[Dead Girl Walking.] - Collab with @SnowdropSugar. "Sometimes, the unspoken words speak the loudest." The weeks following my awakening were filled with a peculiar mix of relief and agitation. I could tell that the accident had changed something within me, but it wasn’t just the physical injuries or the memory lapses that bothered me. But there was something strange, indeed. There seemed to be something... something like a newfound awareness of my ability to think and feel without uttering a single word. My mind was changed. It was now a fortress of unspoken thoughts. On the long, lonely days in the hospital, the only thing I often thought of was whether it was a blessing or a curse. However, Will continued to visit me regularly during my recovery. His quiet, enigmatic personality was suitable for my condition. He became my confidant. Every day, we sat by the window, watching the calm view of the world outside the sterile hospital walls. He never pressured me to talk more than I wanted to, understanding that my silence had become a sanctuary. We communicated with our eyes and our expressions. Sometimes, the gently squeezing of hands. It was in these quiet moments that I found peace... and true friendship. It overwhelmed me a lot, but yet... it was in a positive way. As days turned into weeks, my physical strength slowly returned, and with it came the memories of the life I once led. Flashes of laughter and play with my friends, but mostly memories of Maddie. Nights of us spent stargazing, talking about our dreams. They were pleasant memories, but after I had remembered them it gave me a sense of sadness. I was filled with an overwhelming amount of guilt - for surviving while Maddie, my beloved sister, was still trapped in a coma. I desperately wanted to see Maddie. I did enjoy talking to Will, my best friend and confidant, but I wanted someone more sisterly to talk to. It was hard to describe. But there was this strange feeling. Though I wanted to see her, I felt forced. I felt like the accident was my fault. One evening, as I sat by the window with Will, he handed me a small notebook and a pen. "You can write things down," he said softly, his soft brown eyes glazing with encouragement. "There might be things that you don't want to say to others, and it's totally fine. It doesn't have to be for anyone else to see." I took his advice and wrote everything onto the thin, fragile, sheets of paper. The notebook became a secret place for me, where I could freely express my emotions without having people judging me. I wrote unsent letters to Maddie. I told her about my struggles, my longing to see her. I told her I was sorry. But most of all, I told her that I loved her. I was deeply motivated by Will. He encouraged me day by day, knowing that I wanted to see Maddie. He gave me a spark of courage that hadn't been there before. The fear and guilt still filled me as I walked into her room, but I knew I couldn't keep avoiding her. I spoke to Maddie. I spoke with passion, joy, and sometimes great sadness. However, every time I spoke, it felt like as if the weight of the sky had been lifted off of my shoulders. I knew she couldn't hear me, but it made me feel better nonetheless. I could have been hallucinating, but I thought I saw the corners of her lips move up so slightly. Maybe... maybe Maddie was still awake... In the months that followed, Maddie's condition remained unchanged. I was upset, but I didn't blame myself. I accepted the fact that some things were beyond my control. I visited her regularly, telling her that I loved her and missed her. Soon, my physical and emotional wounds healed, and I came to the realization that the accident had given me a unique perspective on life. I had survived for a reason, and the reason shouldn't have been to be burdened by guilt. I learned that writing was a gift that I shouldn't have taken for granted. "Sometimes, the unspoken words speak the loudest."
