The Five years I can't remember

Pearl 1 story

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Summary

“Sometimes the hardest part of waking up isn't opening your eyes. It's realizing the world kept moving while you were gone.” --- PROLOGUE — FIVE YEARS The first thing she heard was a voice. A familiar voice. Low. Tired. Almost broken. “You don't have to wake up today.” A pause. “Or tomorrow.” Another pause. “But if you ever do... I'll still be here.” Her fingers didn't move. Her eyes remained closed. The machines beside her continued their quiet rhythm. Beep. Beep. Beep. The boy sitting beside her bed leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He had been doing this for years. Talking to someone who couldn't answer. Talking about school. His problems. His family. The weather. Things that didn't matter. Sometimes he talked for hours. Sometimes he simply sat there. But every time he left, he said the same thing. “I'll come back.” And he always did. His name was Jake. And the girl lying in the bed was Arielle. She had been asleep for five years.