Chapter 5

Lyra hurried through the hospital corridors, her heart racing with a mixture of hope and fear. She reached Lena's room and paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Pushing the door open, she stepped inside.

Lena was sitting up in bed, her eyes open but devoid of any emotion. The sight made Lyra's heart ache; this was not the joyful reunion she had imagined. She moved quietly to the chair beside the bed and sat down, her eyes never leaving her sister's face.

For a long moment, they simply stared at each other. Lena's expression remained blank, her eyes distant. Lyra reached out and took her sister's hand, squeezing it gently. She wanted to say something, to comfort Lena, but the words wouldn't come. Her voice seemed trapped, unable to break free.

Lena slowly leaned forward, her movements mechanical, and rested her head against Lyra's chest. Lyra wrapped her arms around her sister, holding her close. Still, there was no emotion on Lena's face, no recognition or relief, just a haunting emptiness.

Lyra's own grief and fear threatened to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to stay focused on Lena. She knew this was not the time to tell her about their aunt and uncle. The shock of such news could be too much for her to handle right now.

Instead, Lyra simply held her sister, offering silent support. She stroked Lena's hair gently, trying to convey all the love and reassurance she felt without speaking a word. The silence between them was heavy, but it was also a shared moment of connection, a fragile bond in the midst of chaos.

Tears welled up in Lyra's eyes, but she blinked them away, determined to stay strong for Lena. She could feel the weight of the world pressing down on her, but in this moment, all that mattered was her sister's presence.

Hours seemed to pass in silence as they sat together, the only sounds the distant hum of hospital machinery and the soft rustle of bed sheets. Lyra didn't think about anything except being there for Lena, providing the only comfort she could in the form of a warm, steady embrace.

Eventually, Lena's breathing grew even, and her body relaxed slightly in Lyra's arms. Lyra continued to hold her, whispering silent promises to herself that she would do whatever it took to protect her sister and help her heal. The words might not come, but the bond between them was unbreakable, and that was enough to give Lyra strength to face whatever lay ahead.

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After a long, comfortable silence, Lyra felt Lena stir slightly in her arms. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage, and began to speak softly, unable to suppress the habit of talking to her sister.

"I've missed you so much, Lena," Lyra said, her voice gentle but strained. "School has been... different. I've made a friend named Emma. She's really nice and knows sign language because her mom taught her."

Lena remained silent, her head still resting against Lyra's chest. Lyra continued, determined to fill the silence with anything but the tragic news she was holding back.

"We had this big project in science class," Lyra went on, her voice gaining a bit of strength. "We had to build a model of the solar system. Mine didn't turn out perfect, but Emma and I had a lot of fun working on it together."

After a few minutes, Lena lifted her head and looked at Lyra, her eyes still devoid of the emotion they once held. She spoke, her voice soft and flat, "What else have you been doing?"

Lyra smiled, relief washing over her at hearing Lena's voice, even if it lacked the warmth she remembered. "I've been visiting you every day," she said. "And I've been thinking about what we could do together when you're feeling better. Maybe we can go to the park, or do something more fun together."

Lena nodded slowly, her face still expressionless. "That sounds nice," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

A doctor who had been observing from the doorway entered the room. He had been watching the interaction closely, noting the way Lena responded only to Lyra. He approached cautiously, trying not to interrupt their moment.

"Hello, Lena," the doctor said softly, hoping to engage her. "How are you feeling today?"

Lena's gaze shifted away from the doctor, and she remained silent, her expression unchanging. The doctor glanced at Lyra, then back at Lena, understanding dawning in his eyes.

"Lyra, it seems your sister feels comfortable talking with you," the doctor said gently. "You might be able to help her more than anyone else right now."

Lyra nodded in response, unable to speak. The habit of talking to Lena was something she couldn't control, but in front of others, her voice seemed to vanish.

The doctor smiled softly, encouraged by the small progress he had witnessed. "Thank you, Lyra. Keep talking to her. Your presence is very important."

As the doctor left the room, Lyra turned her attention back to Lena, continuing their conversation. She talked about mundane things, sharing stories about her day, their childhood memories, and future plans. Lena listened, occasionally nodding or giving brief responses, still without emotion but at least engaging.

Lyra knew it would take time for her sister to heal, both physically and emotionally. But as they sat together, she felt a flicker of hope. She would be there for Lena, just as she had promised, and together they would find a way to move forward.

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