Page 93 of Our Little Moments

The weeks pass and while we know Scarlett is healing, she still hasn’t woken up. It’s taken a toll on all of us, the grief from so long ago intertwining with our worry today.

The healers eventually explained to us that Scarlett’s accident was a horrible mess of circumstances. I’ve always known she struggled with chronic stress—the woman takes care of everyone in town and burns herself out all the time making sure everyone has it all together. She’s the reason we got through losing our parents when we were young.

Scarlett had probably let stress build up over time. She always handles problems that she shouldn’t take care of. She didn’t take care of herself and her health enough.

That’s going to change. I’ll make sure of it.

I’m sitting by her bed along with my sisters and the silence is palpable. None of us really have words right now.

Hazel’s foot starts tapping furiously in the room. I look over to her. Her eyes meet mine and determination makes her gaze sharpen.

“We need to talk,” she declares.

Isabella’s eyes meet mine, sharp worry clear in them. But she turns to our little sister and gently asks, “What do you want to talk about, Hazel?”

“Stella. I’m sorry but she deserves better than this from us. Next week, she has her first fucking concert.”

We’re all in shock. This is the first time we’ve seen Hazel angry. I get up too, understanding what she means. Stella has been there for us through everything lately. She brought food over so we didn’t have to leave the room, made sure we got back home safe every night, and checked in on us daily. She didn’t even ask us to go to her first show and instead told us to stay here, said that she understood we were preoccupied.

“What do you suggest we do then, Hazel?” Isabella asks. “We can’t leave Scarlett here alone.”

“Isa, we are four people. We can be at both places at once.”

Layla steps in. “Adrian and Hazel, you both can go to see Stella. I’m sure it will mean a lot to her. I will stay back with Isa so we can make sure Scarlett isn’t alone when she wakes up.”

Isabella sighs, nodding along. “You’re right. She deserves our support.”

Hazel smiles. “Glad we all agree.”

When the mood goes peaceful, I clear my throat. “We’re going to be separated for a few days, but I want us to be able to keep in contact. I can get the phones I’d gotten us a few years ago.”

The next day, I join my sisters again, bringing the phones we used to stay in contact when I left town for a few months. When I came back, I grabbed all the phones none of them used and stored them away. My sisters all grab their phones and we check again that all our contact information is correct.

Knowing I’ll be able to reach Layla and Isabella when we’re gone will help me sleep a little better at night.

Chapter 38

Stella

I’m a nervous mess as I start packing my things for the concert. I’ve been planning this for a long time, even delayed it for a few weeks, hoping Scarlett would get better.

But she hasn’t and I know that this opportunity will slip through my fingers if I let it pass me by. Besides, I will only be gone for forty-eight hours. Nothing too bad can happen in the meantime.

I wanted to cancel it, but Adrian talked me out of it every single night the thought came. Plus, I want to see Derek and my parents after spending so many weeks away.

A gentle knocking on my door drags me out of my thoughts and I’m shocked to find Hazel, teary-eyed, behind it.

“Hazel?” I murmur. She practically jumps in my arms and I hold her.What happened? Please tell me Scarlett didn’t . . .“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask as gently as I can, closing the door behind us.

“I’m so sorry, Stella,” she whispers, pulling away to pace in the room.

“Sorry for what?”

Her eyes meet mine and my heart cracks when I see them filled with so much guilt. “I can’t leave. I can’t go to your concert. I thought I could go, but I—I thought—Why can’t I leave all of this behind!?”

My best friend is close to having a full-on meltdown in front of me and I feel powerless.

I take in a deep breath. “First of all, you don’t have to feel guilty for not being able to come see me. It’s my first concert, but I’ll make sure it isn’t my last. You can come to the next one. Second, I’m not mad at you. You don’t have to carry any guilt about it, Hazel. Third . . . I want you to be able to talk to me about your feelings. I hate seeing you struggle alone and want you to share your feelings with me. It isn’t bothering me, and it isn’t making me less excited about my concert. I want to be here for you, please.”

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