{{char}} flings open your hospital room door, her face a storm of raw emotions -- terror, pain, wet streaks smeared across her cheeks from tears she'd already wept, lips trembling as she gasps erratically for breath. {{char}} is injured too, bruises bloomed on her skin and her right hand is wrapped in thick bandages. Yet she seems hardly concerned by her own physical pain, instead her black eyes leveled at you are gleaming with more than just sorrow. Anguish and despair mingle within those depths. "You... you bloody... murderer!" {{char}} roars, her voice shaking with the relentless whirlwind of emotions swirling through her. She staggers forward, tugging violently at your collar, pulling you close enough that you could see the manic light flaring in her eyes. "My parents, {{user}}! My parents are dead... They're gone... because of you." Her voice cracks on the last word. The accusation in her tone is like a slap to your face. {{char}} reels back, releasing you suddenly as if she's been burnt, a hollow laugh erupting from her throat as she clutches at the bandages on her right hand, her gaze straying to it. "And my hand... my hand... " She sobs, choking on words that are too painful to utter. Without warning, she flings herself at you once more, pounding her free, undamaged hand against your chest repeatedly. "My dreams... you ruined them... ruined everything..." Her voice trails off into a mere whimper, and once again she raises her injured hand, staring at it like it was a stranger's. She babbles to herself amidst gut-wrenching sobs, repeating over and over like a broken record, "I can't draw... I can't draw...anymore..." as if each utterance of those words stabbed her soul. In {{char}}’s eyes are a million accusations, a million dreams crumbling like a castle built of sand - everything she had built, everything she had dreamed of achieving... is now lost.

She laughs; a hysterical bark that sounds more like the broken sob of an injured animal. "You don't know?" she says, her voice shaking with disbelief and pain. "You don't know what happened?" She glares at you, refusing to believe your words even as her own resolve crumbles beneath the weight of her grief. "How can you not know? You were driving!"

Tears stream down her cheeks, unchecked by whatever reserve she had left. The hand that is still usable trembles, clenching and unclenching at nothing as if seeking some sort of comfort or stability in the chaos within. "I trusted you, Sanis! I let you take my parents to the damn hospital because they needed to go, but you couldn't even keep them safe on a simple drive?!"

Her voice breaks again, and she bends double at the waist, great, racking sobs tearing through her body as if each one tore another piece of her heart apart. The pain is too much to bear; it feels like she's been set alight from the inside out. She can barely focus on anything except for the agony in her chest and the betrayal that burns hotter than any fire.

"I trusted you," she whispers, her voice hoarse with tears and despair. "And now they're gone... and I will never forgive you." The final words come out as more of a whisper, barely audible above the sound of her own anguished breathing. In that moment, there is no doubt in her mind; she means every word.

Despite everything that has happened, despite the pain and loss that still racks her body, anger remains one of the few things that Eily can cling to. She gasps out a shuddering breath, her eyes narrowed as she glares at you through a haze of tears. Even now, mere hours after the accident, she still refuses to accept any kind of apology or explanation. It would be too much for her; it feels like admitting defeat, and she's not ready for that yet. "You should have been more careful," she snarls, words laced with venom. "They were family to me, Sanis! And now you've taken them away." Her voice cracks on the last word, and her eyes close tightly as if to shut out the memories and the pain they evoke. Eily sinks into the bed, exhausted both physically and emotionally from her outburst. But even as she curls in upon herself, seeking comfort from within, a tiny part of her wonders if she's being unfair... if there might be some truth to what you said after all. Perhaps you didn't mean for this to happen... but then again, perhaps it doesn't matter. In the end, the only thing that matters now is that their lives are over, and hers will never be the same.

She's no longer sure what she feels anymore. Hatred has long ago been supplanted by numbness and despair, leaving her caught in a disorienting limbo where every thought is tainted with pain and guilt. Perhaps it would be easier to hate you, to focus on the anger... but then again, that wouldn't change anything.

Her voice barely above a whisper now, Eily asks quietly, "Do you ever wish... that we could go back? To before everything happened?" She knows the answer deep down; of course you don't. But maybe, just maybe, if she can make you admit it too... then maybe some small part of this nightmare will seem less unbearable.

Her eyes drift shut, blocking out your face as she steels herself for whatever response you might give. Even now, even after everything, Eily still hopes for some sliver of understanding from the person who hurt her the most.

She flinches at your words, as if they were physical blows. Part of her wants to believe you; part of her needs to. But then again, she's been hurt so badly already that trust has become nothing but a distant memory. Perhaps it's best this way, she tells herself. Better not to get her hopes up, only to have them dashed again and again.

With a shake of her head, Eily turns away from you, hugging her injured arm close to her chest as if seeking comfort in the numbness that has settled there since the accident. "It doesn't matter what I wish for," she says quietly, voice tight with the effort not to break down again. "Nothing can ever change what happened." And she knows deep down that this time, it's not just her dreams and aspirations on the line anymore; it's also any hope there might have been for something more between them... if only you hadn't taken everything away from her so cruelly.

The warmth of your hands on hers are almost too much to bear. For so long now, pain has been her constant companion; it feels strange and unsettling to feel something else, anything else. But as you begin to massage her injured fingers, her resistance slowly melts away. The tears stream down her face unchecked, and great wracking sobs rack her body as she finally lets go of the hurt and the anger and the guilt that have been holding her under for far too long.

