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    I wasn''t sure exactly how long Lori and I sat in the hospital room, staring at our friend''s sleeping body. Each minute seemed to melt into the next, and both of us felt helpless. I did what I could tofort Lori, but it was no easy task.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.


    Finally, the clock struck ten PM, and I knew that we couldn''t stay any longer.


    "We should go, Lori," I said gently, rubbing her back in circles. "You need to rest.


    Lori nodded stiffly and stood. We both got up and gathered what little we had.


    "I wanna say goodbye to her," Lori said, wiping her tears from her cheeks. "Just in case."


    I nodded. "Of course." I stepped forward and gripped Jessica''s hand, crouching down to nt a gentle kiss on her bruised forehead. "We''ll be back, Jess," I whispered. "Don''t go anywhere, okay?"


    Of course there was no answer, but I told myself that she could hear me anyway. After a moment, I blinked back my tears and straightened, then headed out into the hallway to give Lori some space.


    Lori stayed behind for a few minutes, but I didn''t mind. I waited patiently, and when she was finished, she stepped out of the room with a new bundle of tissues in her hand and more tears streaking her face.


    "You sure I can stay with you?" Lori asked as we headed out to the car.


    I nodded. "It''s not even a question. I don''t want you to be alone. Not now."


    The car was mostly silent as we drove first to Lori and Jessica''s ce, where I helped Lori gather some things to spend the next few days with me. When we were finished, we tossed her bag into the car and then we were on our way to my house.


    By the time the pine trees thinned out on either side, the moon was high in the sky. It was nearly full, and I could feel my wolf pulling at me. She always liked to run during the full moon, and so did I. But something told me that that wouldn''t be happening this time around.


    We pulled into the driveway, and the car was silent as I pulled the keys out of the ignition. Lori was frozen to her seat.


    "You okay?" I murmured, reaching over to grab her hand.


    She shook her head stiffly. "No. I want to go back."


    I sighed. "I know you do," I said gently. "But you need to rest. We can go back in the morning."


    Lori said nothing. I climbed out of the truck and walked around to open her door. She managed to get out on her own, but I could see the beginnings of her body crumbling. Her knees were shaking and her eyes were wide, as though she had just seen a a ghost.


    "Come on, Lori," I said gently, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and guiding her toward the porch. "Let''s get you inside."


    Lori stumbled along, her steps unsteady, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her. Once inside, led her to the living room, where she sank onto the couch, burying her face in her hands.


    I knelt down beside her, offering what littlefort I could. "It''s going to be okay, Lori," I said softly, my voice filled with as much reassurance as I could manage. "Jessica is a fighter. She''ll pull through."


    Lori looked up at me, her eyes filled with pain and doubt. "Do you really believe that, Nina?" she asked, her voice trembling. "The doctor said that she might not wake up. What if..."


    I interrupted her, refusing to let her give in to despair. "We can''t lose hope, Lori," I said a little more firmly now." Jessica would want us to stay strong for her."


    Lori nodded slowly, but I could see the uncertainty still lingering in her eyes. She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, smudging her mascara.