And Scene [H.S]

scene twenty-five

TRIGGER WARNINGS: this chapter is a continuation from the last two and will include themes such as overdoses/substance abuse, mental health topics (depression/anxiety) and talks of past suicide attempts/suicidal thoughts.

This chapter may hit close to home. Please read at your own risk and remember you are never alone. I'm always here if anyone is struggling.

AVIE STYLES

The night had been tough. Tougher than I had expected it to be. I seemed to believe that once I was by Effie's side, all of the heartache and the worry would go away. I thought that being reunited with her would rid me of those negative emotions I had building up, but I don't think I could've been more wrong even if I tried.

The moment I was reunited with Effie, who was barely even conscious at the time, all I could do was break down again. Seeing her in that state, so pale and fragile, it made my heart fall apart, and from the moment I had been lead to her private room filled with monitors beeping and my sister looking more vulnerable than ever, I couldn't stop heaving in breaths of air to aid my suffocating lungs. I was desperate to take some breaths of fresh air, though in this stuffy hospital room with my head running wild, I wasn't sure I'd find that here.

Effie had slept most of the night, only just waking up enough to mumble out my name and to ask for our parents, who I had just about been able to phone at the dead of night, with a voice so weak I was worried they wouldn't be able to hear me. The desperate cry that my mother had let out once I had just about managed to utter the words that Effie was in hospital, was one that would always haunt my nightmares.

They were doing their best to get the soonest flight over, but of course, that wasn't something that just happens immediately. It could be at least another twenty four hours until they get here, and by that point, I was hoping with everything within me that Effie was back home. I couldn't stand her being here any longer.

It had just been Effie and I for at least a few hours now. The occasional nurse popped in to check her vitals, as well as checking on me and making sure that I was just about holding up as well as I could be in this situation. When I had the courage within me, I wanted to apologies profusely for how argumentative and determined I had been when I first arrived.

Since a doctor had updated me on her scans and test results, telling me that she hasn't suffered any long lasting effects and within a week or so, she should be back to her usual self, I realised that I had acted completely out of line. I had taken it too far, as per usual, though in my defence, I didn't know what was going on. I was just a worried sister begging for answers and I hoped they could see that.

A slight sense of peace had washed over me when I learnt that Effie was as okay as she could be given the circumstances. She'd be dealing with the aftermath for a little while, though I could deal with the nausea and the tiredness that would overtake her. I could deal with the dizziness and whatever else came her way. As long as she is here, the rest didn't even matter to me.

Despite being told that Effie would make a full recovery, and despite feeling a wave of peace when I had been told that the toxins hadn't damaged her system in anyway, I hadn't been able to stop crying. I just couldn't stop my tears from falling no matter how many times I was assured that Effie is okay and that within due time, she'd be allowed back home where she belongs. I just couldn't couldn't stop.

My conversation from earlier with Harry was stuck in my mind, and though I tried to push it away, it seemed as though it was there to stay. It was a terrifying realisation that he had actually said those words and I wasn't just dreaming it all. Those dreaded words had come out of his mouth and they made me feel sick.