Since we were young, she was always – always – stronger than me. This sickness that reared its ugly face tore her apart from the inside for the past two decades ... it finally took her down.
The cold rain pelted down on my dress shirt, but that was the last thing on my mind as I stared down at the freshly-turned dirt at my feet. As I kneeled, I couldn't help but think of the looks on her children's faces; terrified, but they also seemed accepting – that this was they were hoping for, as there was no known cure for her illness.
"I can't believe she's gone, either."
I glanced over my shoulder to see my best friend, still in his suit. He had a warm smile, but his doe eyes were dull with sympathy. How he managed to find his grandfather's suit in such pristine condition on that rundown farm, I don't know. I nodded my head, unable to keep eye contact, and turned away. I soon felt his presence beside me, and he spoke once more.
"You were there, weren't you?" he sighed. "When she ... when the sickness ended."
The reply came out in a weak grunt. "Yeah."
Hesitation. Cruel, brutal hesitation.
"Did she say anything to you?"
I was silent as I fought back more tears. I reached out to her headstone – she was so tiny that I could reach it from where I crouched by her feet. My fingers felt the seven letters that were sprawled across its face. Even when I closed my eyes, they were ebbed in memory – in touch.
"She said to hold on," I finally blurted out, my eyes still firmly closed and my fingers still tingling with the sensation of the smooth surface.
"Hold on?" the farmer echoed.
"Hm," I sighed. "Her last words." The hand that held hers as they grew colder reached for my face. I moved it around, trying to remember the feeling of her slender fingers and her soft knuckles as she tried to cheer me.
"Hold onto what?"
I glanced up at him; his eyes were resting on me, or rather, something far inside of me. My soul, maybe. "I don't know," I finally answered, resisting the urge to sigh again.
There was a slight rustle as the farmer's wet, over-sized suit crinkled as he, too, crouched next to me. A warm hand settled on my shoulder, and I could feel his eyes staring into me once again.
"You could hold onto me."
The words came out softly – barely above a whisper. I had to look at him, as if I needed confirmation that he had said them. A tear was sliding its way down his cheek, almost mistakable for a raindrop if it hadn't been for his bloodshot eyes.
I couldn't hold back my own emotions – with a sigh, I let my tears fall through my closed lids. There we stayed until nightfall, crying. Myself, I cried for my love that never was.
He cried for the friend that would always be fractured.
--
Weak ending, I know – I'm sorry!
This was done for my weekly fanfiction challenge on the Ushi no Tane forums. If you want to participate, you can email or PM me, and I'll send you the link!