"I need to the restroom. Will you be alright for a few minutes?"

I merely nodded as I watched my older sister hurry off to the bathroom.

Today has not been easy to get through. Knowing my suffering sister was next to me, I couldn't sleep. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sleep. If I was lucky enough to rest for a moment; my mind ran away from me. Those horrible images in my mind that kept repeating themselves made me afraid to sleep. I wound up just watching her unconsciously laying there; holding her hand so gently as if not to hurt her further.

With the help of a lot of citizens, Yekaterina arrived at the hospital in record time. However, Natalya had been taken away for surgeries just before she got there. And pacing around the empty room drove us insane; so desperate to escape it for a while.

Like the doctor advised, we went out to get some supplies while we waited for more news. Hours we spent trying to kill time felt like only a few minutes as we bought everything we needed. We picked up some cots so we could have somewhere to try and sleep; plenty of snacks and drinks to last, things to do as we waited for Natalya to wake up. We also swung by my house to make sure we had plenty of clean clothes to change into. For the most part, we have enough stuff so we don't have to leave the hospital again.

And now we've stopped for a quick dinner before returning to the hospital. But the menu couldn't stop me from thinking of Natalya. Especially without my older sister to hold me together.

My phone began vibrating, scaring me out of my thoughts. I didn't want to even talk to anyone but maybe it was the hospital. Checking, I saw it was my boyfriend calling me. Well, I could talk to him.

"Hello?"

"Ni hao, love," Yao's cheerful voice sang through the phone. "I wanted to know if you wanted to go to the that meeting together. I could come up early then we go to Germany together."

Oh right! There's a G8 meeting in a few days. But how am I going to leave Natalya while she's like this?

"I'm not sure if I can even go," I sighed, looking around for my sister but she was still in the bathroom.

"You sound sad, honey. What's wrong?"

"My sister was in a car accident," I started to tear up but forced it down; barely getting the words out."

"Oh no! Ukraine?"

"Belarus. She's in pretty bad shape," I choked out, tears winning their way down my cheeks.

"The poor thing! Don't you worry! I'll get you out of the meeting! You focus on your sister," he spoke rather quickly but I could still feel his love in every word. "Call me if you need me. I'll come help as much as I can."

"I will," I managed, still having trouble getting words out. "I should go."

"Feel better. Call me."

He hung up with a click just as Yekaterina came back to the table. With the sight of my tears, her arms were around me as she pushed my head between her breast.

"Don't cry, baby boy. I know it's hard," she cooed to me, holding me in comfort. It surprised me how well she was keeping it together so I could cry.

I let myself cry in chest for a few minutes before the waitress came to take our order. My stomach rumbled yet I felt like I couldn't eat. Every time I thought about food I felt like throwing up. But I needed the strength for Natalya.

It took a lot of convincing but Yekaterina got me to eat something. The food didn't sit well but at least there was something in my stomach.

We returned to the hospital and were relieved to see Natalya back in the room.

"Oh my poor baby!"

I watched my big sister's eyes fill up with tears at sight of Natalya's broken frame. For her, this must be the worst sight. After all, I couldn't hold it together either.

"May I come in?"

I turned to see the doctor standing in the doorway with a clipboard. Nodding, I took a seat as I felt the anxiety rise in my chest.

"Well, I have good news," he spoke without looking up from the clipboard. "She seems to be responding well. All of the current surgeries have gone quite well. It's going to take time for her to heal but it's good progress."

The wave of relief that washed over my sister and myself was obvious. We both let out a heavy sigh; feeling some weight lifted off our shoulders. At this point, any news is good news.

The doctor left after that and I decided to set up the cots while Yekaterina unpacked the blankets.

"I'm so tired, " she sighed but still looked a little happy. "I'm glad she's doing a little better. I can't stand seeing her suffer so much."

"I can't believe I let his happen," I choked out, starting to cry again. The guilt about how she left never stopped bothering me. "It's all my fault."

My sister wrapped her arms around me and pulled me down on the cot. Automatically, I put my head in her breasts; my most comforting place. She covered us with the blanket before stroking my hair with her gentle hands. I almost felt like a kid again; needing her comforting touch.

"Hush, baby," she cooed, holding me close. "It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault. You couldn't have known. Now all we can do is take care of her and give her lots of love."

This went on for a while until she could convince me otherwise. I could feel myself nodding off in her arms. Well, some sleep couldn't kill me. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to fall asleep.

"B...ra..ht..."

Thank you, attumsky123 and ChrystalizeMyHeart! Reviews like that make me happy!