Chapter 0579

Nina

Lori's sobs wracked her body, and I held onto her tightly, trying to offer whatever comfort I could. The sterile hospital waiting room seemed like it was worlds away from the tranquil pine trees outside, and the smell of cleaning agents was almost dizzying.

"Lori, what happened?" I managed through my own tears, pulling away just enough to look my friend in the eye. She opened her mouth to speak, but it seemed like the words wouldn't come for a moment. All she could manage was "Car accident," before she broke into another sob. I pulled her close again, letting her cry into my chest.

I had never seen Lori like this. Never. She was always the calm one, the one who seemed to always have her shit together even when it couldn't be further from the truth. But when it came to Jessica, Lori wore her heart on her sleeve.

I felt so helpless at that moment, and all I could do was rub her back in gentle circles, hoping to offer some comfort even though it felt as though my soul and my body were splitting into two.

"The doctor said... he said she has internal bleeding," Lori finally managed to choke out between tears. "They need to do surgery, Nina. And he warned me... he warned me that she might not make it."

My heart sank at those words. The mere thought of losing Jessica was unbearable. She had been there with us, through thick and thin, for years now. I still remembered our freshman year together when the three of us got put together as suitemates...

"Hey. I'm Jessica," she said, extending her hand to me. I responded in kind, although it was always difficult for me to meet new people. But there was something about this blonde girl in her all-pink outfit that was oddly comforting, as though we had known each other in a past life.

"Nina," I said, offering her a weak smile.

"Nice to meet you, Nina. And you are...?" Jessica turned on her heel to face the girl who had been sitting in the comer this entire time, her nose buried in a sketchbook.

a sloppy bun on top of her head, and was wearing an oversized band t- shirt and ripped

a chance to butt in. Without a second thought, she stormed over

What the fuck?!" the black-haired girl exclaimed, grabbing her headphones back from

Jessica said,

you, Jessica," the black-haired girl hissed. "Don't touch my headphones. I'm

look at the black-haired girl's sketchbook. "Hmm," she said, sounding genuinely intrigued. "You're good. Like, really good. That's one of my favorite

was about to put her headphones back on and shot Jessica a confused look, eyeing her all-pink outfit up and down. "You're telling me that

enthusiastically. "I do. It's my comfort

ghost of one twitching at the comers of her lips. Her eyes softened, and although it was three years before they confessed their love for one another, I think that,

the black-haired girl stuck her

Lori whimpered, her

pulled back slightly and looked into her red, puffy eyes. "Lori, what are

while she was driving," she confessed, her voice breaking. "We were arguing about something so stupid, Nina. I was so angry, and I kept yelling at her. I should have just waited for

herself for the accident, and I tightened my grip on her. "Lori, accidents happen. There's no way

face in my shoulder, her tears soaking my shirt. "But I distracted her," she sobbed. "I distracted her, and she

was difficult to find the right words to console her,

I said softly. "Accidents happen on the road all the time, even when you're paying full

her lifeline. I guided her over to a pair of hospital chairs, and we sat down beside each other. My own face was streaked with tears, but right now I just wanted to focus on comforting my

hum of hospital activity punctuating the silence, I couldn't help but think about the fragility of life; how, at any moment, our light could be snuffed out like a candle. How, at any moment, it could all be over-and it could happen to any of us. Even the most vibrant people, like our

a nurse approached us, her scrubs crisp and clean,

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255