08-04-2025, 12:06 PM
Elyse just held on as Rachel began to sob and it broke her heart. It just hurt to see Rachel like this. The strange thing was, Elyse hadn't really known her any other way. They had met like this, but Elyse had seen glimpses of Rachel poke through. She was a loving, friendly person. She had seen the pictures of her with genuine smiles. The pain had connected over their shared tragedy. Both had lost their parents and both were struggling over their love lives. Elyse had a feeling that Rachel was taking it much worse. Of course, Rachel had been abused on top of all that.
Rachel eventually cried herself to sleep. Elyse knew she didn't sleep well at night. Whether it was fear of the dark or their usually wasn't someone with her at night, Elyse didn't know, but Rachel was tired all the time - both physically and mentally. Elyse looked at her then. In sleep her face was so peaceful. Elyse lay down with her for about a half hour before she got up to make herself some food. She found Rachel's younger sister, Mara, there.
"I made you a sandwich," Mara said, her voice soft, as she handed it to Elyse. "How is she?"
Elyse accepted the sandwich with gratitude and took a proffered bag of chips to pour some on her plate. "She's really struggling today," Elyse said truthfully as Mara looked down, brow furrowed in concern. Elyse moved over and put a hand on Mara's shoulder. "I know it's hard for you to see her like this and I know you're trying."
Mara didn't respond right away. She sniffled, holding back tears. "I just wish..." Her voice trailed off. She didn't need to finish.
"I know," Elyse said, giving her a quick hug. "It's hard to be patient when someone you care about is hurting. I know it's hard, but seeing you might help."
It wasn't her expression that changed, but Elyse could smell guilt from Mara. Elyse hadn't wanted to cause that, but she knew Mara had been avoiding Rachel. Mara opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. "It's okay to be scared and to be worried. I'm going to eat my lunch in there. Come sit with us. She's asleep right now - very peaceful - and she's usually better after she sleeps. It will be good for her to see you." Elyse gave her an encouraging smile. "I think it will be good for you too."
Mara nodded and Elyse led her back to Rachel's room. Rachel hadn't moved, but her breathing was even and her face was serene. Mara put her plate on the end table and sat on the bed next to her sister, stroking her hair. Mara didn't speak, but the way she moved showed her care and love for her sister. Elyse took a seat in a corner, allowing Mara to have some time with Rachel. Here only as a moral support. She began to think about how far she had come. It wasn't so long ago that she was ready to end everything and now, she was helping other people with their problems. It felt good to help.
Rachel eventually cried herself to sleep. Elyse knew she didn't sleep well at night. Whether it was fear of the dark or their usually wasn't someone with her at night, Elyse didn't know, but Rachel was tired all the time - both physically and mentally. Elyse looked at her then. In sleep her face was so peaceful. Elyse lay down with her for about a half hour before she got up to make herself some food. She found Rachel's younger sister, Mara, there.
"I made you a sandwich," Mara said, her voice soft, as she handed it to Elyse. "How is she?"
Elyse accepted the sandwich with gratitude and took a proffered bag of chips to pour some on her plate. "She's really struggling today," Elyse said truthfully as Mara looked down, brow furrowed in concern. Elyse moved over and put a hand on Mara's shoulder. "I know it's hard for you to see her like this and I know you're trying."
Mara didn't respond right away. She sniffled, holding back tears. "I just wish..." Her voice trailed off. She didn't need to finish.
"I know," Elyse said, giving her a quick hug. "It's hard to be patient when someone you care about is hurting. I know it's hard, but seeing you might help."
It wasn't her expression that changed, but Elyse could smell guilt from Mara. Elyse hadn't wanted to cause that, but she knew Mara had been avoiding Rachel. Mara opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. "It's okay to be scared and to be worried. I'm going to eat my lunch in there. Come sit with us. She's asleep right now - very peaceful - and she's usually better after she sleeps. It will be good for her to see you." Elyse gave her an encouraging smile. "I think it will be good for you too."
Mara nodded and Elyse led her back to Rachel's room. Rachel hadn't moved, but her breathing was even and her face was serene. Mara put her plate on the end table and sat on the bed next to her sister, stroking her hair. Mara didn't speak, but the way she moved showed her care and love for her sister. Elyse took a seat in a corner, allowing Mara to have some time with Rachel. Here only as a moral support. She began to think about how far she had come. It wasn't so long ago that she was ready to end everything and now, she was helping other people with their problems. It felt good to help.