Sitting silently beside a friend who is hurting may be the best gift we can give.

- Unknown

-

AMORA PEERED UP from her book. In the background, the heart monitor continued to beep, slow and steady. Faya sat across the room, at the head of the bed. With a huff, she flipped to the next page, reading on. 

It had been two days and Faya was still there, but why? Had she been her friend all this time, somehow escaping her knowledge, or was it something recent?

A few minutes passed. 

Faya shoved her phone into her pocket, then looked up, crossing her arms. "What's going on?"

Amora shook her head, stiff, as she turned the page. "You're gonna have to elaborate. You could be talking about several things. You could be taking about why Willow hasn't woken up yet, or-or maybe that these doctors barely keep us informed. Honestly, give me something to work with."

"We've been doing this for days. I may only be here for Willow, but it doesn't have to be miserable. We can talk sometimes, you know..."

Amora gave her a narrowed look. "Honey, how could this not be miserable? We've barely left her bedside and we're left to just sit here. Not to mention the smell!"

"The smell?"

Amora wrinkled her nose. "When was the last time you took a shower? Your hair is just coated with grease and you wonder why I keep giving you looks."

Another moment passed. 

"And you don't think you smell?"

Amora, hand to heart, cocked her head back. "I took a shower just yesterday."

Faya ran a hand through her hair, eyes never leaving hers. Then, with a soft sigh, she nodded. "Fair enough, but... let's get to what's really going on."

Amora blinked twice. "No. I'd prefer to just sit here and wait for my best friend to wake up, then be on my merrily way. As for you, well, why are you even here?" She leaned in. "When I asked you before, you were just silent, but I really want to know why."

Faya scoffed. 

"No, I need to know why."

Faya paused, stealing a glance at Willow, before meeting her face. "We've been friends for a little while. There's not much else to say."

"A little while, huh? Is that why you're on her emergency contact list?" 

Faya went quiet, drawing her head back, eyes closed. 

"Well?"

Another beat passed. 

"You know, I've been friends with her since high school, yet somehow I wasn't on there. I refuse to believe that you weren't friends behind my back..." Amora twisted her face as she looked to her feet. "How- how does that make any sense?"

"You really want to know?"

Amora snapped her a look. "Tell me."

"Don't you remember all those years ago? You just told me that- that Bridger was dead and blocked me! Don't you remember that?"

"I-"

"And then I got in touch will Willow, because, well, I needed answers! I needed someone who wouldn't block me when I'm hurting just as bad. And w-when I called her up, you know what she did? She invited me over and we had a conversation. She was my shoulder to cry on; but not you, Amora. Instead you were selfish."

"I wasn't."

"You were and are. You're too absorbed in yourself to look around and realize you're not the only one fed up with life. We all go through things, but the difference between you and I is that I moved on."

Amora locked with her eyes, cold, as she leaned in. 

There was was long pause. 

"You don't have any blasted idea what I've gone through, so you best keep your mouth shut," Amora said, pointing a finger. "Say that again and you're out of here. I'll make sure of it."

"Don't you hear yourself?" Faya asked, throwing hands. "I suffered just as much with Bridger. In fact, I have a more plausible reason! I've been with him a long time. You, though... you didn't even go through the first date."

"And yet you split up. I doubt you even loved him in the end."

Faya wiped at her face and huffed. "You really think that? You- you really think that I stopped loving him after we broke up?! Amora,  if you know anything about love, you know that's not how it works. The day I heard the news, my heart was shattered. You have no idea..."

For the first time, Amora went quiet. 

"And you know what else?"

She remained silent. 

"When I did get to her place, you know what she told me? You blocked her, too, but for what? Even these days you still go through these little tantrums of blaming people. Apparently, the two of you got into another fight and you wonder why you weren't on her emergency contact list..." Faya shook her head. "You know, you were. I remember a time when your name was there, so the fight must have been bad."

"Do you want to know what really happened that night?" Amora asked, then clenched her jaw. "I bet Willow didn't say the full of it."

"Then tell me."

"She only told you her half."

Faya sighed but gestured her on. 

"She was the one who set us up. Not me," Amora deadpanned. "In the dead of night I got a message, telling me to meet her at the playground. And I did."

"So because Willow invited you guys there, setting you up, you blame her. I mean, that's the easiest thing to believe... Otherwise, how could you live with yourself, right?"

