~ The Other Side of the Storm ~

Chapter 21

(I can't believe this is the end of this book. Thank you so much to everyone that's read it and loved it and left me such wonderful, amazing comments this past year 🥺 This book has been my cent book, every time I was in a dark place, I would vent my sad or frustrated emotions into this. It was originally a cuddly Broppy date story, then a Branch [alone] camping story, and it became this. I'm so glad people loved this as much as I loved writing it and cried somewhat as much as I BALLED my eyes out writing it. It's so hard to put into words how grateful I am people enjoy this. Thank you 🥺)

Also the last paragraph barely makes sense? I don't know how to sound smart.)

Three days had passed since the Trolls had returned to the village. The beauty was returning to the forest as pods were regrown and fallen trees were cleared. Things almost felt normal once again. Almost..

Rather than patients in the pod hanging above a twenty foot drop with strong winds risking it breaking, a small shelter was hidden underneath a willow tree with piles of leaves and pillows from the bunker for trolls to lay on.

Only Branch was still in recovery, for obvious reasons. He hadn't woken up yet, some of the trolls were losing hope in him ever waking up. He was still alive, he was still breathing, just unconscious.

His friends and parents stood around him, anxiously waiting for him to do something.

"He should've woken up by now." Cooper sat on the ground, looking sadly like a puppy.

Guy hugged himself and made a whimper-like sound, "What if he doesn't? What if he.." He couldn't bear to lose another best friend.

"No! He'll wake up! He's going to be fine!" Poppy gripped on to Branch's hand and gently shook him, "Please wake up!"

Branch briefly showed an expression of discomfort from the cut being touched, but he didn't have the energy to even make facial expressions. He'd been asleep for days, but he had no energy.

"Sorry," Poppy rubbed his wrist and gently smiled. "See? He's alive... ish."

Branch was shirtless, he only wore his shorts (boxers underneath of course) which were pulled slightly higher than usual. He had a bandage wrapped around the leg wound and one around his waist. The cuts were stitched already and hopefully healing. They couldn't do anything with his arm until he was conscious for a while and healthy. It was out of place, bandages wouldn't help at all, it would have to be surgically positioned, then he'd have to wear a cast for a while. Even after he would go through all that, he would still have to cope with his new depression, and if he relapsed he might end up in this situation once again.

"Barely." Chenille added with a sigh.

Satin gasped and hugged her sister, "Positive thinking."

"I can't imagine how different things would be without Branch." DJ took off her headphones and held them in her hands.

"If they'd gone literally any other day this wouldn't have happened." Smidge rolled her eyes, sarcastic, but correct.