Tashia sat quietly, eyes fixed on her phone, as she kept watch over Ashley.
She gently stroked the child's cheek, her heart aching with worry. Vivianne and Sharlene had stepped out for a moment, leaving her alone with their sleeping niece.
Suddenly, she felt a warm hand gently grasp hers. At first, she thought it was just her imagination, but the warmth remained. She allowed herself to feel it, unsure if it was real.
Moments passed, and the warmth still lingered. Curious, she looked down at the hand clasping hers—and froze.
Ashley was moving.
The girl's eyes fluttered open, and she stared at the hospital ceiling, gasping softly as though waking from a long, confusing dream.
"A—Ashley," Tashia whispered, shocked.
Ashley turned her head slightly toward her, her movement weak but conscious. Tashia felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She wanted to break down and cry, but first, Ashley needed to be checked.
"J— Just a moment, I'll call the nurse. I'll be right back," she said urgently, springing from her seat and rushing to the nurse's station.
"The child is awake!" she told the nurse, voice trembling with emotion.
The nurse stared at her, stunned, before hurrying to Ashley's room. As the nurse checked Ashley's vital signs, Tashia's hands trembled as she took out her phone to call her sisters.
Sharlene answered quickly.
"Tashia, do you need me to buy something?"
"No, sister... Please come back to the hospital right away," she said, voice cracking.
"W—Why? Did something happen to Ashley?" Sharlene's tone shifted to panic.
"I— It's not bad news. It's a miracle. Ashley is awake." Tashia's tears finally flowed freely.
"I—Is Ashley really awake?" Sharlene asked, barely able to believe what she heard.
"Y—Yes, Aunt Sharlene. She's back." Her voice broke with emotion.
"We'll be there right away!" Sharlene said urgently.
Tashia only nodded, too overwhelmed to speak.
The doctor arrived shortly after and checked Ashley carefully. "The child just needs time to regain her strength. After such a long sleep, her body is still adjusting," he explained kindly.
"H—How about the blood clot in her brain?" Tashia asked anxiously.
The doctor gave a reassuring smile. "It's completely dissolved. Her life is no longer in danger. It truly is a miracle."
Relief washed over her like a wave. She nodded slowly, hardly able to process the joy.
"In a day, three days, or maybe a week, she'll likely return to her usual self. Once we confirm there are no complications, she can be discharged," the doctor added.
Tashia bit her lip, trying to hold back the emotion threatening to spill out again.
"Please tell her mother—her daughter is a fighter. Not everyone comes back from something like this." The doctor smiled, then patted her on the shoulder before leaving the room with the nurses.
Ashley was lying peacefully when she softly spoke, "S—Sis."
Tashia rushed to her side, supporting her gently. The child was still too weak to sit up alone.
"W—Why? Are you looking for your mom? She'll be here soon," Tashia said softly, stroking her cheek.
Moments later, hurried footsteps echoed outside the room.
"Ashley!" Sharlene called out as she entered.
Vivianne followed, stunned, her hand covering her mouth in shock.
Sharlene immediately embraced her daughter, tears falling silently. She held her close, unable to say a word, overwhelmed by the miracle in her arms. Tashia saw Vivianne smiling through her tears.
They didn't need words. Ashley was alive.
For now, that was enough.
The child eventually drifted back to sleep.
"The doctor said Ashley's stable now. She just needs monitoring to make sure there are no complications," Tashia explained.
Sharlene nodded slowly, never taking her eyes off her daughter.
"I'm afraid she might fall into a coma again," Sharlene whispered.
"Sis, don't think like that," Tashia comforted her.
Vivianne chimed in, "Leah and Grandpa Manuel set her free. Someone else accepted the curse so Ashley could escape."
Tashia furrowed her brow. "Someone else accepted the curse?"
"Yes. I saw it... someone reversed it," Vivianne said, gently brushing Ashley's forehead.
"Manuel Santiago accepted the curse. He gave up his chance at freedom so Ashley could live. He said he would be imprisoned in darkness for eternity—with Leah," Vivianne added.
Tashia said nothing.
Ashley stirred again, her voice small but clear.
"Mom, we need to save Aunt Leah. If she doesn't escape her anger, it will consume her. She'll disappear completely. No one will remember her anymore."
Tashia's eyes widened. "She'll be erased?"
Ashley nodded. "She'll never see the light again... or her baby waiting for her."
Vivianne and Sharlene exchanged glances.
"Can we just not get involved anymore?" Tashia asked wearily.
"Please?" Ashley begged. "Aunt Leah and Grandpa Manuel saved me. Can't we help them too?"
Sharlene didn't answer right away. She sighed deeply, visibly torn.
"Vivianne, Tashia... we can't back down now. We've come too far. We owe it to them—and to ourselves," she said firmly.
"If that's what you want, Sharlene, then we'll see this through," Vivianne replied.
Tashia sighed. There was no turning back now.
Suddenly, the door opened again, and Martin rushed in.
"Ashley!" he exclaimed.
"Dad," Ashley said with a tired smile.
He quickly embraced his daughter, overwhelmed by emotion. No one stopped him. He had been quietly supporting Ashley's medical bills all this time. He had a right to be there.
Then, Vivianne tapped Tashia gently.
She followed Vivianne's gaze—and saw Leah, dressed in white, smiling faintly at them before vanishing into the air.
"I can't let Leah down now, Tashia," Vivianne whispered.
Tashia just nodded. She understood.