Emily's POV:

When I wake up, there's a knock on my door. And a voice.

"Emily, wake up! There's people here to see you!" The voice, who I now realize is Della, yells through the door. I groan, and look at the clock next to me. 9:30, morning visiting hours started just a little while ago.

"Be right there," I yell, throwing on a clean pair of clothes and brushing through my ratty hair.

"Who's here?" I ask, opening my door.

"There's Darry and Two-Bit and Pony, Soda and.... Steve!" She exclaims, excited. We both walk in there. I go up to the guys, but she stays in the background.

"What's got you so happy?" I ask with a yawn. Then I fully realize what she said.

"Wait... Soda's here?" I practically scream, a mixture of nervous and excited. But that's when I realize something. Soda and I were never really together. Yeah, I'd been in love with him for years, but who knows if he really ever loved me. Maybe in a few years I'll look back at this and laugh. Maybe in 7 years, I'll be happily married to a guy, not Sodapop, and look back on all of this thinking about how stupid and guy crazy I was.

Maybe I'll laugh at how dumb I acted because Soda left me when I was the most venerable. And we'll be together. Soda will have forgave me, and I'll finally be happy again.

Or maybe I won't. Maybe in seven years I could be looking back on this, lonely, unmarried and still depressed and silently curse for being so stupid to make the only person that cares about me stop loving me. It'll probably be that one, the one where I'm still broken on the inside.

But then I see Soda, and realize how different things could be. They could be good, they could be bad. I can't decide yet. I walk up to the first person I see, and hug them. It's Darry. I put my arms around him, and squeeze him tight.

"Hey kiddo," He says, ruffling my hair with a laugh. He and I have always had a special connection. I don't want to let go, but soon I have to, and I go up to my brother.

"Hey, Emmi. How are they treatin' ya?" He asks. I shrug and giggle, throwing my arms around him. I suddenly feel as if I haven't seen these guys in years.... Except Soda. I saw him, and recently at that. I start to walk up to him, but Steve cuts in front.

"Hey," He says, smiling.

After that, he quickly and quietly whispers, "I'm so sorry, Emily. For everything." I throw my arms around him.

"I forgive you, Steve."

Without another word, I let go of him and he goes over to Della, who's still standing behind me. He puts an arm around her and kisses her cheek. I watch him as he does this, then look at Soda, without moving.

"Hey. I missed you." She giggles and blushes, and kisses him back. I don't pay attention to the rest of their conversation, I'm too lost in Soda's eyes. The gorgeous blue that I've looked in a million times, but I drown in every time. Especially right now, when I literally feel as if I'm underwater. But I'm not, and I know that too. I just have to keep breathing and I'll be fine, no matter how incredibly awkward I feel with him right there.

Suddenly he walks up to me.

"H-hi," He whispers.

"Hi, Soda," I respond with a small smile. Everyone, even Della and Steve watch us intently.

"I'm sorry for last night. Even though I was upset, I never should have walked out on you. Steve told me the whole story. It wasn't your fault, and me doing that probably made you feel awful. I'm so sorry, Emily. I... I love you," He says, but he doesn't touch me. He doesn't but a hand on my arm, or hug me or anything. He just stands there, looking as awkward as I feel with his hands in his pocket. I feel my breathing getting faster and faster, but I manage to speak.

"I love you too, Soda." His eyes widen a bit. Did he expect me to just stop loving him? He did nothing wrong!

"Y-you do? You're not mad at me?" He asks. I shake my head and put my arms around his neck, standing on my tip toes to kiss him on the lips.

"Sodapop Patrick Curtis, you are my everything. I missed you so incredibly much while you were gone. I was a little mad that you left, but more at myself for being so stupid. I could never stop loving you, no matter what. Always remember that. Okay?" I ask him, a few tears stream down my face. Soda nods.

"Okay."

For the rest of our visit, we sit in the community room on the couches. Soda took me in his arm, and I laid down on his chest. We all talked for a while, but I don't even know what it was about. I stayed in the moment, listening to Soda's heartbeat and being glad that he's here with me. Being grateful that I don't have to miss him anymore. Happy to be loved by someone.

I stayed in Soda's arms for literal hours, and I felt like I was in heaven. I felt safe, and for the first time in a while, I felt happy. I know that I'll have to be here, in the hospital for a bit longer, but for the first time, I feel like I'm starting to recover. Like I might even to get to leave soon. All because of him.

A/N: So, I think that's the end. Broken might be over. Do you guys need anymore? I could write an epilogue if you need me too... Let me know! I honestly think you guys should be proud that my ending wasn't a weird, make you think type like Mean Socs was. Also, it wasn't as sad as I planned.

Well, I'm droning on right now, so I only have one more question for you:

Did anyone notice my Fault in the Stars reference? Did you like it or do you hate me now (Lexi)?😂

Goodbye for now, friends.
Remember to check out my other fanfics if you have a chance:
•Hope (Ponyboy's daughter)
•My Worst Summer (Ponyboy romance)
•Mean Socs (Completed Darry romance)
And my new one that I'm publishing very soon, Ferris Wheel! It's about Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

-Katy💕