Surrounded by the darkness, Emily's memories flowed back to her—good and bad, happy and sorrowful—all crashing over her as if she were experiencing them all over again in a matter of hours. A tear slid silently down her face. She could hear Carla arguing with Alex about her and slowly opened her eyes to see them standing at the foot of her bed. She tried to sit up, but a pounding headache stopped her. She raised her right arm to press against her head. As she was raising her hand, the sharp pain from the IV made her let out a small sound, which immediately drew Carla and Alex's attention.
"Emily," Carla called out, quickly coming to her side. "You're awake."
Alex walked to the other side of the bed and held her hand, but Emily quickly withdrew it, surprising them both. The tension in the room was palpable. Just then, the twins returned with Ed.
