HIM – THE HEAVY BEDSIDE

Tyson sighed deeply as he stared at the doorknob in front of him. His heart never felt heavier over opening a single door, yet, as though winds were pushing him backwards, he hesitated. Beyond lay a land he knew he had to thread through, yet it was no less painful of a notion. Sam had just left, and while everyone else was bickering over who’d go in after him, Tyson grunted lowly and took charge. Yet, when he arrived at the destination, he realized why everyone else had bickered instead of charging boldly.

In the end, he knew he only had once choice. Gritting his teeth, he opened the door and stepped forward. The room was spectacularly white and clean, with familiar, hospital scent invading his nostrils immediately. The window on the other side was opened slightly and curtains fluttered under a gentle wind. Next to it was a slight raised bed, with several machines standing near it. Tyson’s eyes immediately landed on the person lying atop of it; Selene had a downcast, exhausted expression, her eyes harrowingly half-opened, black circles beneath them.

When she saw Tyson, she forced a smile on her face, yet it only further revealed the sadness behind it. Tyson felt his heart clutch as he made fists with his hands, digging nails slightly into his skin to forcibly calm himself down. Replying with a smile, he walked up slowly and sat next to the bed. Get a grip, fucker, he berated himself inwardly. She needs a distraction, not a reminder.

“Wow,” Tyson spoke after a short silence, exclaiming softly. “I didn’t know zombie apocalypse was already underway.”

“Oh, thanks. Thanks a lot, bastard.” Selena replied with a weak chuckle.

“I see you’ve finally managed to send Sam home,” Tyson said. “It couldn’t have been easy.”

“I had to threaten the bastard with divorce,” Selena said. “And even then he said he’d only go and take a shower before coming back.”

“Ha ha, that does sound like him,” Tyson laughed briefly as he spoke. “How are you?” … right, ask that, you fucking idiot. Good god, where you born on Mars? Looks like you’re the alien, not Aya!

“…” Selene simply looked down without saying a single word.

“Right,” Tyson said. “I wouldn’t mind if you pulled a hair or two from me right about now.”

“Ha ha,” Selene laughed weakly as she tilted her head sideways and looked at him. “It must have taken a lot of balls to be the first one to enter here. Or did they bribe you? Wait, no, they most-likely threatened you.”

“… hah, no,” Tyson said, smiling lightly. “I just wanted to see my big sis, is all.”

“Liar.”

“Hey! Give me some goddamn credit!”

“The hell will freeze over before I do that.”

“… tsk. I really need to disown every single one of you guys,” Tyson said. “Then I can finally have a proper excuse as to why you’re treating me like a stranger every time you see me.”

“Aww, did I hurt your feelings, huh? Are you gonna cry?” Selene said, smiling lightly.

“I’ve cried plenty because of you idiots, there’s no more tears left.” Tyson said.

“I heard you cried when Jared asked you to be his best man.”

“That bastard!!”

“Ha ha, it’s, you know, cute.”

“…” Tyson lowered his head lightly, feeling his cheeks flush red.

“Ha ha, good god, you still haven’t stopped blushing like a kid,” Selene said as she burst into a short, sporadic laughter. “Where’s Aya?”

“She’s outside.” Tyson said.

“I’m surprised you haven’t screwed it up yet.”

“You and me both.”

“Don’t let her slip away, you hear me?” Selene threatened weakly.

“I won’t,” Tyson said, smiling. “I’m getting quite good at tracking her down. She’s not escaping any time soon.”

“… okay, that was just creepy. Don’t ever say that again.”

“Ha ha, alright, alright, I’m a creep, what can I say?”

“Thanks… you know… for trying…” Selene said weakly.

“… we’re all here for you, you know that?” Tyson said, grabbing Selene’s hand gently and stroking it with his fingers. “I mean, I know I’m the unruly, home-abandoning, easily-offended little brother, but I think I’m cute enough to keep around, right?”

“… pfft… jeez, stop already,” Selene said, stiffening her laughter. “Let me grieve for fuck’s sake!”

“… I know that there’s nothing I can either say or do that will account for jack shit right now,” Tyson said, lowering his head slightly. “And that this is something you and only you can understand, but if there’s anything, and I mean anything-“

“Ty,” Selene interrupted him, gently smiling. “Even knowing everything, you still walked in here freely. And, I know you; you dread heavy conversations more than your girlfriend’s late periods—“

“HEY!!”

“—yet, you still came in here. If they hadn’t pumped me full of fucking drugs, I’d probably be flaying and scarring your cute face right about now—“

“HEY, SERIOUSLY!!”

“—but you didn’t know I was pumped up, and you knew me. I just… need time.”

“… I know,” Tyson said, smiling lightly as he brushed his free hand against her cheek. “And, hey, if you ever feel like scarring someone’s face, hit me up. A good one will give me some street cred, and Aya can finally stop introducing me as her ‘cutie girlfriend who happens to have a dick’.”

“… pfft… fuck, ha ha ha,” Selene burst out in laughter. Ah, she laughed genuinely… it feels good… “You two really are perfect for each other, ha ha ha…”

HER – NO DIFFERENT

Heavy atmosphere hung around a wooden table in a coffee shop across the street from the hospital. Emma, Jared and Aya sat in silence, drinking coffee; although each poured at least two sugar packs, they had never tasted more bitter or sour coffee in their lives. The three saw Tyson crossing the street with a head hung slightly low, his hands in his pockets. As he joined them, he quickly ordered the coffee before sitting down.

