I don't know what got in me to put proving myself to Gally first.

Like, I wasn't even right. I proved absolutely nothing and now those consequences are awful.

Minho's next to me on one of those plastic chairs. The ones that are attached to the white wall as we wait for some kind of news about Sage.

All in a line: the moms, the dads, Finn, me, Minho.

Aris, who I believe had started to feel like family to the Lee's, is not here.

Too bad the police caught him before Finn, Minho, and I could.

Because then he would have been here, in the hospital.

Oh, and the one who shot those arrows at me and the spears at Gally? Teresa.

Once Dad heard what was going on, he rushed out the door with Gally and I. It slammed in Teresa's face so hard that she fell unconscious. We stared for a few seconds. She had a spear in her hands, which explained it all.

Then we decided saving Sage was more important, so we ran off. Teresa could be helped later on... if she even deserves that. I don't know the whole story, so I'm not sure if she was doing it against her own will or not.

After Dad, Gally and I ran inside Sage's house, we found her room empty, and Finn's too. The window was open. Dad ran downstairs to ask Dahlia if she knew where they were and I followed him to check the hedge.

That's when I found Viviette on the ground with bruises all over her neck and her foot in a weird position. Aris was nowhere to be seen.

And she wasn't breathing.

I yelled for Dad because my stupid ass forgot to bring a phone— I expected I had to hit Aris a few times or something, not finding Sage like this.

Then the police arrived before an ambulance. They literally caught Aris running on their way here. The dumbass.

So he's now safely in a cell again.

I was too panicked to move or think straight. Dad seemed to be capable of both, though, because he started doing CPR until the ambulance arrived, who took the job from him.

Then we all drove to the hospital, too.

Now we're waiting.

Everyone except for Dahlia urged an explanation, which I weakly replied. All I really know is that he escaped from prison and that he's the one who made Sage end up here. So that's what I told them.

Dahlia then bursted out crying and apologized a million times before she could properly talk. One word later, she was sobbing again. We're still unable to get anything out of her.

Did she know he was in jail— wait, of course she did. She said Aris had been in the institution for many years and this was the only way of helping him get better, but Aris was in jail.

She knew. All this time, she knew who he was and what he did.

But we don't know what would've happened if she didn't allow him in their house. Maybe we all would've been dead without any other reasons—

It's too confusing to think about. I just want to lie on the couch with Sage in my arms while Billy and Ella are asleep upstairs, not wait in this hospital.

I watch Finn get up from his chair. He's fuming, I can tell. He has all the right to be angry, but not at the hospital. I shrink at the way he asks a nurse how much longer it's going to take.

Five minutes after he sat back down, another nurse appears. She steps out of the room Sage is in, looks around with a questioning expression, softens when she sees us, and then walks over to us.

"Family of Viviette Lee?" She asks.

We all nod in unison, even Mom, Dad, and I.

"I'd like to speak to one or two of you in a more quiet area," she announces, trailing her eyes all over us. "I suggest the parents?"

I don't protest. That's what I get for being too busy reading one of those stupid letters instead of saving her.

On the other side, I'm telling myself I was waiting for her to text me something else anyway.

Maybe Aris would've killed her if he heard the police approach. That could've happened if I called them earlier.

Anything could've happened if I bursted through the door, or was unable to unlock it from the outside.

Dahlia wipes a tear off her cheek before she tells us, "Remain calm," and then she follows her husband and the nurse.

"I'm never forgiving her," is the first thing Minho says, without hesitation. "It's all her fault."

"It's not like she killed people," Finn replies.

Minho sharply looks at him. I feel like an obstacle between them. "But she did bring him here, didn't she? If she hadn't done that, Evie wouldn't be dead."

His harsh tone hits like a dagger in the chest, but I pretend I don't hear it. He's ready to burst out any second and I don't want to be the cause of that.

"You don't know what he would've done if Mom didn't take him in our house," Finn says. "You probably would've been dead right now."

"Who says that's worse than Evie's death?" Minho snaps.

