“Ah—ah,”
‘Why does it hurt so much?’ Eryna was still in her sleep but she felt the burning pain in her stomach region, along with something icy cold touching her skin and penetrating through her skin, she could feel the pain but couldn’t speak, and couldn’t move a muscle.
‘Will I die? No! I can’t die...I—I have to see Simba, he has something to tell me—I have to live-‘
Eryna desperately fought her pain, she wanted to wake up from the dark dream of hers where there was nothing else then pain.
……………………………………………………………………...
The light from the window entered the hospital room where Eryna laid still in the bed. Simba sat beside the bed holding her hand hoping to see any sign of movement for Eryna’s side. He looked unwell, his face had lost its colour, he looked pale.
“Eryna! Wake up, please…” he slowly placed his head over her hand and waited.
Time went by and Simba kept his head on her hand without lifting it, until he heard.
“You said you had to tell me something—what was that?”
Eryna mumbled in a low and hoarse voice.
“You woke up!! I was starting to get worried,” he lifted his head with a relieved expression, her hand tightly clasped between his palms.
“Tell me, I have waited for very long to hear what you had to say,” Eryna didn’t budge, she had been through this conversation in her mind about a thousand times,
“I—I wanted to say that—“ Simba looked around trying to dodge her gaze and then reluctantly took out a crumpled piece of paper and gave it to Eryna, he pushed away the chair and stood up quickly and walked away at lightning speed.
Eryna was shocked to see his reaction, as he closed the door behind her, she looked at the paper with a weird gaze. She opened it up and read it.
~ I was to tell you this on the rooftop but you ran away so I wasn’t able to say anything. After that I wanted to tell you about my feelings but after that day you never came back to school. I was worried and thought something might have happened to you but I had no way to find out. One day when I was at the hospital I saw you walking through the doors. I followed you and saw you sit alone in the garden, you were enjoying the breeze but you had a frown on your face. I mustered up courage to talk to you but just a few steps close to you I felt like my feet were lifeless so I left you a letter, It was a great way to start a conversation and it went well. Slowly I became close to you, and I felt like it was fine to be just your friend but then I heard from The nurse that your condition has started to worsen. I felt desperate at the thought of something happening to you, I couldn’t control my frustrated pounding heart. I know it’s odd to say but I really like you. I can’t say that in front of you as I don’t know how you will react so I am writing it.
It’s okay if you don’t like me but I hope we can still remain friends. ^-^
Eryna stared at the paper and then glanced at the door with a smile. She felt her heart flutter and after a long time she felt alive. She couldn’t get up from the bed because of the surgery but if she could she wanted to run towards Simba and hug him tightly.
Eryna waited for Simba to come again so she could tell him her answer but he didn’t come back for a week. Every time the door opens Eryna would feel like it was Simba but he never came. Eryna felt depressed,
‘Was it all a joke? …’ She thought to herself.
Her treatment went on and slowly she felt like she was played with. Her depression shot up again and just like before Eryna was drawn back into darkness.
One afternoon when the rain was pouring mercilessly Eryna stared out her window with hopeless gaze. The door to the room clicked open and she didn’t bother to look who it was. The person walked closer and dragged the chair beside her bed.
“Eryna! I am sorry for not coming back for all these days,” Simba’s voice was weak. Eryna jolted in surprise and turned around to look at Simba who looked worn out.
“What happened?” All her anger flushed away when she saw him sad.
“My dad! He passed away—I feel—I feel so lonely now,” Simba’s voice broke and a tear rolled down his cheek.
Eryna pls heart reared up when she saw him sad.
“I-I am sorry to hear that,” Eryna pulled herself to his side and patted his back.
“I am all alone now—everyone left me,” he looked up to her with tearful eyes.
Eryna couldn’t bear to see his teary eyes and she hugged her.
“No! You are not alone, you have me, you have Hunter...we are your family,” Eryna patted him lightly while Simba cried out with his head on her shoulder.
The two broken people found refuge in each other’s embrace. Eryna promised to stay by his side until the end, Simba too decided to be her family.