peacefully. I smile at her, admiring her beautiful features despite the temporary scarring upon them.

“You’re awake.” I hear a feminine voice say from behind me. I turn my head to see a red head nurse with ocean blue eyes walk in with a clipboard and pen.

“Yeah,” I confirm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep here.”

The nurse smiles and waves her hand me, “No need for an apology. I didn’t want to wake you when I was checking on your sister throughout the night. The both of you looked too peaceful to be awoken.” She says, writing notes down on her clipboard as she looks at the information on the machines that are keeping my sister alive. I clearly don’t have a hospital brain to understand what she is recording down.

“Well thank you.” I say, my fingers lightly tracing up and down Lisa’s arm.

“Your name is Amelia right?” She asks once she is done with recording down notes. I nod at her with a smile. “My name is Lily.”

“Lovely to meet you.” I say. “How long have you been a nurse for?”

“Five years and I love it.” She boasts. “Anyways, I better get back to work. You take care and make sure you get a proper sleep.”

“I will, thanks again.”

“Oh and Amelia?” She calls out to me before exiting the room. I turn my head to face her. “Just because she isn’t awake doesn’t mean she can’t hear you.”

+

Walking through the door of my Gold Coast apartment, I straight away fall to my bed. Nathan insisted on me going home for a proper sleep seeing as the bags under my eyes are far worse than what they already are from Uni.

I didn’t want to leave Lisa but I need my sleep and so does Nathan. I gave my parents a quick call on the way home, checking up on both them and Liam.

The call with my Mum was rather brief and consisted of very short answering. If we were all in a different situation I would assume I have done my Mum wrong somehow but she shuts people out when she doesn’t know how to deal with things, Lisa’s condition being one of those.

I lift myself off of my bed and make myself a tea in the kitchen while watching the sunset on the blue ocean water; taking me back to the first time I came here with Lisa.

¢¢¢¢

Australia 2013

“Holy. Shit.” I gasp as I walk out on to the balcony of my sister’s own apartment on the Gold Coast.

“I know right?” Lisa says jumping in her spot. I laugh at her before diverting my attention back to the most beautiful view.

“This is amazing. You turn to the right, you can get the view of all the buildings but you turn to the left and it’s like bam, the ocean.” I exclaim, jumping just as much as my sister is.

“And you know what the best part is?” She smirks. I turn towards her as she takes my hand in hers.

“Oh goodness what?”

“The place is yours.” She says softly, letting the apartment keys fall into my hands. I widen my eyes at her as I bite my tongue to stop tears falling.

“What?”

“You’re graduation present, sis. It’s rightfully Nathan’s and mine which means you’ll have to pay rent but you can live here.”

“Thank you so much!” I scream as I embrace her into my arms tightly. “Best graduation present ever.” 

I hear Lisa laugh as she tightens her grip around my waist. “We are very proud of you, Ames.”

“Thank you, Lisa.” I whisper with tears welling up in my eyes. “This is like a dream come true.”

“You’ll love it down here, you can go for your morning jogs on the beach which, not to mention, is right across the road from you.” She laughs. “And Lucas can come stay with you every now and then, even Kiara can stay. And of course I will be here with Liam and Nate every weekend.”

“Hell yeah you will be here.” I laughed. “This is so exciting. I feel like I’m beginning my life properly now like this is real.”

“That’s because it is.” She winks.

“I know that,” I smile, shoving her. “It’s just I never thought I would be living down on the Gold Coast you know? It’s surreal.”

“Enjoy it Sis.”

Lisa and I sit on the table and chairs provided outside on the balcony allowing us to sit and watch the sunset upon the horizon. It’s beautiful. We sip on our warm teas as we make small talk here and there about my plans for the future. It is scary to talk about. Everything is happening all so quickly. Graduation was just two weeks ago and in a few months I begin Uni.

“Do you reckon I can make it?” I ask out of the blue, taking a look at my sister who gazes at the view.

“Of course.” She smiles. “Sis, you were the top drama student since you were 14. You’re a natural at what you do and if you set your mind to it, you can do it.” She encourages. I smile at her, looking back at the water. “You’ve always been impersonating actors since you were a little girl, you were born for this. For all we know you might be in London or Los Angeles filming in one year or two, who knows. If it’s meant to be you will be guided to it.”

“That was extremely deep and I am not saying that in a sarcastic way.” I point. “But I hope so Lisa…I hope so.”

“And plus no matter what happens, I’ll always be proud of you for whatever you choose to do in life.” She smiles before it fades away as she looks back at the ocean waves crashing on the shores below us.

¢¢¢¢

Australia, 2014

Her smile faded so quickly, it was as if she knew I was leaving. Which I wasn’t, not back then anyway.

I sit in the same spot I did a year ago. I watch the waves crash against the white shores below me. It almost feels like Lisa is next to me, following suit. But when I look over to my left, she isn’t there holding her cup of tea and sipping it every few moments, the seat is empty. All that’s left is an envelope I’m not ready to open just yet. Not until I know my sister will be okay.

+

I wake up to the sound of my phone-ringing non-stop. I swear I didn’t have an alarm for today…

Stretching my arm out to grab my phone from my bedside table, I see Nathan’s number. Freaking out, I sit up straight away and put my phone to my ear waiting to hear Nathan’s voice.

“Nathan?” I call.

“I’m sorry it’s early-“ He begins.

“No it’s fine.” I cut him off. “Is everything okay?” Please don’t be about Lisa.

“It’s Lisa.” Oh shit. “Can you come to the hospital?”