At that, everyone falls silent. We just wait, all tangled in our own messed up thoughts, for Dahlia and Oliver to return with good news.

I don't know what I'll do if it's bad news.

After a minute or five, they return. They don't seem overly happy, so I'm unable to tell if the news was nice. But I'm sure their reactions would've been different had Sage died.

No one says a word as they sit down. Again, we wait, anxious.

"They managed to resuscitate her," Oliver says.

A ton of exhales. I'm sure they all feel the same kind of relief. The best relief I've ever felt.

"Her foot's broken, but it'll heal overtime," Oliver continues. "They'll set it properly and Vi will be able to walk again after some rest and physical therapy."

Slowly, I can feel the color returning to my face. She's alive and she's okay. The thought is so comforting that it sends goosebumps on my skin.

"However," Oliver begins again, "there are some things we should be aware of. She was technically dead for a few minutes. The nurse said that being without oxygen for even a short period can lead to complications."

My brows furrow with concern. "What kind of complications?" I ask, voice tight.

"It varies from person to person. Some patients experience short-term memory loss, difficulty concentrating, or slower processing speed. In rare cases, there might be changes in personality or emotional regulation. But with proper therapy and support, the nurse said, many of these symptoms can improve over time."

Swallowing hard, I nod. Small chance she's not the same, but I doubt it. I can't imagine Sage as another person than she is.

☯︎︎

I'm sitting beside her bed now.

The steady beeping of the monitor provides the only sound in this room. It brings something tense but also comfortable.

My fingers are intertwined with hers as I watch her face for any sign of consciousness. Her breathing is even but... fragile.

She's tucked beneath a white blanket that rises every time with each breath. Around her neck, a medical collar is secured, holding her head in place.

Beneath the blanket, her legs are still, and one of them is propped up a bit.

"It's taking too long," Minho says. "It's literally New Year's Eve."

"Like that's gonna make her wake up faster." Finn rubs his chin, eyebrows slightly scrunched.

I stare out of the window. Fireworks have already risen to the sky the last hours and the clock lets us know we're two hours away from midnight.

"The funeral's the third of January," Minho says. "I just know Vi will be upset if she can't make it."

He doesn't mention it, but we all know what funeral he's talking about. "She'll make it," I assure.

"I need to give a speech for it," Minho then announces. "Well, I'm not forced. I want to give the speech. But I can't do it with Vi absent."

"She'll be there," I say again.

☯︎︎

The parents figured out we aren't planning on leaving this room, so they came inside a while ago. It's ten minutes to twelve. No one seems very cheerful about it just yet.

Gally's wound got treated in the meanwhile, but he got sent home after it. Everything was okay. And Mom made sure Teresa was fine, too.

"Is it assault if I still give her the New Year's kiss?" I ask Minho.

"Don't think so. She's literally your girlfriend."

I look at Finn. "Is it weird?"

He shrugs. Very helpful.

"Where is Sylvia?" Minho asks.

"About to arrive."

"Oh, thank God," he sighs out. "I thought you were just going to ditch her tonight. No New Year's kiss."

"I'm not heartless."

"Sometimes, you really are."

Yes. Finn is a very nice, heartless person.

That's not a joke.

Minho clears his throat, letting us know he's about to do a full subject change. "This is kind of weird."

"What is?"

"We're about to count from ten to one with our favorite person unconscious in front of us."

"Hm." I tilt my head to the side as I look at him. "I guess you have a point. Imagine waking up to that."

A low chuckle escapes from him. "Yeah. She'd freak out."

"Get up, honey." Mom takes my wrists. "We're gonna count."

Before she can pull me into the group of parents, I make my way to the side of Sage's bed. The counting soon begins.

Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one— and then a bunch of firework outside, yelps inside—even in a hospital—and I lean closer to Sage.

My lips touch hers, so softly that all I feel is a gentle tickle. I want to stay like this for way longer, but it feels weird—nice, but weird—so I pull away again, just an inch.

"Happy New Year, Sage."