Hope approached Alyssa's bed slowly and sat down. She stared at her daughter for a moment.
"Baby..." She managed as she pulled her girl into the warmest embrace Alyssa could ever remember. Hope couldn't contain her tears anymore. She had promised herself not to cry in front of Alyssa, but seeing her, knowing that she nearly died was too much for her.
"Oh baby, I love you so much." Hope managed to say. Alyssa was crying too now. She felt so blessed to be in her mother's arms again.
"Mommy, I'm so sorry." Alyssa whispered. Hope pulled out of the embrace and cupped Alyssa's face into her hands.
"No honey. Do not be sorry okay? Don't beat yourself up over it. It's in the past. We will get through this together." Hope promised. Alyssa looked up and saw Shawn and Bo. She stared into her father's eyes and knew that he had been crying. Her heart sank.
"Daddy..." She started and Bo went to her, pulling her so close, so tight. He never wanted to let go. He bit his lip as he held his only daughter close to his heart.
"I love you sailor girl." He said as his voice shook.
"I love you too dad." Alyssa cried out. As she looked over her dad's shoulder, she saw Shawn and her eyes glistened with new tears. Her big brother, her best friend, had tears in his eyes.
"Shawn. Please don't cry." Alyssa managed to say as she released herself from her dad's grasp. She stared up at her brother as he walked toward her slowly. She got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around Shawn's neck as her wrapped his around her waist. As the siblings held each other, they cried together.
"Alyssa, I was so afraid I lost you. I love you so much and I couldn't handle life without you." Shawn said as he squeezed his sister tighter. Alyssa never felt more loved than she did that moment. Surrounded by her wonderful family made her thank God she was alive.
Marlena and Belle watched from outside the hospital room. Marlena leaned over and held her daughter close and kissed her forehead. Belle turned to look into her mom's eyes.
"What was that for?" She asked. Marlena smiled.
"I'm just so lucky to have you, Belle. I hope you always know that." She said quietly.
"I do mom. I know you and dad love me. I have parents who love each other and who love me. That's all that matters." Belle replied as they turned back to see Alyssa talking to her family. Marlena knew she was finally allowing them back into her life.
"You're right Belle. In that respect, Alyssa is just as lucky." She said as she held Belle close.
"Oh honey. Why did you have to go through this all alone?" Hope asked, after Alyssa told her family what had driven her to that butcher knife.
"I don't know why I couldn't tell you. I guess I just wanted to pretend that everything was okay. I didn't want to accept it and talking about it meant accepting it." Alyssa felt so ashamed, but felt better after telling her family the truth.
"Well, you're definitely not going back to that school. I won't let you go through that again." Hope promised.
"We'll get you started at a new school where you can get a fresh start and stay away from that cheerleader." Bo added. Alyssa smiled. Her family meant the world to her and here they were, still loving her and taking care of her, even after she tried to take her own life. She felt as though God had given her a second chance. She felt blessed and happy to be with her family. As she looked into their warm, happy faces, she trusted that things would be okay from now on. She was loved, and to her, that was all that mattered.