the book of fluff (that usually isn't)

denial pt. 2

scott blinked once at this news, momentarily stunned. after a second, he giggled, squeezing his teddy bear. "no, he didn't, silly. if he was dead, he wouldn't be talking to me right now!"

the woman pressed her lips together and wrote something down on her clipboard. scott giggled again, his eyes unfocused yet again. your laugh is beautiful, scotty. scott blushed, burying his face in his teddy bear. "thank you, mitchy," he whispered.

the woman heard this and sighed, standing up. "well, everyone, you're dismissed. enjoy the rest of your day on the beautiful grounds of new hopes mental hospital." all the rest of the class slowly stood up and shuffled out, some singing quietly and others jumping at loud noises, but scott stayed put. he rocked back and forth in his chair, smiling like an idiot as he listened to the voice in his head.

you're so beautiful, scotty. i'm sorry i barely told you. your eyes are a gorgeous shade of blue, and they're actually blue, unlike some people's eyes. you have the cutest smile, and the most adorable laugh. i wish i could hug you and kiss you until you were begging for air. i love you. i'm sorry.

at those last words, scott frowned slightly, tilting his head. "s-sorry? why are you sorry? you haven't done anything wrong," he said quietly, but the voice in his head didn't reply.

tears filled scott's eyes when he didn't hear mitch's gentle voice in his head, starting to tremble. "m-mitchy?" still nothing. the woman noticed his distress and rushed over, rubbing his back and kneeling in front of him. "what's wrong?" she asked gently. "m-mitchy won't answer m-me," scott whimpered, tears starting to flow down his cheeks. the woman frowned and gently brushed away his tears. "i'm sorry, sweetie. does he usually answer?"

"y-yes."

"what does he say?"

scott sniffled, wishing he was in mitch's arms. "h-he says how much h-he l-loves m-me and that he m-misses me and he's s-sorry."

the woman stayed silent, and scott sobbed quietly. "i love him too. i w-want mitchy. wh-where is h-he?" the woman sighed quietly. "scott, i told you. mitch died a month ago. remember? he got in an accident, he died on impact," she said softly, and scott's tears flowed faster. "n-no! m-mitchy!"

shh. i'm here, scotty. don't cry.

scott whimpered quietly but immediately calmed down at the sound of mitch's voice, his eyes going unfocused as he listened.

i'm here. i love you. please don't cry, you know how much i hate it when you cry...

scott whimpered again but reached up to wipe his tears. "mitchy..." he whispered pathetically, hugging his bear close. the woman sat back, listening.

yes, baby. it's me. i love you.

"i love you too," scott murmured, rubbing his eyes childishly. the woman felt her heart soften and she couldn't bring herself to try and convince scott of mitch's nonexistence. at least for the moment, anyway.

why don't you go back to your room, sweetheart? i'll sing you a lullaby.

"okay," scott mumbled, rubbing his eyes again. he got up and trudged away, leaving the woman to stare sadly after him.

scott reached his room and went inside, curling up on top of the bed and holding his teddy bear close to his chest.

you are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

scott's eyes immediately drooped closed at the sound of mitch's angelic voice, curling tighter and nuzzling against the teddy bear.

you make me happy when skies are gray.

a sleepy smile formed on scott's lips as he listened, his heart filled with love.

you'll never know, dear, how much i love you.

scott smiled wider, starting to fall asleep.

please don't take my sunshine away.