Chapter 2 - Empty Denial
Song: Hello, by Evanescence
Paige sat staring at the wall in front of her. How? How could it have happened? Her sister, her strong sister, so close to death?
It had been like a punch in the stomach, seeing her. Prue had been in the coma for three days, and Grams had finally given in and taken Paige and her sisters to see her. She had said she didn't want them to see her like that, but Paige heard Grams telling Piper it was because the doctors had said Prue might not wake up.
Her hair had been greasy. Prue never let her hair get greasy, hated it. And she had been pale, too pale. Without any make-up, her face swollen and bruised, Prue hadn't looked like Prue. And the sight was all Paige could think of.
Playground school bell rings again
Rain clouds come to play again
Piper knocked on the bedroom door, then put her head round it.
"Hiya, sweetie." She murmured a very forced smile on her face. "I thought I'd check on you...are you hungry?"
Hungry? Food? Paige tried to think, tried to decide if she wanted to eat, but felt...nothing. Just empty. She finally shook her head.
"You have to eat." Piper whispered.
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello, I am your mind giving you someone to talk to
Hello
"I'm not hungry." Paige replied, just as quietly.
"I...Well, let me know if you want something..." Piper murmured, then left. If she had thought about it, Paige would have been glad Piper had sensed she didn't want to be hugged. But she didn't think about it, didn't think about anything...she was empty.
Prue could die. What would she do if that happened? You weren't supposed to lose a sister at fourteen...sure, if she was old...
Prue wouldn't die. She was too strong for that. What did doctors know? They didn't know Prue, how unbeatable she was...
They were wrong, of course. Paige felt a sudden, short-lived, burst of anger. Her sisters and Grams obviously believed the doctors. How dare they? How dare they doubt Prue? Prue wouldn't be beaten by some stupid driver who didn't see her walking. She would wake up soon, prove them all wrong, and they'd see. And Paige would tell Prue how they doubted her, and Prue would roll her eyes, tell them how stupid they were to think that. Then she'd want to wash her hair. Paige smiled vaguely at that.
If I smile and don't believe
Soon I know I'll wake from this dream
It didn't feel like any time had passed, but when Phoebe opened the bedroom door Paige realised it was dark around her.
"Are you OK?" Phoebe asked, walking over to her own bed.
"Fine." Paige mumbled distractedly.
"It's eleven." Phoebe said, her voice showing the length of time she had been crying. "I thought you'd be asleep."
Paige didn't reply, just slipped under the covers of her bed. She was still in her clothes, but couldn't be bothered changing.
"Why didn't you come downstairs?" Phoebe asked. "It would have been better to be with us...talk, maybe."
"I'm fine." Paige repeated. She didn't close her eyes, just looked up at the ceiling.
"No, your not. You're upset. We all are."
"I'm fine. Prue's going to be fine. Come on, Pheebs, this is Prue. Nothing can keep her down. She'll be awake soon."
"Paige...She's a human being, just like the rest of us."
Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken
Hello I'm the lie living for you so you can hide
Don't cry
"She'll be OK." Paige repeated, still believing it.
"You're in denial." Phoebe said, almost sleepily. "It's not healthy..."
"She's fine. Have you ever thought she's staying under on purpose? How often does she just get to sleep and not worry?"
"If...if you say so..." Phoebe said finally, deciding she didn't want to be the one to break her little sister's dreams. Paige nodded in the darkness.
As if Prue would die. Stupid. Stupid doctors.
Slowly, a small bit of doubt crept into her mind. But she forced it away, and went back to not thinking, not feeling.
Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping
Hello I-I'm still here
All that's left of yesterday
She had to wake up. Had to.
