When Julienne finally came to, she was right back in the same old hospital room.
Beside the bed, Carmen's eyes were red and swollen, though she forced a bright smile anyway. "The doctor looked you over. He said you just fainted from a bad reaction to the meds. Now that you're awake, you're good to go."
Julienne managed a weak smile of her own. "Carmen, you're a terrible liar. Look at how hard you're clenching your fists."
With just those few words, the dam broke. The tears Carmen had been trying so hard to hold back burst through, and she dissolved into heavy, bitter sobs within seconds.
Clutching Julienne's trembling hand, she choked out, "Julienne, what am I supposed to do if you leave me?"
A heavy, dull ache spread through Julienne's chest, but she couldn't find the words to comfor
