Saccharine
9.

They visit Madoka every day. She changes a little. Grows paler, grows thinner... but at least the scars and bruises fade away, and underneath them the broken bonds become whole. Her eyelids flutter every now and then, and the time they spend in the hospital creeps up once again.

They'd been hiding away in Mami's apartment in the interim and Mami's heart was so full it was about to burst - and that was painful, so painful, more painful than losing the accident and losing her parents to it... but so different as well. Her heart had been empty then, empty like the witch who built her house out of sweets.

It's overflowing now, and somewhere in the back of her mind, she's sure that was the witch's desire as well.

Suddenly, they're all crying. Tears beget tears... but friendship, Madoka's kind of friendship, begets friendship as well.