Elena embarked on a twenty-minute drive to her friend's house, in search of some much-needed guidance regarding the events unfolding in her life. Her visit was prompted by the strange reaction she had witnessed from Erica at Kelan's house. As she approached the gate, she couldn't help but notice how much time had passed since she had left her own home. Clover's house appeared different, evidently having undergone some renovations since her last visit. Without hesitation, Elena made her way to the gate and pressed the call button. Within moments, she was greeted by the familiar voice of her dear friend.
"Hi, who's at the gate?" Clover asked over the intercom. Elena grinned mischievously as she made her way to the camera. A sudden gasp echoed through the speaker, quickly followed by an exuberant scream. Elena couldn't help but laugh at Clover's enthusiastic reaction, and soon the gate began to slide open. As the gate slowly creaked apart, Elena caught sight of her friend dashing down the stairs from the front porch.
"ELENA!!!" Clover's voice rang out in a mix of shock and relief as she spotted her long-lost friend just a few meters away. Elena's heart raced as she took in the sight before her, anticipating what was about to happen. And then it did. Clover enveloped her in a tight hug, tears streaming down her face as she expressed her gratitude silently to the heavens. Elena felt the lump in her throat growing, but she held back the tears, afraid that if she let them out now, she might never stop. She needed to stay strong, for both her and Clover, knowing that breaking down in her friend's arms would only make it harder for her to move on.
"Elena...I was terrified, angry, and upset that I missed that one call! I...I'm sorry!" Clover's voice trembled as she poured out her emotions, clinging to Elena's shoulders. Elena's heart ached as she closed her eyes, feeling the weight of her friend's guilt and pain. Gently, she began to stroke Clover's hair, offering comfort and reassurance in the midst of their emotional reunion.
"I know you're feeling guilty right now...please don't blame yourself! Clover, I'm here with you! Please try not to get too overwhelmed by it all," Elena consoled her friend, who whimpered softly against her shoulder.
"Are...are you okay? Let me see your face!" Clover's voice wavered as she spoke in between sniffles, pulling back slightly to gaze at her friend's face. Tenderly, she cupped Elena's cheeks, and tears continued to stream down her own cheeks as she took in the changes in Elena's appearance.
"You can't hide this from me! Elena, something has happened to you because this isn't how I remember you!" Clover's voice cracked as she spoke, grappling with the reality of the changes in her friend over the past six months. Elena felt a lump in her throat, aching to release the truth she had been holding back for so long. Finally, unable to contain it any longer, she let the floodgates open, allowing her emotions to spill out.
"Clo...Clover...I'm sorry!" Elena's voice cracked as she broke down in front of her friend, her expression shifting to one of utter despair. Her face contorted with anguish, tears overflowing from her eyes, revealing the depth of her pain. Clover could sense that something truly devastating had happened for Elena to unravel so completely. Knowing Elena for years, since their early college days, this raw display of emotion was unfamiliar and alarming to Clover.
"It's okay...let it all out, my friend! Just let it out," Clover cooed soothingly as she held Elena tightly in her arms. Hot tears streamed down her face, and she clenched her eyelids shut, hoping to stop the flow. Yet, the tears continued to fall, as if her eyes were releasing all the unshed tears from past incidents she had bottled up due to pride. Her breathing came in choppy gasps, and her eyes remained watery as she stood motionless against her friend's shoulder, finding solace in their embrace.
"Come on, let's get you inside," Clover said softly, gently guiding her friend towards her house. Elena settled on the couch, taking a few moments to collect herself, while Clover busied herself preparing some coffee for them to share.
"Here you go, your cappuccino," Clover said with a soft smile as she handed it to Elena.
"Thank you," Elena replied gratefully as she accepted the mug in her hands. Clover leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Elena's hair before settling beside her. Elena felt a sense of relief wash over her after finally allowing herself to release the pent-up emotions that had weighed her down. Yet, despite the temporary solace of her tears, the pain still lingered, prompting her to reflect on the wounds that had left her heart and soul bruised.
"How is it, do I still have the touch?" Clover asked Elena as she watched her take a small sip of the coffee. Elena responded with a small smile in return.
