Hidden Flames

Chapter 19

[Juliette's Hospital Room]

Noa entered the room slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. Juliette laid there, still and silent, her face pale against the stark white sheets. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor was the only indication that she was still with them.

Noa approached the bed, her eyes filling with tears as she took in the sight of her best friend lying so vulnerable and fragile. She reached out, gently taking Juliette's hand in hers, squeezing it lightly as if willing her to wake up.

"Lettie" She whispered, "You have to pull through this. You can't leave us. You can't leave me"

She sat down on the chair beside the bed, her eyes never leaving Juliette's face, "I don't know what I'd do without you" She continued, "I can't lose you, Lettie. Not now, not ever"

"What you whispered before...before you were shot, it's been replaying in my mind" Noa took a deep breath, trying to find the right words, "I've been so scared to admit it, but...I think I have feelings for you too. So you have to wake up, okay? We can talk and figure out what this truly means...for us"

As she spoke, the heart monitor began to beep faster, the sound growing more frantic. Noa's eyes widened in panic as she glanced at the monitor, then back at Juliette, "No, no, no" She murmured, fear coursing through her veins, "Please, Juliette, don't do this"

The door burst open as nurses and doctors rushed into the room,  "Step back, miss" One of the nurses said firmly, guiding Noa away from the bed.

"No, please!" Tears fell down her face, "You have to save her!" Noa begged

The room was a blur of activity as the medical team worked to stabilize Juliette. Noa watched in horror as the heart monitor flatlined, the sound of the continuous beep echoing in her ears, "She's coding!" One of the nurses shouted, and the team sprang into action, performing chest compressions as they prepared to move Juliette

Before Noa could fully comprehend what was happening, Juliette was being wheeled out of the room, a nurse on top of her doing compressions. The sight was too much for Noa to bear. She slid down the wall, her legs giving out as sobs racked her body. Tears soaked her cheeks as she prayed silently, her hands clasped together tightly.

"Please, please, let her be okay" She whispered through her tears, "I can't lose her. Not like this"

The hallway seemed to close in around her, the sterile white walls and the distant sounds of the hospital fading into the background as Noa's world centered on one single hope: that Juliette would come back to her.

[Cemetery: One Week Later]

The four girls walked up to Imogen, who had her baby girl in her arms. Imogen was standing at her mother's grave, "You okay?" Faran asked

Imogen nodded, "I know who my mom was in high school. But I also know who she became. And which version of her I'm gonna hold in my heart for the rest of my life" She glanced at each of her friends,"Come here" She said

They all moved in for a hug, arms wrapping around each other in a tight embrace, "Doing a group hug without me?" Juliette called out

The girls turned, faces lighting up as they noticed Juliette being wheeled up in her wheelchair by her father, "I'll give you girls some space" Her father murmured softly, giving Juliette's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before stepping away

The girls rushed over, smiles wide and eyes bright. Faran reached Juliette first, pulling her into a careful hug, "I thought you weren't being released yet" She said

"Yeah, well, I managed to convince the doctors I was ready" Juliette replied with a grin, though the ache in her chest told a different story. Hopefully, the wheelchair wouldn't be needed for long.