~~~~

darkness.

...is it worth it?

////

Amelia's dad drove her to the hospital. He didn't say a word, and neither did Amelia. Ever since Sophie was hospitalized, she was a lot quieter. She had no one to talk to, after all. 

When they reached the tall, beige building, her father spoke the first word after three months of silence.

"...I'm sorry."

Amelia didn't respond. Se didn't want to. As she got out of the car, in the moment before slamming the door shut, she answered,

"Are you?"

~~//~~

"We never got to really talk that much, huh? Usually, I would just blabber on, and you would nod or smile." Amelia said, sitting down in her usual spot.

"I thought about actually getting a dragonfly tattoo, though. But only if-...when, you wake up. So we can do it together. Wouldn't that be fun?" she asked. But she knew better than to ask for a response.

"I made a mistake. I knew that then and I know that now. I tried to stop you! I just..."

"I just couldn't. I thought I could fix you. Mend the broken parts of your past, and make you better!"

She squeezed her hands tightly, her nails biting into her palms.

"But in the end, I made everything worse. I'm good at that, aren't I? We're both pretty battered. Me and my dad, you and JD. we both know what it's like to be hurt. We both know what it's like to lose someone. Or everyone. I wish I could go back." her voice cracked slightly, as she tried to speak through the hiccuping sobs.

"I wish I could change it all, start over, and fix it. I wish I could tell you that no matter what, I would always love you, and you would believe me. I wish I could've hugged you close, and never let go. I wish had run away the very day you suggested it." she laughed, through the warm tears.

"I wish I didn't have to wish."

As tears and emotions overtook Amelia, she leaned over Sophie's sleeping body and cried on her stomach. Choked sobs and mumbled apologies filled the pristine silence.

And there was nothing to go back to.