2021-03-28
It now made sense and didn't at the same time.
No wonder her reflection looked five years younger. No wonder Lily was alive.
She wasn't dreaming — she was back in time.
Back to the worst day of her life. The day she and her sister stopped talking.
But how?
How had she come back here, after all those years of pain and unanswered prayers? After crying and begging God to turn back time, only to be met with silence?
He had ignored her — left her to live four long, lonely years without her sister and the man she loved.
And now, only after she died, did He decide to answer.
Now, when it no longer made sense.
"Clara, are you okay?" Lily asked after noticing she'd been silent for too long.
"You don't have to answer my first question, I just wanted to tell you that I'm not going anywhere, I'm not leaving you."
Clara had to say something before Lily thought she'd completely lost it.
"I— I just had a dream that you died," she said, her voice trembling.
"And—" She stopped short, wincing as pain shot through her head. Her hand went up instinctively, pressing against her temple as if it could ease the throbbing.
"Don't touch it," Lily said quickly, her tone gentle but firm. "It's still sensitive from the accident. And I'm not going anywhere."
Clara blinked, trying to focus, but Lily's expression had turned serious.
"Clara, I've told you before and I'll say it again — stay away from Laura. She's not your friend. I know she had something to do with what happened."
Lily's stare was steady and serious. Because even after she said it, Clara didn't seem to listen; she always found a way back to Laura.
Lily's eyes glistened as she squeezed Clara's hand tighter.
"She's going to get you killed one day," Lily said, her voice cracking. Tears welled and she squeezed Clara's hand, holding on as if she could anchor them both. "I don't want to lose my little sister. You're the only family I have left."
"I'm sorry," Clara said quietly, the words catching in her throat. She meant it — every bit of it. She was sorry for the worry, the pain, the sleepless nights she'd caused her sister.
"It's okay," Lily said, her voice calm and certain, like she already knew everything would be. She gave Clara's hand a reassuring squeeze, a small, tired smile tugging at her lips.
Still holding each other Clara and Lily looked up as the doctor from before walked in. He looked as professional as ever — white coat crisp, clipboard in hand — with the same nurse who had given Clara the anesthetic following quietly behind him.
"Hello, Miss Cooper," the doctor greeted politely, offering a brief smile. "You seem to be doing better than yesterday. I hope everything has been settled." He adjusted his glasses as he spoke, eyes scanning the chart.
"We're just going to run a few tests," he continued. "There were no complications during the surgery, but we want to be sure — especially after what happened yesterday. High stress can have a significant impact on the heart, particularly after surgery."
Clara and Lily didn't move. They sat side by side, fingers still intertwined, as if letting go would somehow make everything fall apart. Neither said a word.
After a moment, the doctor looked up from his notes. "Well, it seems everything is okay," he said finally. "But you'll need to stay one more day for observation. If everything remains stable, you can be discharged tomorrow."
He gave them both a reassuring nod before turning to leave, the nurse following close behind — and just like that, the room fell quiet again, leaving the sisters alone with the steady hum of the machines and the fragile comfort of each other's presence.
"Lily… Lily… Lily!" Clara exclaimed, wriggling free. If she didn't, she was pretty sure Lily would crush her.
"What? Is it a crime to hug my sister?" Lily said with an innocent tilt of her head, as if she hadn't been clamping down like a vice.
Clara let out a content sigh and leaned back on the pillow. "There's nothing wrong — but you could let go unless you want to be responsible for my premature death. Caused by my sister." She aimed a mock-serious glare at Lily.
Lily just pouted. "Fine" she muttered.
Clara brightened. "Also — if you want to earn back big sister points, could you get me a Snickers? I'm hungry, but I don't think I can handle a proper meal yet."