Wings | ✓

15. a shadow

i woke up in the middle of the night, from the sound of a book falling to the floor again. i sat up with a start, heart racing and eyes widening with anticipation. was it hav? i haven't seen him in days!

"ow," hav's familiar voice mumbled, and for a fleeting moment i thought that his voice sounded a little strange. a little lower, a little softer, a little more hoarse than it was before. as if he hasn't drunken a single sip of water since the last time i saw him. i frowned slightly.

"hav?" i called out hesitantly, licking my lips. he froze, never raising his head to look at me, to let me see a glimpse of his magical purple eyes. he didn't say a word, just grabbed the book off the floor and limped to the corner of the room.

i felt a sinking feeling inside of me and my throat constricted when he just blatantly ignored me, and went back to the corner instead of at the foot of my bed. what had happened the past few days?

"w-what's wrong?" i asked, my stutter returning, which made my frown deepen.

"they found out," he said, so quietly i almost couldn't hear him. but i did, and my breath got stuck in my throat because i knew they must've made him take the medicine that made him so weak.

"come here," i couldn't help but say, albeit hesitantly. there was just something in me that wanted to comfort him, to make sure he was alright. because he's my friend, and that's what friends do, right?

"no," he muttered, his head bowed and body retreating further, as if he was trying to blend into the wall. at this point, his figure was a cloaked darkness, like a shadow.

"w-why not?" i asked, feeling a sharp pain in my heart.

"you don't want me near you," he said quietly. i frowned, wondering what in the world gave him that idea. just because he was weak doesn't mean i didn't want to be his friend. hav would never hurt me. i knew as much. and so, with all the strength and determination i could muster, i pushed myself upright and slowly lowered myself onto the ground.

my bare feet touching the cold tiles sent tingles up my spine and i shivered, wondering how hav would ever be able to stand sitting in the corner without a blanket or any kind of warmth. it took me a second to steady myself, seeing how i haven't really walked on my own in years.

"what are you doing?" he asked, and i responded by wobbling gingerly to where he was and sitting down next to him. i was already breathing heavily from all the movement, feeling like my head was too heavy for my neck to hold.

i let my head fall onto hav's surprisingly sturdy shoulder, feeling him freeze up.

"i missed you," i mumbled, and felt his tense muscles relax, slowly.

"you don't mind me here?" he asked, sounding a little surprised. i shook my head.

and then his hand found mine, and he gave me a gentle squeeze.

"you're the only one that wants me around," he whispered, sadness lacing his words and misery coating his voice. "everyone else hates me."

"i'm sure they don't, hav," i mumbled, and shivered again. it was really cold. 

"you should go back to bed," he sighed softly, and i almost protested, but he stood up slowly and offered me his hand. he looked rather unsteady on his feet as well, but he managed to stand his ground and help me up.

and then he carefully guided me back to my bed, and made sure i didn't fall. at the small distance between us, i couldn't help but look up at him in awe.

his purple eyes were duller than usual, not glowing brightly like before, but still purple. i could make out the faint lines of his face, angular and sharp, and noticed that his skin, aside from being icy cold, was soft and pale.

he tucked me into bed, his hands shaking slightly. he must be freezing. i felt bad that he was cold and probably worn out from moving so much, so i gently pulled his arm.

"stay here," i said, and held my breath as i waited for him to answer. i cursed myself a little from sounding so greedy, when i really only wanted the best for him. that's what friends do for each other.

"you're batty," he murmured, but laughed softly anyway. without another word, he lay down next to me, pulling me close to him, and every inch of skin against his burned, and i closed my eyes.