It took longer than it should have for distant sirens to be heard, and Clarity had to quickly run to find them as she knew they wouldn't get to them in time. Everything happened in the blink of an eye, several simultaneous voices colliding and making her sensory awareness become overwhelmed, monotonous beeps, tears and waiting, so much waiting.
She couldn't recall anything but worry, as she sat for hours by her unconscious brother, occasionally singing to him or trying to give him a few words of wisdom. She regretted so much now. Even leaving him for a few minutes to lead the paramedics killed her to think about. The confusion that spread through both her and everybody that was associated in his state was unheard of in her town.
Then came a day when she was forced back to school, the word hadn't yet got around, so it was still hell. Eventually she was able to zone anything unpleasant that wasn't about Ethan out, even if it meant her whole education was now going down the drain.
It was just five days in, and a peak had been uncovered in the middle of third period.
"Clarity Pharrels? Come with me please." said the headmistress, shortly after walking into the classroom, her heels tapping on the floor as she neared it.
She sat in her office, which is most teenagers' nightmare, but not for Clarity. The headmistress looked at her with a stern expression, but it all of a sudden relaxed into a warming smile.
"I have some exquisite news, your brother has woken up!" She said, with a delighted tone that Clarity had never seen before, quite frankly, most people thought the head was emotionless.
"R..really?" Clarity mumbled, not really processing it properly.
"Why yes, and I am sending you to see him right away, come along now!"
The head called for her foster mother, as it was the only legal guardian she could reach and sent her off in her car. Clarity was filled with butterflies from excitement and a little anxiety, for she was still concerned about Ethan. The car pulled up at the hospital and without hesitation, Clarity barged in, so quick even the visitor's reception couldn't stop her, but they knew who she was from the abundant visits previously. She entered room 011 in the adult's ward, which was still hard to believe because Ethan had only recently turned eighteen. Her dearest brother sat up a little the second he saw her, but to her surprise, it seemed as though he was struggling. He did the best he could to hug his sister.
"Ethan! Oh my god, I'm so glad you're okay!"
It seemed as though he was trying to speak, but strange wheezing noises came out at every effort. But after what felt like forever, he eventually got a few words out.
"I.. managed to save the locket" Were the first words he said.
Clarity was perplexed that these were the words he chose to say because it seemed that it took great effort in which to say them. She ignored it. She looked at the locket around his neck, how he even put it on she didn't know, she felt evil inside of her, she felt remorseful about Ethan as if it was her fault, which wasn't entirely untrue in her eyes.
When she looked away, that feeling left.
"Clarity.., take the locket, so me and mum are with you.. always."
She was hesitant, but she knew he was adamant, so she detached it from his neck and put it in her pocket.
Out of nowhere, the beeps on the heart monitor began to accelerate with great speed. She froze, almost to the point where she couldn't hear her brother mutter...
"I..love you"
The monitor flatlined.