~~~Sydney Pov~~~

I stood in the shower. Let the water run on my body, wishing, and hoping that the water, can wash my problems away.

As soon as I stepped, out of the shower. I realized the water didn't take anything away.

I looked at myself in the mirror and asked myself. " How is this my life?"

'KNOCK KNOCK'

"We are ready, to take you to the hospital." they yelled over the bathroom door

I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath " I will be out, in a minute."

I mentally had to collect, all my marbles. Because I must visit Branson. We haven't spoken after our little fight. But I still need, to show my support to him.

I heard him walk away. I grabbed my pink sweats. I was speeding like a snail to go downstairs to my ride.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walked into the hospital room. As soon as I walked in. The white walls, engulf me in hope. The cool sweet air, flowing behind light blue curtains.

Than I heard

Beep Beep'

Then I looked at her.

The inside of my body, is on fire. There was a mark, with guilt on my conscience:

As soon, as he saw me. He made, his way and hugged me.

When Branson saw me, he stood up and walked towards me. "I'm so sorry. I never should have yelled" Branson engulfed me in a huge hug. " Thank you, for coming. How did you know I was here."

My arms just limply, laid on my side " It's okay."

We were sitting in Candy's hospital room. I couldn't take my eyes off, her cold seemingly lifeless body. Brandson had her hand, in his hands and had his head bowed. As if he was in the presence of royalty. But he was in deep prayer.

The mere site of this broke my heart. Looking at the amount of damage I caused.

"Again I'm very sorry." He shattered, the silence between us. He turned, to look at me

He stood up and walked towards me. He gently took my hands and looked me in the eyes. " You mean the stars, and moon to me."

My heart skipped a beat, when he said that. I just wrapped my arms around him.

I nodded my head against his chest. " It's fine." I started fidgeting with my fingers.

" I know I should have called you after our fight ...." He ran a hand through his hair. "I just needed space to cool down." His voice sounded like he lost a great battle.

Branson continued "I know you were just helping me."

My eyes lit up with excitement . I lean away from his chest "So you are accepting my offer."

He twisted his lips "No. I won't let you pay my bills."

"Why not your. Sister's life is in the balance!" I started to point my finger at him. "This is not about you and your fragile ego."

He stood up "Look here. I really don't want to fight with you." He walked towards me and took my hands. "I need you to be my peace."

I looked back up at him. This was the first time I really saw him. He had dark circles around his eyes and a weak smile.

"You need to rest. You can't help your sister by being tired." We shared a fixed gaze.

"Tell me how could I rest? If my life is falling apart. She's the only family. I have left." His voice broke towards the end.

He let go of me and walked towards his sister. He took his sister's hand. Leaned back in his seat. He stroked the nap of his neck. "I don't know, how we going to get out of this situation. She is everything, my lifeline." He tilted his head up and started blinking rapidly. "It's been me and her for a long time." He purse his lips together.

I stood up and placed his head on my stomach and I rubbed his back. He gently push me away.

"I'm fine." Branson looks at the ground. I took a step back

knock

We both looked at the door. To see Dwayne

"Mr. Monroe we need you to sign something." Branson jumped up. He started to smoothen his clothes. Brandson gave me, a kiss on the cheek. And Branson followed Dwayne out.

They left me in the room. They left me with my biggest mistake. They left me with everything I wanted to forget. Which left sweet air to taste sour. Which I was forced to marinate in.

I couldn't take my eyes off her "I'm so sorry." I whispered.

An electric shock, went through my body. When I heard footsteps, behind. I turned around to see Dwanye. "Hey again. Branson is busy signing papers."

I looked at him "Hello."

He walk past me, and towards Candy's drip. He was opening packets and injecting them into the tube. "It's pretty cool to see you, help and support your friend. The way you do. I wish I had, more genuine people in my life."

My heart cracked. If only he knew.

"Yeah, so what's the deal with you? You are a nurse?" I asked, while I crossed my arms.

He chuckles to himself "I am Jr Doctor. I'm graduating at the end of the year. This hospital allowed me to intern here." He flashed me a smile. He pull out a note book, and scribbled away.

" Thus they put an intern, in charge of Candy?" My eyes widen in shock. He wrinkles his nose "No, of course not. Doctor Gomez is, I'm just his assistant." I nodded my head.

I bite my bottom lip gathering my strength for the next questions "Can you be honest with me?" I closed my eyes and took a breath "Will she ever wake up?"

He looked down "I can't say for certain. But there has been, no change in her condition. There are no signs of it getting better."

"If you need to know something. You can always ask me anything because Brandson made it abundantly clear. That you are extremely important to him." He said without looking up at me.

"Okay. Like payments on Candy's behalf." I asked while pouting my lips

"Especially payments." He gave me a knowing smile and walked out the room.

