December 6, 2020 (Present Time)

Dexter stares at the ceiling, the chipped white paint blurry before his sore eyes. His head is heavy with fog, mist that snakes around his brain, constricting every memory that is aching to burst to life. His chest is tight, bound by the cold iron shackles of fear. He's trapped in the mind of his fourteen year-old self, the supposed memories of the last seven years wiped from his brain like a rag against a chalkboard; leaving nothing behind but white dust, hiding the blackness of the board beneath. He feels helpless, a little boy who wants to cry for his mother but is too afraid to make a sound.

He doesn't know how long he lies there on the lumpy mattress of the hospital bed. It isn't until he hears the chirping of birds that he finally turns his head. Pale orange light shines into the room, sparkling against the clear glass of the windowpane. He lets out a slow breath, his eyes burning from the glare of the bright morning light. No matter how lost and alone he feels, the sun still rises. This thought comforts him, but the reassuring feeling quickly fades as Nurse Kristin walks in with his breakfast on a tray. The hospital food is disgusting. His stomach contorts from just the thought of the dry scrambled eggs and the runny oatmeal. Nurse Kristin is his favorite nurse, though, so he still manages a smile as she places the tray on the table by his bed.
"Thank you," he says, his voice scarcely above a whisper.
Nurse Kristin smiles at him, her blue eyes bright with kindness.
"You're welcome, sweetie," she replies. "Also, your brother and sister are here to see you."
His stomach jolts.

He slowly turns his gaze to the door where he hadn't even noticed them standing. Seeing them in their adult bodies, so tall and strong and attractive, is terrifying. It's especially strange to see Darling looking so confident and regal, like she's ready to take on the world. He remembers her as a small, awkward teenager, quietly sitting with her nose in a book, only showing her wild side when it was just her, him, and Daring. Now she's tall and muscular, built like a goddess, her eyes bright with focus and determination. She's a warrior now, not a confused teenager, and he knows it's going to take some time to get used to this new Darling.
"You two can come in now!" Nurse Kristin says cheerfully.

Darling and Daring slowly make their way over to Dexter's bed, shy smiles on their faces. They look just as nervous as Dexter feels. They're just so different. They've changed so much. And it leaves Dexter feeling more confused than he's ever been.
"Hey, Dexter," Darling says softly. "How are you doing?"
Dexter swallows, his throat dry.
"I'm good," he says, his voice shaking slightly with the anxiety that swirls within him.
Darling smiles gently. She sits down in a chair by the bed. Daring pulls over another one to sit in. They sit quietly, the silence between them charged with the fear they're all trying to hide.
"I'll leave you guys alone," Nurse Kristin says gently.
Dexter's stomach flutters with anxiety as she disappears out the door. Nurse Kristin has been the one constancy in his life the past few days, and when she leaves and he's left there with these strangers that shouldn't be strangers, he suddenly feels overwhelmed. He struggles to take a full breath, only a little oxygen reaching his lungs as he breathes in.

"Dexter," Darling whispers.
He's barely turned his head to look when a weight suddenly settles next to him. Warm arms surround him, and before he knows what's happening, Darling is holding him tight. She buries her face in his shoulder, her body shaking with sobs. A sharp pain races through his chest, as it always does when a person he loves is in pain.
"Darling," he whispers, placing a trembling hand on her back.
"I thought you were going to die!" Darling sobs. "I was so scared!" She gasps and hiccups as she struggles to speak. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Dexter! You're my-my baby brother! I can't lose you!"
She chokes out a sob, squeezing him tighter. Dexter swallows, his throat suddenly swollen.
"You won't lose me," he whispers. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
He takes a deep breath, the smell of vanilla wafting up his nostrils. It's Darling's scent, he realizes. The vanilla perfume she got for her twelfth birthday and never stopped wearing.

And it's with this jarring recollection that tears begin streaming down her face. This is Darling. His twin sister. It doesn't matter if she looks different. She's still the same person, the same sister that loves her brother unconditionally. He melts into the warmth of her embrace, burying his face in her soft curls.
"I'm so confused," he chokes out, the words leaving him before he can process them. "And I'm so scared. I don't-" He lets out a shaky breath. "I don't really know who I am anymore, and I'm-" He breaks down, his tears overwhelming him.
Darling holds him even tighter.
"I love you, Dexter," she whispers. "I'm here. It's going to be okay."
Dexter holds on to her and cries like the terrified little boy he is. He gasps as another pair of arms envelop him.
"I love you," Daring murmurs, his voice deep and soft. "Darling and I are here for you. You're not alone."
He's crying, too. Dexter can feel the tears on his hair, on his shirt, on his face. Tears of sorrow, relief, fear. They sit in each other's arms and mourn, while outside the sun continues to rise, bathing the world in its warm golden glow.

XXX
"Checkmate!" Dexter exclaims, triumphant once again as he wins his third chess game.
He laughs, knocking over Darling's last piece.
"You swear you're not letting me win?" he asks for the umpteenth time.
"I promise!" Darling insists.
Dexter laughs joyously, happy that he can still play chess well, that not all his knowledge has abandoned him.
"Now let's play a game I'm good at!" Daring says excitedly.
Darling snorts. "Like what?"
Daring slaps her arm.
"Be nice!" he admonishes.
They all laugh. Some things really never change, Dexter realizes. Siblings will always tease each other.
"How about Monopoly?" Daring suggests.
"We don't have enough space," says Darling.
"Well, we can make space!" Daring exclaims. "We can scoot the table by the bed over to this table!"
"That sounds like an awful lot of work," Darling says.
Daring scoffs. "Says the girl who runs fifteen miles every morning!"
Darling rolls her eyes. "Fine! Let's do it!"
"Yeah!" Daring enthuses, pumping his fist in the air.
Dexter smiles, watching his siblings bicker as they shove the tables together. For the first time since the accident, he feels like everything might turn out okay.