"You still have it! It's perfect!" Elena mumbled, her throat feeling a bit sore. Clover returned the smile, placing her own mug on the nearby coffee table. She let out a sorrowful sigh, rubbing her knees slowly before starting a conversation with Elena.
"El, what happened?" Clover's eyes held a mix of concern and fear as she awaited Elena's response. Elena nervously bit her bottom lip, setting down the mug with shaky hands. It seemed as though her entire being was on edge, memories of the past triggering an intense cascade of emotions within her.
"I...I think you...you...know..." Elena stuttered, a single tear escaping her left eye. Clover's heart sank as her worst fears were confirmed. Her hand moved to her mouth, eyes brimming with tears.
"I...I...I...had a re...relapse...and...went into cardiac arrest!" Elena choked out the words, her throat constricting with emotion. She watched as her best friend silently cried before her, the pain evident in her tear-filled eyes.
"El! It's my fault!" Clover cried out in anguish, feeling responsible for what her friend had endured, blaming herself for not answering that one phone call. Elena immediately moved closer, taking her friend's hands in hers as she gazed into her tear-filled eyes.
"It's not! It's not your fault that I'm a shitty person... putting you through these things!" Elena cried out, squeezing Clover's hands tightly.
"I'm sorry! I'm really sorry for what I did!" Elena sobbed uncontrollably, seeking her friend's forgiveness. She knew how much Clover struggled when she resorted to her old ways to cope. Clover had always been a pillar of support, a loyal friend, a caring sister, someone who loved her unconditionally despite her flaws. But as much as Clover wished for Elena's well-being, she also wished for her to heal completely. She understood that Elena would never be able to break free from her negative patterns unless she addressed the deep wounds in her soul. It was only a matter of time before history repeated itself, as the first time Elena was found in a critical state.
"El...I've had this pain in my chest for the past six months of your disappearance, constantly worrying about you because deep down, I feared something terrible had happened to you," Clover confessed softly, her voice filled with sorrow and relief at having Elena back by her side.
"Every night, I relived that night in Los Angeles," Clover's voice cracked as she recalled the painful memories. Elena's gaze drifted away from her friend, overwhelmed with remorse for the events of that night.
"El, I'm not the same because of you! I'm not the same after that night because I thought you were gone! I don't know how I've coped till this day when I think about it," Clover's tears continued to flow. Elena felt utterly helpless seeing her friend in such agony, as Clover vividly relived the traumatic incident that occurred during a business trip in Los Angeles. That trip had ended with Elena spending a total of fifteen days in the hospital after being resuscitated by the hotel staff.
"I'm sorry, I'm a terrible friend for putting you through so much," Elena apologized, her eyes burning from the torrent of tears she had shed, an unprecedented outpouring of emotion that seemed overwhelming for her to bear. Her body felt ill-equipped to handle such intense feelings.
"El, you promised me that you would call me whenever you felt like falling! You should've kept calling me! Why, just why didn't I answer that damn call!" Clover berated herself, consumed by anger and regret. Elena reached out, grasping Clover's shoulders and gently urging her to meet her gaze.
"I'm sorry...please don't be mad at me, and don't blame yourself for it! Please...I don't want to cause you any more pain than what I have already put you through...please don't blame yourself!" Elena cried out, throwing herself into Clover's arms, seeking solace and comfort from her best friend. Clover held onto Elena tightly, realizing just how fortunate she was to have her back, knowing that things could have taken a different turn in another world.
"So your parents kept this hidden from everyone, even us, your friends?" Clover asked, holding Elena tightly in her arms. Elena nodded against her friend's chest and then slowly backed away.
"They didn't want anyone leaking information about my condition, and they didn't think you guys were trustworthy," Elena confessed. Clover scoffed in disbelief, shaking her head at the thought.
"If only they knew," Clover murmured, causing Elena to look at her with gratitude.
"Yeah, they... don't know that this was actually my second overdose," Elena sighed, her eyes reflecting deep pain. Clover pressed her lips together, gently grasping Elena's arm in a gesture of understanding and support.