Hamilton Mania, becoming an orphan: lonely (book)

Book Club, Tik Tok: "I'm not a stranger to your love of lost causes, dear one.", book, protect

Showtime, Stay Alive (reprise): "Who did this?"

Amber's Attic: KatieLeanne

Emy's Emporium, Portugal: lonely

Lo's Lowdown: "You don't believe in anything."/"I believe in you."

Word Count: 390

Eventually, the visitors stop coming. Her parents still frequent her room, but they hardly count. It's their jobs to make sure Katie is okay, after all.

She sits in silence, opening a book her father had left behind. It's something filled with complicated magic and confusing diagrams, but it's her only connection left, the only thing that reminds her there's something beyond her room at St. Mungo's.

"Knock knock."

A frown tugs at her lips when she hears Leanne's voice. "I'm no stranger to your love of lost causes, dear one," she calls out. "But I think I'm beyond your help."

"Hush," Leanne sighs, entering the room and closing the door behind her. She crosses the short distance and sits in the chair beside the bed. "You aren't a lost cause."

"Aren't you going to ask?"

Leanne tips her head to the side, her bright green eyes studying Katie curiously. "Ask what?"

"Who did this? Did I know? What really happened?"

The words come out in a bored, mechanical tone. She hasn't been asked much else since the necklace incident, and it's only increased her loneliness. Does she really matter if no one takes the time to care about her?

"I'd rather know how you're doing," Leanne says, resting her hand on Katie's. "I should have found a way to protect you. I…"

Katie lifts her friend's hand to her mouth, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "There wasn't really anything you could have done."

"I could. I failed you."

Eyes rolling, Katie shakes her head. "I don't believe that."

Leanne snorts. "You don't believe in anything," she counters.

"I believe in you." Katie draws a shaky breath. It should be such a simple sentence, but it makes her heart flutter. She wonders if Leanne can hear the confession in it. "And I know you could never fail me."

"I love you too much for that."

The silence that follows that is surprisingly comfortable. Katie grins. "I love you too," she whispers.

"Thank God."

"Is that what I had to do? Be on my deathbed to get you to tell me you love me?" Katie teases.

"Shut up."

A laugh falls from her lips, and Katie realizes it's the first time she's laughed in what feels like ages. Slowly, the loneliness begins to fade, and she feels only love.