?


    I tightened my grip on her, offering whateverfort I could. "We''ll take it one step at a time, Lori. We''ll be here for Jessica, no matter what. And as for taking care of yourself, I''ll help you. You don''t have to go through this alone."


    Lori nodded, her shoulders sagging with exhaustion. "Thank you, Nina. I don''t know what I''d do without you."


    I gave her a small smile, even though my own heart felt heavy with fear. "We''re in this together, Lori. Just like we''ve always been."


    It wasn''t long before a nurse came to us, asking if we wanted to see Jessica. I was unsure if it would be best for Lori, but she insisted, and so I followed.


    When we stepped into Jessica''s room, Lori broke down again. It was all I could do to keep her from falling, even though my own knees felt like they were made of putty.


    There was our friend, our beautiful and vibrant Jessica,ying in the bed. She was hooked up to all kinds of machines, her body covered in casts.


    A brace was around her neck, making her face look squished. Her entire face was covered in bruises and cuts, and her beautiful blonde hair had been shaved so the doctors could check for brain injuries. There was a jagged scar along the side of her head, where I assumed they had cut into her to stop hemorrhaging.


    The sight of her almost made me pass out, but I managed to stay upright. I needed to be here for Lori, for my friend.


    "Jessica... Oh, Jessica, Lori wailed, her cries echoing through the entire ICU ward. She took two shaky steps closer, but nearly copsed again. I was at her side in an instant, there to support her.


    "She''ll be okay, Lori," I reassured her, although the words felt hollow even to me. "She''ll be okay..


    We were still sitting in the hospital room, looking at Jessica''s sleeping body. The rhythmic beeping of the machines had be oddlyforting at this point, as though it was a reminder that despite everything, our friend was still alive.


    I had my phone in my hands. There was a text from Enzo on the screen asking if I was back in the supernatural realm yet, but I hadn''t answered. Truthfully, I didn''t know if I had the energy to tell him yet.


    Not only was it upsetting just to talk about what had happened, I also knew that he would push me to go back to the supernatural realm, and I couldn''t just leave my friends here. Not like this.


    "Hey, Nina?" Lori''s voice broke me out of my trance. I shut my phone off and looked over at her. Her face was red and swollen from crying, but the tears had long since stopped. There was a bottle of pills in her hand, prescribed to her from one of the doctors to help her sleep. I figured she would need it, at least tonight.


    "What''s up, love?" I asked, reaching over and rubbing her back instinctively.


    "Could I Could I maybe stay with you tonight?" she asked. "I don''t want to go home, and I can''t stay here. And, if I''m being honest..." She looked down at the pills in her hand, and let out a sigh. "I''m not sure if I should be alone."


    I nodded emphatically without a second''s hesitation. "Of course you can stay with me tonight."


    "Are you sure that''s okay?"


    "Of course," I replied. "I''m here for you as long as you need?"


    Lori managed the weakest of smiles. "You''re sure you don''t have anything else you need to do? I figured you came home early for a reason..."


    Her words gave me pause. Of course I had other things I was supposed to do; I should have been back in the supernatural realm by now, but there was no way in hell that I was going anywhere until I was certain that Lori


    was stable.


    "No," I lied, shaking my head as I returned my attention to Jessica''s sleeping body. "I don''t have anything else I need to do."


    "Promise?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "...Promise."