Nina sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her oversized hoodie. Her mom stood beside her, holding her hand, and Isadora sat across the room, legs tucked under her, eyes locked on her best friend.
The doctor walked in with a quiet smile, flipping through a chart.
> “Well,” he said, finally meeting Nina’s eyes. “You’ve responded incredibly well to treatment. There’s no sign of aggressive cells. Your counts are strong.”
The room went completely still.
> “Wait,” Nina said, blinking. “What does that mean?”
> “It means,” the doctor said, “you’re winning. You’re beating this.”
Nina let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Isadora burst into tears and rushed over, pulling her into a tight hug.
> “I told you,” Isa whispered. “You’re the strongest person I know.”
Her mom’s hand covered her mouth, crying quietly. Nina just sat there, shocked — and smiling.
Later that day, the bands gathered in a private studio arranged just for them. The walls were covered in Polaroids of tour memories, and fairy lights were strung across the ceiling. Nina walked in wearing her favorite denim skirt and a cropped hoodie, her eyes wide as she saw the surprise.
A small banner read:
“Welcome Back, Nina 💖”
Tom gave her a soft side hug, and Bill handed her a single pink rose. Then Isadora stepped forward, nervously holding a mic.
> “I wrote this for you... when we didn’t know how the story would end. But now, it’s the beginning.”
She started singing a stripped-down ballad, voice trembling at first — but then, Nina heard the lyrics:
> “🎵 You fell down but rose again,
With fire in your fragile skin.
And every scar just lights your way —
You’re here, and you’re okay. 🎵”
Nina closed her eyes, hand over her heart.
For the first time in months, she felt whole again.
That night, Nina sat out on the balcony with Isa, sipping hot chocolate.
> “You know what’s wild?” Nina said. “I thought I’d never feel like myself again.”
Isadora leaned her head on her shoulder.
> “You didn’t get back to who you were,” she whispered. “You became someone even stronger.”
They both smiled, gazing up at the stars.
YOU ARE READING
"Strings Between Us
Romance2004. Germany. Tom Kaulitz is used to getting what he wants - the stage, the crowd, the girls. As Tokio Hotel begins to rise, so does his ego... until she shows up. She's the Brazilian guitarist in a rival band - quiet, sharp-tongued, and completely...