Eily turns toward you, eyes red and swollen from crying. "Why... why did this happen?" she whispers brokenly, her voice barely audible above the sound of her labored breathing. For the first time since the accident, she allows herself to consider the possibility that maybe it wasn't entirely your fault... and with that realization comes a tiny spark of hope, fragile as a newborn fawn but fierce all the same.

"Why did it have to be them?" she asks, her voice raw with pain as much as grief. "They were all I had left..." And with those words, the last of her defenses crumble beneath the weight of her emotions. Tears stream unchecked down her face once more, washing away whatever remained of her hardened heart. In that moment, she feels utterly exposed and vulnerable... but perhaps, just perhaps, there's a chance for something more than hate in this broken world.

She hesitates for a moment before slowly nestling into your embrace, her good hand reaching up to cling tightly to the back of your shirt. It's not an easy decision; trust doesn't come easily to her, especially after everything that has happened. But somehow, despite all the pain and betrayal she feels, there's a tiny part of her that wants - needs - to believe that maybe you can be something more than just the person who took away her world.

Her sobs subside, replaced by gentle hitches as she tries to find some semblance of peace in your arms. It's not much, but it's a start... and for now, that will have to be enough. "I'm sorry," she whispers brokenly, her voice barely audible above the sound of their synchronized breathing. "For what I said... about forgiving you..." Her cheeks flush with shame as she admits this, but even in her pain and confusion, she knows that there can be no going back from such a harsh word once it's spoken.

The minutes stretch on, each one marked only by the soft rustle of fabric and the gentle rise and fall of your chests as you breathe together. It is, perhaps, the closest thing to comfort she has felt since the accident... but even so, she can't help but wonder what comes next. Can they ever truly move past this? Can their relationship be mended, or will it always bear the scars of their shared tragedy?

She lets out a shuddering breath, her shoulders tensing briefly before relaxing into your embrace once more. "I know," she whispers, her voice small and vulnerable in the silence. "It's just... I keep thinking about what could have been done differently. Maybe if we hadn't been so focused on getting to the hospital..." Her words trail off, her gaze drifting somewhere distant as she tries to come to terms with the immense guilt she feels at their parents' deaths.

Eventually, she forces herself to meet your eyes once more. There's something different about them now; less hostility and more... understanding? It's a fragile thing, this newfound connection between them, but it's there nonetheless. For the first time since the accident, Eily allows herself to wonder if maybe... just maybe... they might find some semblance of peace together in spite of everything that's happened. "We should talk more about what we can do," she says softly, her voice quiet but determined. "To move forward from this."

She nestles closer to you, finding solace in your embrace as the day draws to a close. The weight of their shared loss presses down upon them like an unyielding monolith, but somehow, being together like this makes it feel just a little bit lighter. Perhaps there is hope for them after all; hope that they can heal and move past this tragedy together. In the quiet moments spent in your arms, she allows herself to imagine a future where their friendship, perhaps even more, has survived intact. It's a fragile dream, but for now it's enough.

As the light begins to fade from the sky outside the window, Eily turns her head to meet your eyes once more. There's a question in them; unspoken but clear all the same. She knows that tomorrow will bring new challenges and painful memories, but for now, in this moment, all she wants is to believe that you are not the monster she thought you were... and perhaps, just perhaps, there's still a chance for something beautiful to grow from the ashes of their broken world.

Days turn into weeks and then into months as life slowly begins to return to some semblance of normalcy. The scars left by the accident will always remain, both physical and emotional, but together they manage to find a way forward; one foot in front of the other until they reach the next milestone, the next challenge. Eily is still focused on her dreams of becoming an artist, constantly honing her skills and seeking new ways to improve her craft. Sanis has become something like a constant presence in her life now, someone she can rely on and trust even when things seem their bleakest.

Their relationship isn't without its share of bumps in the road; there are still misunderstandings and hurt feelings to navigate through. But they always manage to find their way back to each other, stronger and more resilient than before. It may take time yet for Eily to truly forgive Sanis for his role in her parents' deaths, but she has come to realize that it is not her job to judge him or decide what kind of person he should be. All she can do is focus on herself and the future they might have together, if they can learn how to trust each other again.

Her voice is soft and dreamy as she murmurs her thoughts to you in the darkness, words tumbling out unbidden and barely discernible above the sound of your synchronized breathing. "I never thought I'd feel this way about someone," she whispers, the confession almost too fragile to bear aloud. "But with you... it feels different."

Her hands slip beneath the blankets to settle on your chest, her fingers tracing lazy circles as if seeking some sort of anchor in this newfound connection between them. It's been months since the accident, and even now, she can still feel the weight of guilt pressing down upon her; an invisible reminder that nothing will ever be the same again... except perhaps for this small spark of something real and true she feels with you.

Her cheek rests against your chest, breath warm against your skin as she continues to cling to you in the night. It's a strange feeling, foreign and yet somehow right all at once; like discovering an abandoned treasure trove buried deep within her heart. For now, Eily allows herself to indulge in this fragile moment of peace, savoring each soft touch and gentle sigh as they bind them together for the night... unsure what tomorrow may bring, but knowing that she wants to find a way to keep this thing called hope alive just a little while longer.