(Name's ) POV
I stared at my phone as I searched for recipes for heart patients. It sounds typical , but I'm not required to cook at the hospital. I could just tell the cook , but I want to cook for Gaara myself.
Kami ,what am I thinking ?! Gaara survived all those years eating the cook's food !
[ Time Skip ]
I ended up making a bowl of porridge , some salad and grilled fish. What if he refuses to eat this? Well , the website did say it's healthy...
I placed the food in a tray and left it on the kitchen counter. I rushed to my room ,which is still full of boxes and changed my outfit. I changed into a simple light blue blouse and a black skirt with red floral patterns.
I braided my hair into a fishtail braid. At least I should look presentable.
Later I went to the kitchen to get the food. However , I bumped into someone headfirst and plunged onto the floor.
" Sorry!" I blurted as I tried to get up. A brown haired boy was holding his hand in front of me. Right.. Kankurou , the most popular boy in Suna.
I took his hand , and he pulled me up.
"(Name) , right?" he asked . I nodded. " Kankurou ," he said.
" I know ," I murmured . His expression grew proud. " I guess I'm kinda famous ," Kankurou said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
I smiled at his behaviour. I think he'll be nice to have around. Seems like a funny guy , although it looks like he lacks common sense.
" Excuse me , Kankurou , but I need to get this meal to Gaara ," I said as I took the food tray.
" Oh.. You're Gaara's new personal nurse.. I hope you can hang on longer ," Kankurou said.
I blinked. " Hang on longer ? What do you mean by that?" I asked with a frown.
" Gaara has a habit of scaring away his personal nurses. They never last longer than two weeks. Gaara has a problem with socialising.. So I hope you understand if he is a bit.. Rude," Kankurou explained.
I nodded and flashed a smile at him.
I walked towards the staircase and started to climb up the stairs.
It was rather hard , as the steps were very steep , and I had to balance the tray as well. I wonder if they have an elevator. Because how can Gaara come down then? Surely they don't have to haul him down..
I opened the door to Gaara's room as soon as I reached the top. I didn't bother to knock , as I knew that he wouldn't care to answer.
Yeah. He won't answer because he was asleep. Gaara seemed so peaceful in his sleep. I smiled as I placed the tray on a table.
I debated whether I should wake him up or not. But judging on the black insomnia rings on his eyes , he probably hadn't slept for ages.
His breathing was hoarse and exhausted. Gaara's shirt was slightly revealing , and I could see the surgery scar.
He was thin and frail , and his skin was deathly pale. I pulled a chair from the table and sat.
I placed my head on Gaara's bed and stared at him.
It wasn't long before I eventually fell asleep.
Gaara's POV
I can't remember the last time I went to sleep on my own will . Usually I had to be sedated in order to sleep.
I blinked my eyes open , ignoring the sharp pain in my chest. I struggled a breath as I tried to sit up.
My eyes landed on (Name's) sleeping figure. I couldn't help but feel jealous. She is born perfect. Every single feature on (Name) is perfection. She doesn't suffer any diseases.. (Name) must be so happy.
She started to stir in her sleep , moaning slightly. I watched her every move .
" Ah , Gaara! Sorry ! I accidentally slept.. Well.. I didn't want to wake you up ," (Name) confessed.
She turned her gaze to the tray of food on the table.
" Oh no.. It's already cold..." (Name) murmured.
My eyes trailed to the clock. It read 9 PM. No wonder.
" It's fine. I'll just eat it anyway ," I said.
(Name) blinked. " But.. It's unhealthy to eat food that has been exposed for like.. Two hours ," she said.
A small smile grazed my lips. This girl.. The previous nurses only did their job .. But (Name) , she truly cares about my well-being.
" Can you please wait for just five minutes more ? I need to reheat these ," she said.
Within seconds , (Name) whirled out of the room. I stared at the interior of my room. It was so sullen , that I am unable to draw a line of contrast between it and myself.
I have no idea of how long is the time remaining for me to live. But even if I die ... No one would mourn. No one even knows me.
Being alone hurts. Living in this room all my life , my company only being the constant visits of the doctor and the nurses my father hired , the rare moments when my siblings apparently realise that I still exist.. And the nonexistent visits of my father.
As a child , I was just as sickly , but I still wanted to see the outside world. But being confined to the wheelchair as a result of my heart condition didn't help at all.
" Come on uncle , Onii-chan ,Onee-san , let's go to the playground !" a five year old Gaara said enthusiastically.
