“Talk to me. I may not be able to make them go away pretty girl, but I can try fight them for you. It might help if you tell me what happened,” Kaden’s tone softened. It broke my heart at how caring he was being, I loved him that much more for it. But I couldn’t, I really couldn’t talk about it.

Talking about it would make it become more of a reality. It seemed stupid, because of course I went through hell and it was a reality. But I just didn’t want to think about it anymore. I wanted to forget it ever happened, but there were two things holding me back, from moving on. My brother and my nightmares.

It was not my brother’s fault, god I sounded like a bitch blaming her brother for being unconscious in a hospital bed, but it wasn’t what I meant. Argh, it was hard to explain what I meant when I didn’t know anymore.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw their faces again. I saw them torture my brother, I felt them pummel me with their fists all over again. It was like I was choking, I could barely breathe. I yelled for them to stop, begged for them to stop. But they didn’t hear me, they laughed, they laughed in my face. They found mine and Caleb’s pain funny. Like the sick and twisted bastards, they were.

I wanted the nightmares to stop, I prayed to anything or anyone that was beyond me to get them to stop, but nobody listened to me. I used to love sleep, and now I dreaded when sleep came. I tried my hardest to stay awake, but my body needed to rest. I needed the rest.

The pain I was in, it was unbearable. I wanted to scream. My ribs hurt so bad, my face was swollen, the scars were thick and ugly. But I told myself, I was a survivor not a victim. I started to believe it, but now I found myself falling into depression.

I felt terrible. Kaden had been so patient with me. It couldn’t be easy on him neither, seeing me this way, seeing me in pain, but each night he held me, and it eased me somewhat.

“Eva,” Kaden broke through my thoughts. “Did you hear me?”

“Yeah sorry,” guilt washed over me, I zoned out again. “I will talk to you Kaden, I promise I will tell you everything,” I grabbed his hand. “Just not yet ok, I’m not ready. I admit that I’m struggling right now, but I will be ok. We just have to give it time.”

He let out a deep sigh, “ok Eva. But if it becomes worse and I can see that it’s getting to much for you. I won’t be patient no more, I will make you tell me.”

I nodded. That was all I did now, I was like a nodding dog. It sounded hilarious, but it wasn’t, because that wasn’t me.

“Hey mum,” I bent down and kissed her cheek, then sat beside her, next to Caleb’s bed. “How you doing?”

“I’m fine honey,” she said she was fine, but her voice was thick with emotion. “How are you Eva? Have you been taking your medication?”

“Yeah, I have. Don’t worry about me I’m fine.”

She tutted me, “you’ve never been a good liar you know?”

I laughed, “am I that obvious?”

She nodded, “too obvious dear. Now the truth please, how are you doing?”

“Shit,” I admitted. “I’m in pain. Sleep sucks and my oldest brother is being stubborn and not waking up.”

She squeezed my hand, “I know he’s a stubborn as hell. Must run in the family,” she raised her brows at me.

“Please,” I waved her off, “I’m not stubborn.”

“Yes Eva, you damn well are,” Kaden added. Coming through the door with two coffees. He gave one to my mum and kissed her cheek. “Hello Melody. Looking lovely as always.”

“Hello darling,” she shook her head chuckling. “And seriously Kaden, you can stop with that old shit now, I don’t need charming no more, you won me over a long time ago.”

He winked at mum, she threw her head back laughing. I bit back a smirk, he really did know how to lighten the mood in the most shitiest of circumstances. Kaden handed me my coffee, which I took eagerly.

“Did you put sugar in it?”

“Yep, two sugars,” he kissed my hair, then sat on the other side of the bed.

I turned my attention back to mum. “Any changes?”

She blew out a breath. “the swelling around the brain is barely visible. They’ve finally stopped the internal bleeding and they’ve took his breathing tube out now, so he is able to breath on his own,” she then smiled wide. “It’s great news Eva, it’s only a matter of time now, he could wake up very soon.”

“Oh mum,” I cried, grabbing her in a hug. “That’s great,” I sniffled. “So great.”

