I was going through some old documents of mine and I found this story and thought I'd post it. I wrote this a couple months ago so the characters may seem OOC. I may or may not continue it.

Being back in Ordon was great. I felt safe and comfortable being back in my hometown. Sure I felt just as safe in Kakariko, but Ordon is where I belong.

The first day we (me, Talo, Malo, Beth, Colin and Link) returned, all of Ordon had a "party" or something similar. We just all got together and celebrated that we got home safely.

During all this, I had noticed Link wasn't very sociable, which surprised me. He's not known to be quiet. He also seemed a little hesitant when someone asked about his adventures.

I also noticed a few scars and cuts on his arms. At first I wasn't sure if what I saw was what I thought, self mutilation. But when I got a closer look at the slashes, I was almost positive.

I didn't say anything. I didn't know what to say to him. When the party ended, it was late and everyone was leaving to go home. I couldn't bring myself to say anything to him. Each day, until I said something, I felt horrible. My childhood friend was doing something awful and I wasn't doing anything.

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When I woke up one day (about 4 days after the party or so), I knew I was going to have to talk to Link.

I got dressed quickly. When I went downstairs, my dad wasn't there. That didn't surprise me. He was almost never there in the morning when I woke up. He was usually outside talking with the residents of Ordon.

I wrote a note telling him where I was in case he came home before I did or I did not see him. I left it on the table. I walked over to Link's house where, not surprisingly, Talo, Malo, Beth, and Colin all were hanging out. But, shockingly, Link wasn't there. Epona (Link's horse) was, but not Link.

"Hey, Ilia!" Talo said once he saw me.

"Hi guys. Where's Link?" I asked.

"He went to the spring. He seemed kind of sad and he said he wanted to be alone," Beth told me.

"Maybe he'd be happy to see you," Colin said in his soft voice.

"Maybe," I agreed. "Thanks."

I rushed to the spring where I found Link, just like the kids said. Beth wasn't lying when he said he looked sad. In fact, he looked depressed. That worried me.

Link was standing by the water. He looked as if he were staring at something off in the distance. I stepped closer to him. He turned around and nodded to acknowledge that I was there.

"Hi, Link," I said.

"Hello," He responded.

I felt lost. I didn't know what to say next. It felt strange to ask, but I had to. He was my friend.

"Are...how are you feeling, Link?" I asked suddenly.

That question seemed to take him by surprise.

"What?" he asked.

I didn't want to repeat myself. At that point, I could no longer take it and had to know if he needed help...

"I saw your arms, Link. When we all came back at that gathering," I blurted out.

He was taken aback, I could tell. He was silent.

"Link, how are you feeling?" I asked again.

He hesitated, then said, "I'm fine."

I didn't believe that for a second.

"Don't lie to me. How are you REALLY feeling?"

"I...I've been thinking about suicide." He said quietly.

I was horrified.

"No, don't. It's not worth it, Link! Everyone needs you—I need you!"

By then, tears were pooling in my eyes.

"Ilia, you don't understand. I'm not needed here!" his voice rose.

Tears were rolling down my cheeks and, through my tears, I noticed Link's eyes were filling with tears.

"I feel like everyone takes advantage of me! I think everybody would be better off if I wasn't around!" he yelled.

"Link, no one takes advantage of you! Everyone in Ordon..."

I didn't even get a chance to finish before he started pushing up his sleeves. He showed me his arms and I saw more than what I saw just a few days ago. A bunch of parallel slashes running up and down his arms. Some were healing, but most were new. Cuts overlapped each other. I still feel sick to my stomach just thinking about what I saw that day.

"Do you know how long I've been doing this, Ilia? I've been doing this for years!" Link shouted.

The cuts were really deep. I felt different emotions rushing over me. I still do not know if I was more angry or sad at that point, but I am starting to think it was an equal combination of both.

"Link, don't do that to yourself! Hurting yourself isn't the answer!" I cried.

"If I just stab myself it'll be all over, Ilia. No more pain." Link said in a surprisingly calm tone.

"Link..." was all I could manage to get out. I was crying too hard. Link needed help, but he didn't want it. His actions made it clear. I think I knew that, but I refused to accept it.

"Don't try to save me. Let me die; it's for the best. I know no one will miss me." Link said flatly.

"Stop talking like that!" I screamed through my tears. "Stop!"

"Ilia..." he started.

"No! Just listen to me. Everyone would miss you. Especially me! Link, you're my best friend and I can't ever let anything bad happen to you. If you ever need to talk, we are all here for you. We are all listening."

He chuckled.

He actually...chuckled.

"Ilia, just stop. Go home. Leave me alone and go home."

Link pulled out a knife from his pouch. The knife had blood stains on it. At that point, anger and fear boiled over me.

"Link, put the knife down!" I screamed.

"I'm doing everyone a favor and killing myself. I can't deal with the guilt of being a burden on everybody I come in contact with." he said.

Then, he raised the knife. I lost complete control and lunged toward him. I held tightly onto his left hand where he held the knife. He tried to push me off. My ribs were sore for a couple weeks after that.

"Help! Somebody help!" I screamed.

I tried to pry the knife from him. He clawed at me to get me off. His knuckles were white and blood was running down his arms. Some of his cuts must've opened up. I remember how sore my body was after that. I still have a scar from where something cut my arm. I do not know what it was. Maybe the knife...

"Help!" I screamed again.

My throat was getting sore.

"Shut up, Ilia!" Link shouted.

Then we were surrounded. My father was there with Rusl, Jaggle and Talo, Malo, Beth and Colin.

Rusl restrained Link while Dad pulled me away from Link.

Jaggle was keeping the kids back. Fear and confusion were written on the kids' faces. I didn't and couldn't blame them.

"Ilia? What happened?" Dad asked me once Rusl held Link back and confiscated his weapon.

I couldn't speak. I was afraid of what might happen if I open my mouth. I bit my lip and looked down.

Everyone was silent for a minute until Dad spoke up.

"Jaggle, please take the kids home," he said. "They do not need to be here."

Jaggle left. Beth and Colin were crying.

"We need to find out what happened, Ilia and Link," Rusl had said.

"Let's go to my house and speak there." Dad demanded.

I hope you enjoyed reading my old story! After editing this, I just might continue it! :) I already have a few ideas for what to have happen in later chapters.

As always, reviews are very much accepted as well as constructive criticism! Thank you!