The Brightest Star

Chapter 17 - Finally

   Edmund sat next to Abby, resting his head on her chest as he cried. He still couldn't believe it. He waited all this time to see her again, but by the time he found her, she was dead.

  Edmund sniffled as yet another tear ran down his cheek. But, his eyes suddenly went wide and his head quickly shot up.

  "What's wrong?" Anna asked quickly.

  "She just breathed!" Edmund said quickly.

  "What?!" Sydni asked, shocked.

  "I felt her breathing beneath me. She just breathed. I swear she did."

  Anna and Sydni quickly looked at each other, their eyes filled with hope, but just a little bit. They didn't want to be disappointed.

A moment later their hopes multiplied as they saw Abby's chest slowly rise and fall. They looked at each other with wide eyes.

"She's alive!" Anna said happily, smiling slightly as she wiped away her tears. Sydni did the same.

  Edmund closed his eyes and let out a sob. Soon opening them again and staring into her pale face. "Come  on Abby." He said, stroking her hair. "Wake up."

  They all waited a good two minutes. Suddenly, she gasped.

  Edmund's eyes went wide and filled with hope when she did.

  She then let out a hacking cough, as the water exited her lungs. Edmund quickly turned her on her side - Peter helping- seeing as her eyes were still closed and she wasn't properly awake yet.

  Once on her side Abby continued coughing, for about thirty seconds, water pouring from her mouth the entire time.

  "I can't believe she swallowed that much water." Anna said, tears appearing in her eyes. Sydni slowly rubbed her hand up and down Anna's back in an attempt to comfort her. "I know." She whispered sadly.

  Once she finally stopped coughing Peter and Edmund laid her on her back again. Her eyes remained closed as she took a few deep breaths.

  "Open your eyes Abby." Edmund said slowly. "Come on."

    A moment later Abby coughed once again, as her eyes slowly opened.

Abby slowly looked around for a moment, trying to gather her surroundings.

Then, she saw him. She blinked, her vision still slightly blurry. She slowly and weakly smiled.

  "Edmund?" She choked, as tears filled her eyes. Her voice was filled with hope, love, longing, and disbelief. Edmund could hear all of that in just that one word.

  "Yeah." He said, a tear slowly rolling down his cheek as he smiled. "It's me."

  "Edmund!" She said once again, as a tear ran down her cheek. Although her smile widened considerably.

  Edmund immediately picked her up off the ground, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Holding onto her tighter than ever.

  Abby let out a sob as she buried her face in his shoulder. She hugged him so tightly, she thought she might break him. But she didn't care. Edmund was here, the love of her life was back, and she was safely cradled in his arms.

  "Oh my gosh." Abby cried. "I can't believe your finally here Ed. I've waited so long to see you again." She slowly pulled away, so she could look into his eyes. But she didn't let go of him.

  "I've missed you so much." She choked. "It's been so hard without you. I need you, I need you to get through life Edmund. Please don't leave me again." She sobbed as she said the last part.