𝓟𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝔂 *{𝓐 𝓙𝓸𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂}*

Gone

(WARNING: This story involves suicide, abuse, mental illnesses, and many other things. If you aren't comfortable with any of this, please leave now) 

(Joyce P.O.V)
No. No, no no no. This can't be happening

That's what Joyce was thinking when she realized he was gone. Hopper was gone.
She stepped out of the small Russian bunker, staring at the place he had been a few seconds ago. No. No. Was her life literal hell?
"H-Hopper?" She called out. No answer. Tears started to come down from her eyes. He was gone. He was dead. She stepped out of the bunker and dragged herself to where he was a few seconds ago. That's when she realized something: She loved him. And now she would never tell him how she felt

"HOPPER!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Hopper..."
He's gone, Joyce. Accept it. She told herself. Was she cursed or something? Would she always lose anyone she loved?
"Joyce?" For a second, she thought a miracle had happened and it was Hopper, but no. It wasn't his gruff but gentle and kind voice. She turned to see Murray, tears in her eyes "Where's Jim?"
She couldn't speak. All she could do was cry. "He-He's-"
"Oh god." Without even saying anything, Murray understood he was gone "I-I'm so sorry."
She was barely able to say, "Let's get out of here."

She was in shock. It was one of those times where she couldn't do anything. They rushed out of the bunker, trying to find their way out. But then, a bunch of American soldiers pointed their guns at them at shouted "HANDS IN THE AIR!"
She remembered they were wearing Russian uniforms
"AMERICANS! AMERICANS!!" Murray shouted. Once they finally got out of there, they found a bunch of ambulances in front of a burning Starcourt.
"WILL! EL! JONATHAN!" She shouted. She looked around, scared she had lost three more people she loved. But, luckily, Will came running
"MOM!" Will hugged her tightly
"Will! Thank god!" She sobbed
"M-Mom? What's wrong?" Jonathan asked her. She couldn't speak.
"Mrs. Byers?" El came up to her, scared. Oh no. "Wh-Where's dad?"
She hugged El "I'm so sorry."
"He-He's gone?" El asked, but she could tell that El already knew the answer, which was lucky cause she could barely say anything. El began to match her crying, still in her arms.
"Come here." Jonathan brought her to an ambulance and covered her with a blanket. "What happened?"

"He-He-" Suddenly, before she was about to try and say something about what she had just experienced, she started to hyperventilate. She had experienced panic attacks before, but none as bad as this one. Her surroundings became darker and darker as she felt Jonathan shake her
"Mom! Mom! Someone get a doctor!" Jonathan's voice was getting fainter. She tried to focus, but the same thought just repeated it in her mind over and over again. He was gone. Hopper, the one person she truly loved, was dead.
She felt someone splash water in her face, which made her regain consciousness. She was laying down in the ambulance, with the kids and a few doctors were looking down at her.
"What happened?" Will asked
"We bealive she had a panic attack. She should be fine, just try not to stress too much." One of the doctors said. She wanted to scream. Not to stress too much? She literally just saw Hopper, the person she now realize was probably the love of her life, die! But she stayed silent. She felt embarrassed for having a panic attack in front of everyone.

"Come here." Jonathan hugged her "I'm so sorry. I know you two were really good friends."
"He was my best friend. And he's dead!" She broke down, crying into her son's chest, which made her feel awkward.
She saw El crying, being hugged by Mike, and surrounded by her friends. She felt so bad. She honestly felt guilty for his death. But it was so fresh in her mind. She was still in shock. She was just numb.
When they finally got into the car and was going home, the car was silent besides El slightly sobbing. Will and Jonathan were surprisingly...sad? She couldn't tell. They actually seemed sad. She tried not to break down. She tried to focus on the road, trying to not think of Hopper, but everything she thought of or saw made her think of him. And it got worse when they got home. They had decided to take El home because she had nowhere to go. And, of course, everything gave her flashbacks. The couch: all the times Hopper would come over and comfort her. Her blue shirt that was laying on the couch: Hopper's beautiful blue eyes. And just too many things to list.
"Mom?" Will put his hand on her shoulder "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm fine." She was trying to stay strong, at least in front of the kids "I-I'm just going to bed."