Can’t Win Me Back by Ginger Sue

Lauren lay on the hospital bed, her heartbeat steady, and the oxygen mask removed. Despite this, every breath seemed laborious for her, her face drained of color. The delicate flutter of her lashes resembled a butterfly's wings.
"Lauren, don't be afraid. You're alright now. Grandpa is here. Your dad, Jasper, and Alyssa are here too. No one else can hurt you anymore." Newton held onto Lauren's hand tightly. Tears filled his eyes.
Jasper held his breath, his arms around Alyssa's waist, and he could feel her tensing up. Despite his own heartbreak, he stifled his emotions, refusing to break down in front of Lauren and their elders.
Lauren's eyes glistened with unshed tears. Just then, a single droplet slid down her pale cheek. She parted her chapped lips, but no sound emerged. She tried very hard to express herself but couldn't make a single sound.
"Dr. Lovelace, why can't Lauren speak all of a sudden?" Javier looked at Julien anxiously.
Julien furrowed his brows, considering the situation. "It appears to be functional aphasia."
"Aphasia?" The Becketts exclaimed in shock.
"Some victims experience this after a traumatic event, caused by extreme anxiety and mental distress," Alyssa explained softly, her heart aching.
"Is there a way to help my granddaughter, Dr. Lovelace?" Newton asked, his voice strained.
Julien sighed. "This is tricky. If it's serious, she may need to undergo surgery."
Newton and Javier felt faint. Newton wiped the tears from his eyes. "Oh, dear Lord... Why does my granddaughter have to suffer through all these?"
Unable to speak, Lauren squeezed Newton's hand tightly, offering silent comfort. Her gesture only deepened the sorrow felt by everyone present.
"But if Lauren can maintain optimism, it could significantly ease her mental state and potentially lead to a drastic improvement in her condition," Julien remarked, his brow furrowing in thought as he rubbed his chin.
Alyssa's eyes sparkled with understanding, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She grasped Julien's implication with a single glance.
"If all goes well."
Newton's eyes lit up. Immediately, he asked, "I heard the few of you talking outside just now. Is Landon here?"
"Yes, he is, Grandpa," Jasper responded immediately.
"Quick... Get him in here! Your dad and I are just getting in the way. I'm sure that Lauren wants to see Landon the most! What are you all waiting for?"
Javier's expression darkened. Was Newton truly his father? The same man who had belittled and betrayed him?
As the door opened, Landon entered the room, his heart pounding with trepidation. Hesitant, he lingered at the edge, unable to approach Lauren.
Jasper's eyes radiated encouragement as he gently pushed Landon forward. "Lauren, look who's here?"
Through tear-filled eyes, Lauren glimpsed the forlorn figure of Landon. Slowly, she widened her eyes, and a hoarse sound escaped her throat. "Ahh... Ahh..."
Initially despondent, her gaze transformed, sparkling with affection as she silently conveyed her love for him.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Landon could no longer contain his feelings. He sank to one knee beside Lauren's bed, releasing a despairing groan as tears streamed down his face, unabashedly expressing his anguish in front of everyone.