Alex:
The drive back home felt surreal. My heart was a chaotic blend of relief and lingering fear. Julie was alive. But she was in a coma, a fragile state that left her fate hanging in the balance. As I pulled into the driveway, I tried to gather my thoughts. I needed to be strong, for Julie, for Angel, for myself.
Inside the house, the silence was heavy. My mom had taken Angel upstairs, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sank onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. The weight of the past weeks crashed over me in waves. I couldn’t afford to break down now, but the pressure was almost unbearable.
I took a deep breath and dialed Julie’s parents. The phone rang twice before her mother answered, her voice fraught with worry.
“Alex? Is there any news?” she asked, her voice trembling.