“… how is she?” Emma quickly asked.

“… eh,” Tyson exclaimed softly. “As well as she can be, I suppose.”

“… fuck,” Jared said, sighing. “I still can’t believe it…”

“Yeah…” Tyson said.

“… did the doctors say anything about, you know, future?” Aya asked.

“… I don’t know,” Tyson said honestly. “Sam and dad talked to them for the most part.”

“… aah, shit,” Emma sighed, leaning back into her chair. “How the fuck does this even happen…”

“I can’t imagine how she’s feeling…” Aya mumbled, taking a sip of the coffee absent-mindedly.

“She’s strong,” Tyson said. “She’ll get through it… eventually.”

“…”

Silence fell over the table, as no one knew what to say. They all ventured into their own thoughts, unable to properly convey them into the words. Aya stared at Tyson, reaching out and grabbing his hand tightly. He replied with a weak smile as he leaned over on her shoulder.

“… we’re gonna go and settle,” Emma said as she slowly got up. “Call us if there are any news, okay? We’ll visit later today.”

“Yeah, sure,” Tyson said. “Thanks.”

Saying goodbye to the two, Aya and Tyson remained alone in momentary silence. It was a rare occasion for the two, as they were usually either quibbling over something nonsensical, or discussing something even more nonsensical. Yet, silence lasted for good half an hour, as the two remained locked inside their own thoughts.

“… you hungry?” Tyson asked, breaking the silence at last.

“Not really.” Aya said. I made fun of him for it, but it looks like I’m no better… what the hell am I doing, staying silent like a mule?! “You?”

“Nah.”

“Let’s go grab something.”

“Didn’t you say you weren’t hungry?”

“Oh, shut up.” Aya said as she dragged him out of the chair and the two departed for a walk. “Sorry… you know, for not being much of a help.”

“Ha ha, don’t tell me you were brooding over that?” Tyson laughed lightly as he grabbed her hand, their fingers intertwining. “Come on, what could you have possibly done? The fact that you’re here with me is more than enough.”

“Ah, where the hell else would I be?”

“Anywhere where the fun is?” Tyson said.

“You’re saying you’re no fun?”

“… not at the moment, at least.”

“If I wanted to date a guy who is fun at all times, I’d resurrect George Carlin.” Aya said, smiling lightly.

“If you can, would you? God I miss that guy.”

“Tell me about it,” Aya said. “He could talk about fucking avocado for two hours, and he’d still probably make me piss my pants from laughing.”

“Hey, you’ve got something against avocado, huh?”

“… you don’t even know what it is.”

“…”

“You should catch some sleep,” Aya said, lightly caressing his cheek. “You look like a zombie.”

“… you’re weirder for fucking one.”

“What can I say… a girl has her needs.”

“Man, this day is shit,” Tyson said, sighing. “If you weren’t here so I can make fun of you, I’d probably throw myself in front of a bus.”

“No you wouldn’t. You’re too much of a pussy.” Aya said.

“… you don’t have to say it out loud, though.”

“If I don’t, who will?”

“Literally everyone else.” Tyson said plainly without hesitation.

“Ha ha ha, but you gotta understand,” Aya said. “You just, you know, have a face for it.”

“… we passed like three fast-food joints already. Are you really hungry?”

“Aww, how cute, trying to change the topic.”

“Next time I’m going back in there, you’re going in with me.” Tyson said, smirking.

“… fuck you. What the hell am I supposed to do? Or even say?”

“Whatever comes to your mind.”

“… you know what comes to my mind,” Aya said, narrowing her eyes slightly as she glared at him. “That’s just pure evil you’re suggesting.”

“Ha ha ha, hey, you’re the one thinking of purely evil stuff. Don’t hang that one on me.”

“… as though I’m the only one…” Aya mumbled.

“I heard that.”

“I know you did.”

“You’re not supposed to say that.” Tyson said, smiling.

“I know.” The bastard’s just fine… ugh…

“… seriously, though, I’m hungry. Let’s go grab something to eat.”

“No fish.” Aya said.

“Ha ha ha, she wants a meal without fish in a coastal town, ha ha ha, that’s maybe the most adorable thing you’ve ever said.”

“Oh, so my ‘if you were ever shot, I’d lick off every ounce of blood you’d bleed’ isn’t the most adorable thing anymore?” Aya said.

“Sweetie, that was never adorable. Just creepy. Very, very creepy.”

“… if you wanna play that game,” Aya said. “Then the ‘if it hurts, want me to kiss on it and blow it’ whenever I have my period is not cute or understanding. It’s just disgusting.”

“Oh! Oh! Is that how you wanna do this?!” Tyson exclaimed. Ah, he’s getting excited like a kid… “Then the oh-so-erotic ‘hey Ty, look, I’m sucking on banana’ is more along the lines of ‘just eat the damn thing because you look like a monkey’ than turning-on worthy.”

“Oh, I’m going to kill you fucker!!”

As the two ran, the san slowly began to cross toward twilight, and ocean side quieted down somewhat. While the town captured the tranquil, picturesque atmosphere, a scent of sorrow still managed to find its way into the air, growing ever so heavier as the time ticked on.