“There’s something else though,” I froze. “He might suffer with amnesia. Only mild, it’s not a definite. It’s a maybe, but I’m just telling you, so you can prepare yourself darling.”

“Ok then,” I pulled back from the hug and sipped my coffee. “No matter what though, he’s got us, will get him through this.”

“We will baby,” Kaden added. “We’ll be there for him,” I beamed at his reply. Because he was right. Caleb was my brother and I’d do just about anything for him. I couldn’t wait until he woke up, I just hoped he wouldn’t suffer with nightmares as I did.

“When do you think you’ll come back to college?” Liv asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it,” I replied, and in truth I hadn’t thought about it. My head had been all over the place, to even think of college, and since I’d woken up from my coma I had been second guessing my whole life. I wasn’t sure college is what I wanted anymore. I went because I knew it was what you were supposed to do when you finish high school and now. Now I wasn’t so sure, I did enjoy my courses and being with my best-friends, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do in the future, I hadn’t figured that out yet, maybe I should start putting some real thought into it.

“Hey,” Elaine grabbed my hands, holding them in hers. “You don’t have to think about that yet, you’re healing. There’s no rush.”

“Yeah,” I smiled. “You’re right.”

It was Saturday night and the girls had come over to have a takeaway with me and watch films. I felt guilty because I didn’t want them to get bored and feel like they had to babysit me. But they had assured me there was no place they’d rather be, but it still didn’t stop my anxious thoughts.

Kaden had to go to the club again. The business didn’t seem to run as smoothly without him. I didn’t mind, it really didn’t bother me, but he hated to leave me on my own, so he always called the girls. It was nice that he thought of me, but I wasn’t that fragile, I could survive on my own. At least I thought so.

Josh and Callum had been partying it up. I worried for their livers with the amount of alcohol they both consumed. I think it was because they were struggling, although I knew they wouldn’t admit it out loud, but they were struggling because our brother still hadn’t woken up, it had been two weeks since things had changed. But he still wouldn’t wake up, stubborn arse. Doctor Roberts said it was because he’s body wasn’t ready yet, that it had been through such a traumatic experience, it needed time to function the way it used to.

I wasn’t worried, not like I had been. I had faith that he would wake up, I knew him, I knew my brother he was a fighter.

“How’s things between you and Eric?” I asked around a mouthful of Chinese.

Elaine shrugged, “we’re not together.”

“What” I dropped my folk with a clash. “Since when, what happened and why didn’t you tell me?”

She chewed her mouthful of Chinese then placed her folk down. “You had a lot going on Eva you didn’t need my drama. We just weren’t working out.”

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she smiled. “I’m actually great.”

“Plenty more fish in the sea and all that jazz,” Liv added. “Hey, didn’t you say something like that in h—”

“Don’t even go there,” I warned. “I was trying to comfort him, but it went all wrong,” they threw their heads back laughing. “Tell me why you’re my friends again,” I grumbled.

“Because you love us,” Elaine said sweetly.

“And for your information. We’re best-friends not friends.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

“Forgiven,” they said in unison. We all burst out laughing, it felt so good to laugh and not worry.

That night Kaden and I curled up on the sofa and watched a film. I was close to falling asleep on his chest, when my phone rang.

Grabbing my phone, a private number flashed across the screen. I picked it up.

“Hello.”

“Eva. It’s Doctor Roberts,” my stomach started to churn anxiously. “Your brother is awake.”

“He’s what?” I gasped.

“He’s awake,” I heard him smile through the phone, “and he would really love to see his family. Shall I t—”

“I’m on the way,” I tapped Kaden’s arm. “Kaden oh my god,” I jumped from the sofa. “It’s Caleb. He’s awake,” tears spilled onto my cheeks. “Come on, we need to go.”

A throat cleared, informing me that I had never hung up on the Doc. “Oh sorry,” I laughed. “I’m going to go now,” I muttered embarrassingly.

“See you soon,” he chuckled.

Dropping my phone on the sofa. I lunged for Kaden, he caught me on instinct. “Oh Kaden, he’s finally awake,” I sniffled. “I get to hear his voice again.”

He rubbed my back in a soothing motion and spoke into the crook of my neck. “It’s fantastic baby, now come on. Get your sweet ass ready. We need to hit the road.”

