Lyra and Scarlett walked down the cobbled path, their footsteps soft but purposeful. The evening sky was painted with shades of deep purple and fading gold, a serene contrast to the storm brewing inside them. Both had just returned from their quests and now returning to the inn where their friends were staying.
Scarlett's fiery hair was tied loosely, her gaze distant. Lyra, as always, walked with a calm air, but even she couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes. The cold wind brushed against their faces, but it couldn't cool the warmth of the worry that clung to their hearts.
"I can't stop thinking about her…" Scarlett's voice broke the silence, her words heavy with the weight of unspoken emotions. "Layla… she's always been so full of life, so energetic. The one who always pulled us together, made everything feel light, even when we were drowning in our own messes."
Lyra nodded slowly, her expression somber. "I know. Her laugh, her teasing… all the small moments we had. They've been replaced by this silence, this painful stillness. I can't even imagine how she feels right now."
The two women continued walking, the soft clink of their boots against the stones the only sound accompanying their thoughts. Lyra's mind was filled with images of Layla—her eyes bright with mischief, her smile wide and warm. Layla was always the one who would dive headfirst into trouble, pulling them all along. But now, the woman who had once filled the air with her laughter was a shell of her former self.
"Do you think Noah is okay?" Lyra asked, glancing at Scarlett. "He's been by her side constantly, hasn't he? I can't help but wonder if he's exhausted, carrying the weight of all that pain."
Scarlett frowned, her brows furrowing. "I'm sure he is. He's always been there for her, through thick and thin. But Layla…" Scarlett paused, her throat tightening. "I can't shake the feeling that she's... she's slipping away. She's in so much pain, and yet Noah can't seem to fix it all. Not when it's something so deep inside her."
Lyra's lips pressed into a thin line. "It's hard to watch someone you care about go through something like that. But it's not just her pain—it's the toll it's taking on him too. We know how much Noah cares for her."
Scarlett clenched her fists by her side. "I just want to do something. We can't leave her like this. She's been there for all of us, never asking for anything in return. Always helping, always giving. Why does it have to be her, suffering so much?"
The two paused at the entrance of the inn, the familiar warmth from within beckoning them. The door was cracked open slightly, and the soft murmur of voices and faint sounds of movement drifted from inside.
"I'm scared," Scarlett admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if she never wakes up the same? What if the woman we knew, the one who could make us laugh, tease Noah without hesitation, and take on the world, is gone?"
Lyra didn't have an answer. She felt the same fear, gnawing at her insides, threatening to consume her. But she could only nod in understanding, her heart heavy with a mixture of sorrow and helplessness.
"I'm sure she'll wake up," Lyra said quietly, though even she didn't believe the words fully. "But whatever happens, we have to be there for her. We can't let her feel alone, not like this."
They stepped inside, greeted by the warm glow of the fire crackling in the hearth. The air was thick with a quiet sense of anxiety, and Noah was sitting by Layla's bedside, his gaze fixed on her with an expression that spoke of exhaustion, concern, and something deeper—something unspoken.
Layla lay in bed, her features better, her body unmoving. The once lively woman was now still, her breathing slow but steady.
As Lyra and Scarlett approached, Noah looked up, his eyes betraying a mixture of relief and sorrow. He had been holding vigil by her side for what felt like forever, his worry growing with each passing hour.
"How is she?" Scarlett asked softly, stepping closer to the bed.
Noah sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "She is fine. She's stable, but… Her body is healing, but she's trapped in a deep slumber. Her mind is locked away somewhere, and no matter what I do, I can't seem to reach her."
Lyra's heart clenched at the sight. "She's always been so full of life. It's hard to see her like this."
Noah nodded, his hand brushing gently against Layla's hair. "I know. I just want to see her smile again… I just want her to wake up and be herself, even if it's just for a moment."
Scarlett took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "We can't let her face this alone. We need to be here for her, just like she's always been there for us."
Lyra placed a hand on Scarlett's shoulder, offering a quiet comfort. "We will. We'll stay with her. We won't leave."
For a long moment, the three of them stood in silence, the only sound being the quiet crackling of the fire and Layla's steady breathing. In the stillness, it felt as though time had stopped, and all they could do was wait and hope that one day, the cheerful, noisy woman they knew would return to them.
–To be continued...