It started with a message.
One single notification.
Unknown number.
Meera stared at her phone for a long time before opening it.
Her hands were still weak from the hospital.
Her mind still heavy from everything she had stopped crying about.
The message was short.
"If you still remember her… come to City Hospital, Ward 4. Tonight."
No name.
No explanation.
Just fear disguised as invitation.
Meera's heart tightened.
Because she knew only one person who could pull her back into pain like this.
Rani.
Against medical advice, she left.
Not carefully.
Not logically.
Just instinctively.
Rain had returned to the city.
Like it always did when life became heavier.
At City Hospital, the corridors felt endless.
Too white.
Too quiet.
Too real.
Ward 4.
She stopped outside the door.
Her breath refused to move.
Inside—
she saw her.
Rani.
Lying on the bed.
Bandages on her arm.
Face pale.
Eyes closed.
Too still.
Meera couldn't move.
The world didn't make sound anymore.
Just pressure.
A nurse noticed her.
"She was brought in after an accident," the nurse said softly.
"Hit by a vehicle near the shelter office. No ID at first."
Meera stepped forward slowly.
Like walking into something she already knew would destroy her.
Rani's eyes slowly opened.
And for a second…
neither of them spoke.
Because speech was too small for what existed between them.
Rani's voice came out weak.
"You came…"
Meera's lips trembled.
"Of course I came."
A pause.
Heavy. Emotional. Broken.
Rani tried to smile.
"I told myself… if anything like this happened… you wouldn't show up."
Meera shook her head immediately.
"I hate you for thinking that."
Silence.
Then a small, painful laugh from Rani.
"Still angry at me?"
Meera's eyes filled.
"No… I was just… waiting."
Rani's expression softened.
"Waiting for what?"
Meera whispered:
"For you to stop disappearing from my life."
That broke something in Rani's face.
For the first time, she looked scared.
Not of pain.
But of loss.
"I didn't plan to come back into your life like this," Rani said softly.
Meera stepped closer.
"Then how did you plan it?"
Rani didn't answer immediately.
Then whispered:
"I didn't."
A long silence followed.
Machines beeped softly in the background.
Life continuing.
Even here.
Even now.
Meera finally sat beside her.
Carefully.
Like if she moved too fast, reality would break again.
"I thought you left me forever," Meera admitted.
Rani closed her eyes.
"I thought leaving you was the only way to protect you."
Meera shook her head.
"It didn't protect me."
A pause.
"It destroyed me slowly."
That truth stayed in the room.
Heavy.
Honest.
Unavoidable.
Rani turned her head slightly.
"Meera…"
Meera looked at her instantly.
"Yes?"
Rani hesitated.
Then said:
"I'm tired of running from you."
Meera's breath caught.
"I'm tired too," she whispered back.
Silence.
But this time…
it didn't feel empty.
It felt full.
Of everything they had lost.
And everything they still hadn't stopped feeling.
Outside the room, thunder cracked.
The sky shook.
Like it was reacting to something finally returning.
Rani whispered:
"If I stay now… everything will get worse again."
Meera nodded slowly.
"I know."
Another pause.
Then Meera said something softer:
"But at least it will be real."
Rani looked at her for a long time.
Then slowly reached out her hand.
Meera held it immediately.
Without hesitation this time.
Not perfect.
Not healed.
But together.
Again.