I nodded, jumping down, “Ok” I started off for the bedroom. “I’ll be a sec,” I shouted over my shoulder.

Rummaging around my clothes. I threw on Kaden’s hoodie, his scent enveloped around me, bringing me comfort. I slipped out of pyjama shorts and threw on some leggings then slipped into my trainers.

Running out of the room. I grabbed Kaden’s hand and pulled us out of the front door.

“Slow down,” Kaden chuckled. “I gotta lock the front door.”

“Sorry,” I said, not wiping my smile of my face. This was the moment I had been waiting for, for nearly a month now. My brother had finally woken up, I get to hear his voice, I get to tell him I was ok, I get to tell him the monsters who took us were now dead. I get to hug him and finally comfort him. I could finally breathe.

I burst through the doors of Caleb’s hospital room. Mum was lying her head on Caleb’s chest as she cried, he shushed her and stroked her hair soothingly.

Josh and Callum held each-other, the emotion in their expressions were real. They were happy, our brother was finally awake.

My knees almost gave away, I held on to Kaden’s arm for support. My heart was pounding so fast you would think I had ran a marathon.

“Eva,” Caleb’s voice was thick with emotion.

“Oh god,” I covered my mouth with my hands. My body was shaking violently, tears were falling fast now. “Caleb,” I ran to him and hugged him tightly around the neck, he groaned in pain. “Sorry,” I stood up and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

“Can we have a moment?” Caleb asked the room.

Once everyone had vacated the room. I took a seat beside Caleb’s bed and held his hand.

“You look well lil sis,” He croaked. “How have you been doing?”

“I’ve been better,” I admitted. “But I am so much better now you’re awake. I really thought, t-that y-y—”

“Shush,” he squeezed my hand. “I’m here and you’re here. That’s all that matters, right?”

I nodded, “are they still alive? I hadn’t really had the chance to talk to anyone. Mum was too busy babying me.”

I laughed, then quickly sobered. “They’re dead Caleb. Kaden killed them.”

“Good,” his eyes flashed with anger. “Really good,” we sat in silence for a moment. He looked so different now, weaker. His body was skinnier than before, almost frail. It was strange to see my once muscled, healthy brother now vulnerable. It broke my heart.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get you out sooner,” he sighed deeply. “I wish I could’ve fought for you more.”

“You fought enough Caleb. You gave me time, you saved me,” I told him. “I wish it was me that had fought for you more. I didn’t do enough, I could’ve helped you.”

“They were stronger than you Eva, much stronger. But you fought, and you survived we both did.”

I kissed his cheek, “we’re not victims Caleb. We’re survivors.”

“I know Eva,” he smiled, tears falling onto his cheeks. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” tears spilled onto my cheeks again, I wiped them away. “Shit, I’ve cried so much over this last month, it’s ridiculous,” I laughed.

“Come here,” he waved me over. I stood up and bent down and gave him a big cuddle, this time not applying as much pressure not wanting to hurt him.

“I’ll get the others,” I told him.

“Ok,” he nodded.

Grabbing the others, we all sat around Caleb room, talking to one another like nothing had ever happened. It was good to be together again, as one, as a family. Yes, it was under awful circumstances, yes, we had all been through hell and back. We had been hurt, put down and we had nearly fallen apart, but we got through this. Because we as a family were strong, nothing could ever bring us down.

Looking up at Kaden through my lashes, I smiled up at him. He pulled me to his side and kissed the side of my head, I closed my eyes, soaking in his warmth, his love and his safeness this right here was home.

I said goodbye to my brothers and mum. Caleb had gotten exhausted from all the excitement of seeing us, so, he had fallen asleep. Doctor Roberts said he needed the rest. He wouldn’t be discharged from the hospital for another week, he needed to be able to eat proper meals, drink fluids and gain his strength.

Climbing into Kaden’s jeep, I finally felt like a weight had been lifted of my shoulders. I felt lighter and more freeing.

I may have my nightmares, but in the day all my demons were gone, and I had Kaden, who I knew would protect me fiercely, just as I would him.