But For Me, the Time Has Stopped | Tso Epilogue
âTheyâre waking up!â
Everyone was buzzing with the news - some of the students who had inexplicably fallen into comas 6 long months ago were starting to wake up. As soon as the words fell upon Suyin Tsoâs ears, she froze momentarily before letting the chopsticks fall from her grasp, clattering to the table. She nearly tripped over her own feet trying to get out of the chair, but she caught her balance within two more stumbling steps and kept going, leaving her food right where it was. That could wait.
How many long hours - no, days - had she spent at that window, wishing that she could hold their hand and hear their voice? How many tears had she shed while she watched over their unmoving body, how many prayers had she said in the hopes that it would make them stir? And now⌠finally, at long last⌠they were waking up. Her beloved Harue.
Her heart pounded against her ribcage, and she could hear the blood rushing by her ears. She couldnât suppress the hopeful grin spread across her face - but after all, why should she? Sheâd known this day was coming, sheâd known, even though their parents had started to give up hope.
She made her way as quickly as she could to the glass pane that had separated her from her cousin these past six months, pressing herself to the wall to let the bustling doctors, nurses, and scientists pass as needed. When the last door was in sight, she broke into a sprint, anxious to see them. In her mind, she rehearsed lines that she would use to convince the doctors to let her go back and physically be with them, even for just a moment. Surely, in this situation, theyâd let her through? After all, sheâd been here pretty much every day since she located them.
Suyin grasped the handle of the door and pulled it open, breathlessly running in. There was a sparkle in her eyes that hadnât been there for months, that had faded with Harueâs consciousness.
There it was, just ahead, that glass window pane she knew so well. 6 steps. 5 steps. 4. 3. She turned to look, her eyes seeking their face, their dark disheveled hair, their brown eyes open for the first time in six months.
â.... !â Suyin froze, a startled gasp escaping as her eyes locking on Harue.
Harue, lying in the bed, not moving.
Harue, whose eyes were shut.
Harue, who was passed by the doctors who were treating five of the students.
Within seconds, her vision of them blurred as tears filled her eyes and began cascading down her cheeks. It wasnât fair, it wasnât fair, it wasnât fair. Suyinâs legs gave out under her and she collapsed to the floor, sobbing, with one hand clutching the bottom of the window pane. She felt like she had been hit by a truck, and her shoulders shook as she cried. The disappointment she felt was indescribable.
The only one of the students that she cared about wasnât one of the ones who were sitting up, who were talking, who were conscious and moving. The only one she cared about was still all but dead.
It had been months since those five kids had woken up. At first, Suyin had spent almost every waking moment waiting by that glass window, looking in and hoping to catch a glimpse of Harueâs eyes flickering open, or their finger twitching⌠for anything. One of the kids, a tall boy in purple, had been asking around for her not long after waking up. Harueâs iPod⌠he said theyâd asked for her to have it. If they could ask for him to give it to her, then that meant there was still hope, right? But as time passed⌠as the days turned into weeks, she slowly migrated to visiting less - usually only once a day.
But less didnât mean she had given up.
Suyin sighed, pressing her fingertips to the cool glass and letting her gaze wander from their face to the machines they were hooked up to. They were alive, thatâs what mattered. They were alive, and as long as that was true she wouldnât give up.
âI believe in you, Harue,â Suyin whispered, her voice barely audible. âPlease, just⌠keep fighting⌠I know youâll come back.â Swallowing, she quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and looked down. No matter how long it took, no matter who else gave up, she would still be there, ready and waiting. The girl hesitated for a moment, then looked back at them, smiling sadly.
âIâll never give up on you.â
Another day, another night
The world goes on, time goes by
But for me the time has stopped, has stopped
You're here by me, where you belong
We laugh and kiss, our love is strong
Another second, another minute of my dream...