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The theater was buzzing with energy as the final touches were made to the set, and the cast moved around in preparation for the last rehearsal before tech week. But the excitement in the air was quickly replaced by a sudden, unmistakable sound. A sickening thud, followed by a sharp, unmistakable groan.
Lizzie froze, her heart skipping a beat. She turned to the others nearby, her voice quiet but urgent. "Did you hear that?"
For a moment, no one moved. Everyone just stood there, frozen, as if waiting for the next sound to come. The next sound never came, and Lizzie’s instincts screamed at her to move. "Joel!" she called out, panic rising in her chest. She started toward the catwalk, barely thinking, her body already in motion as the fear gripped her.
On the other side of the stage, Etho had heard it too. His always composed demeanor faltered, a sharp line forming between his brows. He scanned the area, his eyes darting to the catwalk. And then he saw it: Joel crumpled on the ground, clearly in pain, his leg bent awkwardly beneath him.
“Etho!” Lizzie shouted, voice tight with panic.
“Stay here!” he barked back to the crew, his voice commanding and calm despite the fear in his eyes. “I’m going to get to him.”
Lizzie didn’t wait to be told twice. She followed after Etho, weaving through the crew and stage equipment, her heart racing.
When they reached Joel, Lizzie’s breath caught in her throat. He was on his back, groaning softly as he tried to shift, but it was clear from the way he winced that every movement made the pain worse. His leg was bent at an unnatural angle. His face was pale and drawn, his usual laid-back expression replaced with something that was almost unrecognizable.
“Joel,” Lizzie said, kneeling beside him. Her voice cracked with concern as she carefully reached for his hand. “Joel, don’t move. Stay still. You’re hurt.”
Joel looked up at her, eyes half-lidded with pain, but the familiar warmth in his gaze still flickered behind the pain. “I... I didn’t see it coming,” he muttered weakly. “Just lost my balance... God, it hurts.”
Lizzie’s heart broke for him. “I know, Joel. I know.” She glanced at Etho, who was already crouching beside them, his eyes quickly scanning Joel’s injuries.
“His leg’s definitely broken,” Etho said, his voice cool and steady. He reached for his phone. “We need to call an ambulance.”
Lizzie nodded, her mind racing. "I’ll go get someone. Stay with him."
Etho gave her a sharp nod. “I’ll stay. You go.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Lizzie rushed to find the nurse, her mind spinning with fear and worry. She found her quickly, explaining the situation with a mixture of urgency and desperation. The nurse nodded and followed Lizzie back to the stage, taking charge of the situation.
Back with Joel, the nurse and a few other crew members carefully worked to stabilize Joel’s leg. The pain on Joel’s face was evident, and Lizzie stayed by his side, squeezing his hand reassuringly, even as her own anxiety spiraled.
“Joel,” she whispered, her voice soft, “you’re going to be okay. Just breathe. Help’s on the way.”
Joel’s response was weak, but it was a small smile. “I trust you, Lizzie. You’re... you’re always here.”
Etho, having stepped back to give the medical team space, glanced at Lizzie and gave her a quiet nod. "You’ve done all you can. He’s in good hands now."
A few moments later, the ambulance arrived. They carefully lifted Joel onto a stretcher, and with Lizzie and Etho by his side, they made their way to the hospital.
---
The ride to the hospital was long. Lizzie sat beside Joel, gripping his hand, while Etho sat across from them, his usual calm and collected demeanor unchanged. Joel had slipped into unconsciousness, the shock of the fall taking its toll. Lizzie’s mind kept racing—she could barely keep her thoughts in check as she watched him drift in and out of awareness.
“Etho,” Lizzie finally whispered, breaking the silence that had settled in the back of the ambulance, “is he going to be okay?”
Etho met her gaze, his voice steady but softer than usual. “He’ll be fine, Lizzie. He’s strong. We’ve all seen him take a hit before and bounce back. He’s tough.”
“I don’t want to lose him,” Lizzie admitted, her voice small.
“You won’t,” Etho said, his eyes softening. “He’s a fighter. We’ll all be here for him.”
Lizzie nodded, but it did little to ease the tightness in her chest. As much as she wanted to believe Etho, the uncertainty gnawed at her. She’d known Joel for years, but seeing him like this—it felt like everything had been turned upside down in an instant.
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Joel was conscious again but still groggy from the shock and pain. Lizzie and Etho were ushered into the waiting room while doctors and nurses worked on Joel. The hours seemed to stretch on forever, each minute feeling heavier than the last.
“Etho...” Lizzie said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. Her voice was low, barely above a whisper. “I’m really scared. What if something happens to him? What if—”
“Stop,” Etho interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “You’re doing everything you can, Lizzie. We’re all doing everything we can. He’s tough, and he’s got us. And you’re not alone. None of us are.”
Lizzie nodded, though her chest felt tight. She tried to take comfort in Etho’s words, but she couldn’t stop the overwhelming feeling of dread that gnawed at her insides. Joel was her friend, one of the closest people in her life. She needed him to be okay.
---
Hours later, they were finally allowed to see Joel. Lizzie and Etho entered his room carefully, their steps slow as they adjusted to the sterile, impersonal feel of the hospital. Joel was sitting up, his leg elevated and in a cast, but his face was no longer as pale. The familiar sparkle was starting to return to his eyes.
“Hey, you two,” Joel greeted them, his voice hoarse but laced with a weak grin.
Lizzie let out a relieved laugh, though it was shaky. “You’re alive! We were starting to get worried about you.”
“Yeah, I’m not planning on dying just yet.” Joel chuckled softly, but winced in the process. “I think I’ll survive this. It’s just a broken leg.”
“You’re tough, Joel,” Etho said with a half-smile, crossing his arms. “But you still need to take it easy for a while.”
Joel nodded, glancing between Etho and Lizzie. “Thanks, guys. For everything.”
Lizzie’s heart warmed at his words. “Of course. We’ve got your back. Always.”
---
The next few days passed in a blur. Joel’s leg was healing, but there was no denying the toll the fall had taken on him—physically and emotionally. But through it all, Lizzie and Etho remained by his side, helping with the small things, keeping his spirits up. Joel was still Joel—joking, teasing, and slowly regaining his usual optimism. But Lizzie couldn’t shake the feeling that this accident had changed something between them. They’d faced this challenge together, and in a strange way, it had brought them closer.
One evening, when Joel was finally ready to leave the hospital and head home, Lizzie stood by his side as he adjusted to walking with crutches. She offered him a gentle smile. “You’ll be running circles around us in no time, I’m sure.”
Joel smirked, leaning on his crutches for support. “I’m just waiting for you guys to carry me through tech week.”
Etho chuckled beside them. “I don’t think we can do that, but we’ll manage somehow.”
Lizzie nudged Joel playfully. “You’re going to be fine. We’ll make sure of it.”
As they walked out of the hospital together, Lizzie glanced over at Joel, feeling the weight of the past days lift, replaced by the relief of knowing he was okay. They’d gotten through it together, and in the end, that was all that mattered.