~~~~

After 4 long hours of agony.

My limo picked me up.

I dragged my feet to my bed. I didn't even look at anyone. I crawled into the bed. Praying that my bed, can carry this extra burden.

I laid in my bed for hours and hours. Then someone burst in my room. My head, flew on top of my blankets. To see Violet standing in the doorway.

"Sydney! You are still alive." Violet asked all concern. She poked her head from under, the covers to look at me. "Go away." I begged

She crossed, her arms in front of her chest. "You not going to talk to me like that." I walked towards the windows. And removed the blinds, I hissed at her.

She exploded into laughter "What are you a vampire?"

I buried my face underneath the pillows than told her "I'm serious get out! I don't want to go outside. "

She stopped laughing, and sat at the foot of her bed "Talk to me?" She started to rub my leg. I slowly start to shake and sob

"Do you know how hard this is? For me to see Candy's pale body, in a hospital bed." I started to sniffle.

"I know. I know. That would mess anybody up." I continued to sob louder and louder. At her words.

"And ...and Branson won't let me pay the bills. I know he plays for the city and has some money. "I sob harder "but not enough money to pay for his unconscious sister. I don't, know how long."

"I know, I don't have the strength to face her." Violet bit her lip feeling very guilty " I can't imagine the financial strain." I could see the guilt written, all over her face.

"Sydney look at me." I didn't even move an inch. At her words. Violet scooted closer to me. And pulled the cover off her head, she turned to look at me.

"It crushed my absolute spirit to see, your bloodshot eyes. " Violet sight while rubbing my head.

"Look, here this isn't your fault......" Violet started. I gathered my strength, while listening. "It's my fault. I hit her. And I forced you to leave her."

I rose like a mountain from my bed sheets "No it's not."

"Just let me talk. This might ease your guilt. Plus it's true, I was in the driver's seat." She tried to reassure me.

I kept shaking my head " I distracted you from driving"

"That doesn't change what I did. You haven't even gone to school for a couple of days. "I reasoned with her " I am worried, about you. Please just, blame me."

I took a breath, and whispered "Okay." We embraced each other in a hug.

I pulled back and asked Violet "How have you been, dealing with all of this?"

She gave me a one, sided shoulder shrug "I don't know. I don't really think of that night. I keep pushing it, to the back of my mind." I was taken a back, at her response.

"Did you even cry?" I asked her. I felt like I was cross-examining her.

"No, the last time I cried was when my brother...." She just started, choking on her words. I started to rub Violet's back. A sour smile spread across her face. She was stopping, herself from crying.

"Anyways you will, get your car tomorrow." She rushed to change the topic. She gave me a tight lip "Oh great." I said sarcastically.

Violet changed the subject "I got to head to school. Tomorrow, will you come?" I shook my head aggressively. "No, can't you just stay with me." I tried to reason.

"As much as I would love to skip school. To hang out with you I got to meet with Mia." She literally gag when she said her name. It's like her name was acid on her tongue. Which was quite, funny to watch.

"What do YOU have to talk about with Mia?" I asked flabbergasted.

Violet told me a bold lie. "What I'm a social person. I have friends outside you."

"Like who? " I crossed my arms in front of my chest eagerly, awaiting her responds.

I twisted my mouth

"Well. Violet " I lifted my chin.

"Fine." She caved and flopped on my bed. "She saw me, and Candy arguing. But, we were just having a loud conversation. She told me she was going, to include that in her police statement."

My smile dropped like a hot potato.

"What!" I shot up from her bed "What are you, going to do? The POLICE asked, to see her?" I covered her mouth

"Yeah the Police have been, interviewing us through out the week." She confirmed while, She laid on my bed

I started paying with my fingers, then I asked her "Have they talked to you?"

"No, but they will eventually." She answered, me while she kissed her teeth.

"How you going to handle it? This Mia situation?" I tried to prey, for more info.

She sat upright, "I don't KNOW. YET." I sight at Violet's words.

"What does she want?" I started pacing back and forth

"She said she still needs to 'decide the currency.' " She rolled her my eyes, and air quoted her.

I held the bridge, of my nose. With two fingers "That could mean anything. IT'S LIKE A GENIE. Giving you3 wishes and on your last 1. Than stating you desire, a million wishes, last minute"

She scratched her nose " I know."

"This could blow. The lid off our situation." I rammable on

"Again, I know." She stared, at the ceiling wall.

I flopped down next to Violet, "This can't be happening."

Then I rose from the bed, like stifling air "I know. How can we make, it all go away."

She looked at me, and furrowed her brows at me. Then Violet questioned. "What do you mean?"