Chapter 6: Between two souls

Tessa’s POV

“Elena, are you okay?” the couple’s voice called from outside.

Still shivering, I opened the door about a minute later and stepped out, my mouth still refusing to form any words.

The woman rushed to my side. “Let me help you, darling.”

“Are you fine?” the man asked gently.

They both helped me to the bed, and I just sat there, gazing at them with disoriented eyes, still trying to process what was happening.

Then it was slowly dawning on me that something unimaginable had happened.

I remembered seeing this couple take pictures with Elena on television—they were Elena’s parents.

I was in another person's body. And not just any person, but Elena Scarlet, the girl I had admired on T.V., the one who seemed to have everything I had only dreamed of. 

But what in the universe had caused this switch?

“El, we are going now, we came from school so we can’t stay too long,” the girl in uniform said, cutting me off from my thoughts.

She leaned in close, and whispered gently in my ears. “I have a lot to tell you. You need to be fine and return to school quickly,” she said, then offered a beautiful, comforting smile.

“Goodbye, Mother,” she added, turning to Elena’s mom.

“Alright, darling,” she responded, smiling, as she walked out with the guy she came with.

Just then, the doctor walked in, beaming.

“How are you, Elena?”

I only nodded in response.

“Alright, Elena will be able to go home tomorrow,” he said, turning to the couple.

“Thank you, doctor,” Elena’s dad responded, with a grateful voice.

***

Two hours later, I was left alone with the woman in the hospital room.

“Ma’am…” I began, trying to speak, but she interrupted gently.

“Call me Mom, Elena. I am your mom.”

“Moommm…” I tried pronouncing it, but the word felt very heavy and unfamiliar, since I never had the chance to call anyone by that name.

“Yes, Elena,” she said tenderly, rubbing my hands.

“What happened? Tell me everything,” I asked, with an uneasy heart. 

Where is the real Elena? Is she lost and scared like me?

“You got into an accident… while bike racing with your friend Zane,” she said quietly.

“Then… you were rushed here alongside the girl you collided with.”

I was gradually piecing the fragments together.

“Okay… So… where is she?” I whispered to her with a trembling voice.

“She… she…” Her voice wavered, like she was measuring each word.

“She is what?” I asked, already terrified of what was coming.

“She’s in a coma, Elena. But the doctors are doing everything they can.”

The words alone sent shivers down my body. 

“Where?” I whispered.

“She’s still in ICU,” she answered softly.

“Can I see her, please?”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”

We both walked through the hallway into the ICU in silence, our bodies now covered in hospital gowns.

Then I saw it—my real body, lying there motionless with oxygen passed through the mouth.

I trembled and nearly collapsed, but she held me up.

“Can I have a moment alone with her?” I asked after a few minutes.

“Of course, please be careful,” she said as she stepped out.

I walked toward my real body, terrified. Everything in me wanted to scream, to run, to wake up from whatever this was, but instead, I sat beside her, trembling.

Deep inside, I felt Elena's soul was also trapped inside my broken body, just as I was trapped inside hers.

I reached for her hand and held it tightly, the machines kept beeping in the background, making the silence even heavier.

“Please… please fight this and come out of the coma,” I whispered.

“Let’s find a way to return you to your body. You don’t deserve this, you’ve been someone I looked up to all my life. 

I don’t know how to be you, Elena, but I promise to take care of your body until you’re ready to come back.” I said as tears fell freely from my eyes.

Then, out of nowhere, it felt like a spark—a pulse of energy jolted through our joined hands.

At that moment I knew this was more than an accident.

Something supernatural had happened, something no doctor could explain.

But who could I talk to? Who would believe me?

And most of all—how would I survive a life that wasn’t mine?

I stood up slowly and walked out, with a heavy heart but fiercely determined to uncover the truth and protect the life I had unwillingly entered.

Just as I stepped out, I saw Elena’s mom and dad standing outside the room, waiting for me.

“Mom… Dad,” I said, as a tear rolled down my cheek.

They rushed toward me, embracing me warmly with love.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, hugging them tighter.

“No, we’re sorry,” Elena’s dad replied softly, planting a kiss on my forehead.

I’m sorry… for pretending to be your daughter, I thought. 

Sorry for standing here in her place, for letting you believe I’m still her. I don’t know what else to do. But if I tell you the truth, you’ll think your daughter is losing her mind and I can’t risk that right now, I’ll carry this alone. I’ll be Elena… for now. Until we find our way back.

Just then, a news flash lit up on the TV screen in the hallway:

“Breaking: Elena Scarlet involved in a tragic accident. Doctors suspect memory loss.”

I turned to them, “They must never know I lost my memory,” I said, with a steady voice.

I can’t afford to let Elena lose what she’s built for sixteen years. I believe she should be back to her body in a matter of days.

“I’ll meet the press tomorrow,” I told my new dad, and he nodded slowly, clearly surprised by the sudden change in me.

But deep inside, I knew—this was just the beginning.