I went to Sophie first. I told myself that it was a choice based on impulse alone. The reality was that Sophie had been in better shape than Alistair. I knew I could stomach seeing her. When Jasper asked me who I wanted to go to see her name poured out of my mouth quickly. Jasper didn't argue and I didn't give myself a second chance to think about my options. I just followed him through the hospital corridors.

I could now understand why I had sensed that Jasper was blank. There was so much tension and anxiety surrounding me and sifting through the hospital. Policemen and men dressed in dark green with the words 'tactical team' across their vests were roving everywhere. All I could think was that I would see my best friend barely clinging to life and that some people in this building didn't believe my story. And it would be my entire fault. I couldn't bear the simple thought of it, much less the reality. I used the remaining shock in my system to repress the swell of emotions that waved through me.

For now, it was best to be bleak and blank. The torrent of emotions could come later, when I was out of sight and away from the judgment.

We arrived at her door. I wanted to bite my lower lip or clench my fists at my sides. Anything to release the stress that had wiggled through the cracks in my unfeeling exterior. I did neither of those things when Jasper opened the door for me. I just walked inside with a heavy heart and expecting the absolute worst. Hopefully, the numb state I had pushed myself into would be able to counter the crippling truth.

But there was Sophie. Her normal clothing had been swapped out for a hospital gown with an ugly pattern across the fabric that would've made her grit her teeth. Her blonde hair was wet from being washed, but it was now the authentic blonde instead of the coppery red. Her face was pale, her eyes surrounded by black rings, one from heavy bruising, the other from exhaustion and an unwell state overall. Her face was pinched with a clear expression of pain. But I could hardly focus on that when her beautiful face turned towards me and she slowly sat up.

My best friend was very much alive.

"Sophie." I breathed.

The next moment I was directly beside her hospital bed. My first instinct was to throw my arms around her in a delightfully grateful hug. But as I neared her I saw the bruises. The marks. The open wounds. Sophie might've been alive but Josh had still left his mark on her.

"I thought he was going to kill you." Sophie whispered staring up at me. Then her eyes snapped to Jasper, "Who are you? Where's Josh?"

Her brown eyes didn't look the same and her voice shook as she spoke the words. I knew she wanted to be strong. Sophie was so powerful and protective. She had always been quite serious and very introverted as well. I could see that now, too. But I could also see the tormented thoughts that were floating just below the surface. Josh had instilled vile, awful feelings into the most loyal woman in the world.

I had done that. I had made her sacrifice herself for my own safety. It made me sick.

A look of horror suddenly took over Sophie's expression. "Alistair. Where's Alistair? Josh didn't...." she grabbed her hair with both of her hairs, appearing to be frustrated and terrified. "No one will tell me what's going on. All these people are coming in and asking me all these questions but no one will help me."

"I'm Alistair's brother." Jasper interjected, "Josh didn't kill him. But he is heavily sedated due to his injuries."

Sophie leaned back down, letting her back touch the pillows again. The tortured look didn't leave her eyes but her panic drifted away for the time being as her hands moved back down.

All I could do was watch my best friend struggle with a riptide of emotions.

"I don't remember what happened. I think I remember seeing you in the house, but I could've been hallucinating or something. He kept us there on those chair for so long with no food and no water. My body started playing tricks on itself just to distract me from the pain and the fear of dying."

I had tried to be strong as she was speaking. I wanted to be the support system that she would undoubtedly need, the one she had always been for me. But each word stabbed at my tender heart. I had done this. I had put her in harm's way with no regard for the outcome. The devastation that she had suffered was my fault. I had destroyed her.

"I'm sorry." I managed, struggling to say the words without allowing the sobbing to consume me. "I can't believe I let this happen."

"This isn't your fault." Sophie replied, her voice even and steady.

Just as I was about to cover my face in shame and desperation I felt her hand grasp at my trembling fingers and tug me closer to her even so gently. I peered at my friend, her details blurry from all of the tears that continued to rain down my cheeks.

"Josh was never your fault. And you can't be holding yourself accountable for his actions." Sophie stated. "What happened was....awful. I never want to go through anything like that again. But I don't blame you for a second and I certainly don't regret helping you all those years ago in Anaheim or anything that came after. What happened to me was the consequence of a very deadly man who was pure evil. Not a good woman who was restarting her life."

I gingerly sat down on the edge of her hospital bed. My legs were no longer strong enough to hold me up but I was still very aware that she was in a fragile state and one bump against a wounded area could cause her tremendous amounts of pain.

"But he hurt you, Sophie." I argued, not believing her words.

"And God knows what would've happened to you if I had left you in California." Sophie countered, squeezing the hand that she was still holding. "Everything I did for you was my choice. I knew the threat. I knew how strong Josh was. I did it anyway."

I was beyond careful as I was still terrified of hurting my friend, but I couldn't stop myself from putting my arms around her. My hold was light, nothing like the bone crushing squeeze I wanted to give her. I wanted to show her how much her acceptance meant to me. I wanted her to know how relieved I was that she was still very much alive. She was the most wonderful friend and I knew that I was beyond blessed to have her in my life. For now, the feather light hug would be enough.

"And Josh?" Sophie whispered. There was a pinch of fear that crept into her voice.

"He's dead." Jasper said, saving me the hard words.

"So the cops aren't crawling all over the place because he's here?"

"No, the cops are here because this is an incredibly high profile case."

"And because I killed him." I announced.

Sophie's mouth fell open in shock.

"You killed him?"

I nodded slowly.

"But how? I was sure that when you showed up he was going to murder you right then. Camila, what happened?"

I opened my mouth, prepared to explain but not sure where to start. Not even sure if I could start with that vile tale again. The sound of someone else entering the room cut me off and I was almost thankful for the interruption. When I glanced over my shoulder I saw a nurse holding a small container of pills.

"Should I come back?" she asked, nervously darting her eyes between myself and Jasper. I didn't doubt that his hulking body and obvious employment would've unsettled anyway. "I didn't mean to interrupt anything."

"You didn't." Jasper soothed, shooting her an uncharacteristic smile, "This isn't a formal interrogation. But if those are pain meds I think you patient is ready for them." He gestured to Sophie whose face was still slightly pinched.

"They make her groggy." The nurse warned.

"Then we will be leaving her to rest." Jasper concluded, placing a strong arm around my shoulders, "Sophie if you feel unsafe at any point I want you to let a nurse know and they will send in one of my men. They are the best of the best and they will take great care of you until your parents arrive."

"And you will take care of Camila?" Sophie shot back.

"Absolutely."

Jasper and I moved out of the room together. He kept his arm around my shoulders and I found it oddly comforting. He had been nothing more than a thorn in my side in the past, but now he was offering relief and support when I needed it most. And he was extending those things to my friend who seemed to be in dire need of them as well. I was about to tell him how grateful I was for him when my eyes landed on someone who was all too familiar. Someone I didn't think I would ever see again

She was so different. Not at all the woman I had left behind in Anaheim. But she still had freshly painted nails and the whitest teeth. Still the same despite her Botox injected skin and greying hair.

Then my eyes landed on him.

He walked beside her, so rigid but so sure of himself all at once. And, just like before he was wearing his perfect suit with an expensive watch glittering at his wrist. He had skipped the Botox in favor of wrinkles and more sophisticated suits.

"Oh Camila." The woman gushed, opening her arms and moving towards me.

The woman who never cried had tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Mom? Dad?"