Kankurou and Temari looked at their little brother sympathetically. They knew Gaara wasn't going to come home being just as happy.
" Gaara.. Why don't we just go to.. Somewhere with less people?" Temari suggested.
" But Onee-san! I want to meet people and make friends! I'm tired of just sitting in that room!" Gaara smiled as he hugged his stuffed teddy bear.
Yashamaru sighed. " Let's just go to the playground , that's where Gaara wants to go , right?" he said , in a very noticeable fake cheerfulness.
" Yeah!" the red haired boy said.
During the car ride , Gaara couldn't stop talking about making friends , running and playing till his heart is content.
" ...finally I can go to the playground! Otou-san never lets me go there , but today I can!" he grinned.
A sad look formed on his sibling's faces.
When they arrived at the park , it was a nice windy evening. Children around Gaara's age were happily running around and playing at the swings.
A large smile formed on the face of the red haired boy.
He got ready to go and play , but Yashamaru stopped him.
" Stop Gaara! You can't run or walk much . Sit on this wheelchair ," Yashamaru said.
Gaara flashed a dissatisfied look to his blonde uncle as he sat on the wheelchair.
Yashamaru pushed the wheelchair forward as they entered the playground.
Gaara's young eyes were filled with enthusiasm and excitement. But the eyes of the other kids were not. They sneered at the young redhead , and some taunted him.
" You look like a weakling!"
" Handicapped like that , and you still want to play? How idiotic!". The happiness faded from his green eyes and sadness took over.
Temari shook her head. She knew that was going to happen. Kids are all insensitive and mean to boys like Gaara.
" Gaara , let's go somewhere else , ne? " the seven year old girl said.
Gaara's face was streaming with tears at this point.
" Onee-san.. Why do they hate me? What did I do to them?" he choked.
Temari's teal eyes widened.
She motioned Yashamaru to take Gaara away from the taunting kids. Kankurou tried his best to comfort the sobbing Gaara .
It was too much for the young boy to handle. He never spoke to people other than his family , and when he left the house , people made fun of his wheelchair.
" Gaara.. Stop crying.. It's alright ," Temari comforted her little brother.
Growing up without a mother certainly matured Temari. Gaara wrapped his weak arms around the older sister's body.
" Onee-san.. It hurts.. My chest.. It hurts," Gaara murmured.
Temari pulled away from the hug and examined her brother.
" We need to take him to the hospital! " Yashamaru said.
Gaara's face grew deathly pale , he clutched his chest and his breathing was hoarse.
Before Gaara could figure out what was going on , he plunged into a void of darkness.
I blinked harshly. It was a bitter memory. The first and last time I ever went outside , bar the hospital.
The door creaked open and I saw (Name) enter the room.
She carried a tray of food , which seemed very warm , as the smoke was still rising from it.
(Name) placed the tray on the nightstand .
" Umm.. Gaara . It's time for dinner.." she murmured.
I nodded.
" Do you want to eat it yourself or.. Do you want me to.. Uh.. You know.." (Name) mumbled.
My eyes widened slightly.
Is this girl for real?
I shook my head. I grabbed the tray from her hands , and said " You may go ,".
"But I'm supposed to stay here , by your side ," she retorted.
I let out a sigh. " Look , I understand you want to keep your job , but you don't need to act like a goody two shoes. Stop with the acting ," I spoke.
(Name)'s eyes widened. " I see why the previous nurses can't keep up with you. I accepted the offer because I knew you are alone. I know that you lack love , Gaara ," (Name) replied.
" I accepted the offer because I wanted you to be able to enjoy your life . I wanted to bring a light into your life . Everyone has a chance Gaara. Your sickness is not an excuse . Because pain can be healed. There's an antidote for everything ! " (Name) yelled , her voice wavering.
I stared at her in disbelief. Why? Why does she care?!
" You don't know how it feels like to be alone!" I bellowed.
(Name) seemed to flinch slightly from the tone of my voice.
She hung her head down , her (h/c) hair making a barrier between the two of us.
" I know how it feels like to be alone. It hurts. It's agonising. It's suffering! So what? Do you want to remain alone?!" she yelled.
This time I flinched. Her voice sent shivers down my spine.
" No. I don't want to .. Be alone ," I choked.
(Name) stared at me in the eye. Her eyes were warm and gentle. They softened when our eyes met. I felt comforted when she sent a smile at me.
" That's why I'm here ," (Name) said as she enveloped me into an embrace.
A small smile formed on my face as I succumbed to her warmth.