Four days passed and she wasn't getting any better. It was ten in the morning.
"How is she?" I heard Tewkesbury ask by the door frame.
"She's not getting better," I turned around to tell him.
Tewkesbury came up to me and hugged me. I wanted to cry, but I had to be strong for Lily.
"You're so strong." He stroked my h/c hair.
"I don't feel like it." I sniffled. It was true. I felt weak.
"y/n, you're the strongest person I know." Meanwhile Tewkesbury was stroking my hair, it felt soothing to say the least.
I heard Lily cough and I quickly pulled out of Tewkesbury's embrace. I rushed to her bed.
"Hand me the wet rag," I told Tewkesbury. Tewkesbury handed me it, I replaced the one on Lily's head for the one Tewkesbury gave me. I grabbed Lily's hand and kneeled in front of her.
"Lily," I whispered, "stay with me, please." I felt tears form in my eyes.
"y/n, you need to eat," Tewkesbury placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm not hungry." That was a lie. I skipped breakfast since I've stayed in Lily's room.
"y/n, you're going to get sick." He insisted.
"I'd rather die than have Lily die."
"Please, I'll take care of her." I looked at Tewkesbury.
I thought about it for a moment. I trust him.
"Fine." I gave in.
~~~
"Lily's not strong, Tewkesbury. Ever since she was young, she wasn't strong." I sat down on Lily's bed.
"y/n, she's like a younger version of you. She's so strong, she just doesn't have enough strength yet."
"And I don't think she'll get the strength on time," I said, facing Lily. I grabbed her hand. She's an angel, even when she's at her worst. "We almost lost her. Tewkesbury, I'm scared."
"y/n, I'm going, to be honest. Losing a loved one is not easy." Tewkesbury said truthfully.
"I know, but I'm not ready to let her go." I felt tears form. Lily stirred in her sleep and woke up. "Lily, are you alright? Do you need anything?"
Lily slowly sat up. "I'm okay, why are you sad?" She must have noticed the tears in my eyes.
"It's nothing Lily. Um, Lily," I talked to her.
"Yes?"
"Just know, I- I love you. And whenever you want to leave it's fine, okay?"
"y/n, I don't want to leave you." I reached over and hugged her. I placed my head on top of hers.
"I don't want you to leave either, but promise me you'll fight, and it's okay if you don't want to fight." I sobbed.
"I'll try," I know Lily's young but she's smart, she knows.
~~~
I spent most of the day with Lily, it was getting late.
"y/n, go to sleep," Nate said.
"I can't leave her-"
"It's half past twelve, you need to rest." James interrupted. I've never heard him this stern with me.
"Mother hardly cares, so I need to be with Lily."
"Mother sent a telegram to father, she's also helped and told the maids," Nate said.
"She's worried y/n, we all are," James said. I didn't believe James.
"I don't want to leave her, I need to stay with her no matter what." I yawned.
"y/n," Tewkesbury grabbed my hand. I shook my head. "you need to rest, you'll see her tomorrow..."
"No," I complained. That's when Tewkesbury carried me to my room bridal style.
"Tewkesbury, I need to stay with her." I started to sob into his shoulder. "Please." I cried.
"y/n, I know you want to stay, but you need to be safe and healthy for her," Tewkesbury said, placing me down on my bed. Tewkesbury was going to leave, but I grabbed his hand. His hand felt warm and comforting.
"Please stay," I begged. Tewkesbury nodded.
Tewkesbury's pov
y/n held onto my hand when she was sleeping like she didn't want me to go away. She's so beautiful, even if she tries to fight. She was made to fight. It's not going to be easy if Lily does pass, but I'll be there to help her along the way. There's something about y/n, I don't know if it could be the twinkle in her eyes every time she talks about something she's passionate about, her wit, caring for her family, or even just caring for others.
No... I don't like her, do I? No, I don't. Just friends even though we're bound to get married. I never wanted to get married to anyone, but I'd rather marry y/n over anyone else.
I looked at y/n, her hand still in mine, beautiful still with her little snores, I chuckled. I kissed her hand gently.
Maybe, I do.
~~~
y/n's pov
I stirred in my sleep, I quickly sat up. The sun was already up. I quickly ran to Lily's room.
I saw no one there. I was starting to panic and quickly rushed downstairs to the dining room. I only found Nate. His eyes were red. He looked at me and shook his head.
No, no, no.
"No, please don't tell me it's true." I sobbed.
"I'm sorry y/n," Nate said quietly.
I broke down and sunk to the floor, Nate rushed over and held me. We both cried together. I hugged Nate tight.
"I'm so sorry," I apologized to Lily, even though she wasn't here. "I didn't save her, it's my fault." I sobbed into Nate.
"No one could y/n, don't blame yourself. She tried so hard.... but she just couldn't..."
"When did she leave?" I don't like the word die, it hurts.
"Early morning, around three. She was coughing terribly. Tewkesbury and James left for the doctors. They sent a telegram that she passed-"
"Don't use those words. Please."
"She tried so hard, she wanted to see you, from what James and Tewksbury say."
"I can't blame her. I wanted to see her one more time." I cried even harder. "I should've seen the signs, it was written from the beginning."
"y/n, she had tuberculosis, the symptoms were hardly noticeable until recently. Don't you dare blame yourself. Lily wouldn't want you to blame yourself. Last night, Lily woke up after you slept, she said that she wanted you to fight and she said she felt weak and she couldn't hold onto the promise to keep on fighting." I cried into his shoulder even harder.
~~~
It's been two days since Lily left. It's quiet. For once I've seen my mother sad. But I can't talk to her yet... I was outside, missing her. Tewkesbury walked outside and sat next to me. He had a lily flower in his hand. He handed me the lily.
"Restored innocence after death," I smiled sadly.
"How do you-"
"I love flowers and I named Lily. So of course I know, I know what it means. All flowers have different meanings, even just one of them could speak a thousand words. But this Lily, to me, reminds me of Lily and her innocence after she... passed away." I said touching the flower gently. "Tewkesbury, how did it feel... after you lost your father?" I let go of the flower and looked out towards the lake.
"It was," Tewkesbury paused for a moment. "tough. My father taught me about herbs and flowers. He also shared the same beliefs as me. He raised me the way I am today. And my mother raised me the way I am too, but my father was like my best friend. I'm sure you felt the same way about Lily.
It's not easy, and it's so hard letting go." He held back a sob. "Sometimes I still remember him... but you have to remember the good things about loved ones." Tewkesbury finished. He seemed down.
I grabbed his hand and held it in mine. I looked at him.
"As long as we stay together, I'm sure we'll be fine. Tewkesbury, I'm here. I never really talked about it because I didn't want to intrude but now I know how that feels. I'm still not completely used to it but just know I'm here."
"I know," he said, stroking my knuckles gently with his thumb.
"Do you think..." I paused, it was a silly question.
"What?"
"Do you think your father would've wanted you to marry me?" I asked him. "It's a silly question, I'm just wondering. He sounds nice, even if I don't know much about him."
"I think he would've wanted me to marry for love, but I think he would love you as his daughter in law and my mother adores you."
"Your mother hasn't spent enough time with me yet, but my mother doesn't despise you, truly, I don't know what she thinks about you. All I know is that I'm glad you're my friend and I'm glad you're here. " I smiled at him.