Amora twisted her face. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that you were the one who even suggested Fiesta Cancun. Willow told me. Yet you need to put the blame anyone but yourself. I mean, it has to be someone's fault, right? But you know what, Amora?"

"If you say it's my fau-"

"It wasn't!" 

Amora gave her a double-take. "It... wasn't?"

"No, it was Bridger's fault. He was the one driving." Now Faya was tilting her face, her eyes wide and searching hers. "You can let it go. It's the only way to move on. Until you realize that all this pity isn't helping anyone, you'll just keep wasting your life."

Amora blinked back tears as she stared ahead. Then, with a huff, she looked back and straightened. "That's what Willow would always tell me, and I never listened."

"It's okay."

A beat passed. 

"Amora?"

"Yeah?"

"I mean, you blame your friend so much, so how are you guys even friends? It's been years since high school."

Amora looked to her fidgeting hands. Then, after a moment, she turned to the bed, then at Willow. "It's been my fault all along. I've been the one starting fights..."

"Is this worth your friendship, Amora? Will you try to do better?"

The woman huffed, slow and steady, then met her face and smiled. 

-

"I have news."

Amora snapped her head up from her book. "News?"

The doctor had a mustache, long and thin, and a clean-shaven face. "Yes." Then he hugged his chart, looking between her and Faya. "Now, as you know-"

"Just get to it, please. I'm tired of waiting. Will she be okay?" Amora asked. 

"Dr. Hans," Faya said, shifting, "there must be something wrong, right? I mean, shouldn't she have woken up after two days?"

The doctor gave a small sigh. "Well, the CT scan showed brain damage to the frontal lobe. That part controls motor function, speaking, and thoughts." Then he turned to Amora, his frown deepening. "At some point Willow must have hit her head. Whether that was before or after you found her."

"That's- that's not true," Amora said, giving a small chuckle. "Willow can't have brain damage... She'll be up soon enough and all will be back to normal."

Dr. Hans cleared his throat. "I've something to ask. It's been a while and I think it's time."

"Time for what?" Faya asked. 

"Well, how it happened," he went on. "It could have been that she... was suicidal and stayed under long enough, or maybe this was an accident."

"You asked us this yesterday, but I know it wasn't on purpose. This was only an accident," Amora insisted, staring ahead. Then, after catching his gaze, she narrowed her own. "My friend wouldn't try to kill herself."

"So you're sure she wasn't on anything?"

Amora nodded. 

After a moment of glancing between the two, he just huffed and left. 

"Are you sure?" Faya pressed. 

"Yes." Amora nodded, stiff and slow, then leaned back. "She... she wouldn't try killing herself."

 After this, though, she thought back to the note. You know where I'll be, it read. 

"What's with that look? Are you remembering something? A clue, maybe?"

"No..." Amora shook her head, running a hand down her face. "She just- she wouldn't."

A beat passed. 

And that was when it happened. 

The heart monitor began to speed up, quick and irregular. 

After a shared glance, they were on their feet, leaning in. 

A groan. And then another. 

"Willow?" As she neared the bed, Amora blinked back tears. Then, looking down, she stopped and smiled. "Do you remember who I am?"

Willow stared back through heavy eyes. "I... Where are am?" Her words were whispered and weak. "What's going on?"

"You're in a hospital. But don't worry, everything's going to be just fine. It always is."

Willow peered around, struggling to lift her head. When she found Faya, still at the foot of the bed, she relaxed back and closed her eyes. "You're here. You're both here..."

Amora's heart skipped a beat. This meant they were remembered, so the brain damage had to be minor, right? 

A minute passed as she laid there, appearing asleep, when she opened her eyes and looked to Amora. With a weak grip, she held her hand. "Come..." she breathed. "There's something you should know."

Amora was taken aback when it registered. After leaning in, ear toward her, she whispered, "What is it?"

"I know it was you and I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, Amora."

It was in that moment she decided it was time. That lake had to be investigated, the sooner the better, because this was no accident. 

Willow really was suicidal that night. 

Hey there! I hope this was enjoyable. Well, you know what I mean, lol. Anyway, I appreciate anyone who has read this far. As always, please feel free to point out any errors; the more, the better!

Well, it's time for some more questions:

1) Do you have any siblings?

2) Do you have any pets?

3) And, lastly, how have you guys been doing? I don't ask you this enough. 

As always, I hope you're doing well and God bless. <3