Delphine: Cophine: If I Die Young
It's quiet, the only noise is the gentle movement of Cosima against the sheets behind her. Sitting down softly on the edge of the bed, Delphine lets the ease of the near silence wash over her. There's a moment where even her breathing slows just enough to match the light noise that's created when Cosima breathe through her cannula.
Then the moment is lost and Delphine is crumbling. Her hands tremble as she grips at her legs, fingers unable to hold anything for long. Lips tucked between her teeth to keep from sobbing, she closes her eyes tight to try to stem the flow of tears. It's all too much. She'd just found Cosima, just fell so deeply for this girl and here they were. The cure was somewhere in the works but Cosima wasn't getting any better until it was finished.
Delphine was still becoming more and more of a ghost in the world with each cough that showed the decline of Cosima's lungs.
The song comes to her without precedent, without her even really thinking about it. It wasn't a song she listened to often but it was one she knew enough of for the emotional turmoil to crash like waves against her heart.
With her eyes clenched shut, her mouth dropped open without her consent. Traitorous emotions swirled through her, causing her to make any type of noise that could disturb Cosima even for a minute. Delphine would not forgive herself if she did something to put more weight on those fragile shoulders.
Her voice was soft and rough, gentle and heavy all at once. "If I die young, bury me in satin, lay me down on a bed of roses." Her breath caught and a little sniffle had her bringing her knees up to her chest, her feet perched on the edge of the bed. Her arms wrapped around her legs tight, an anchor in the dark. "Sink me in the river at dawn, send me away with the words of a love song. The sharp knife of a short life."
Delphine stumbled over some of the words, her accent mixed with her tears garbling letters together here and there. Losing all precedence, she lifted one hand to bury her face into it as a deep wracking sob hitched in her chest. "I've had just enough time." Her heart clenched in her chest when she felt a shifting behind her, minute and almost non-existent. "So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls."
The song slid out of her head as fast as it arrived when Cosima's hands settled on her shoulders. There was a gentle weight against her back, arms wrapping around her chest, as Cosima pressed a kiss to her cheek. No words needed to be said, Delphine could feel it in her bones as she broke. Twisting around, she buried her head into Cosima's neck and let the tears sweep her off her feet.
Soon she was laying down, curled on top of Cosima as her gentle touch rubbed her back. Quiet tears slowly trailed down her cheeks without Delphine attempting to stop them. Cosima was periodically kissing the top of her head, her fingers rubbing the back of Delphine's neck each time her body trembled.
"Delphine?"
Her name so soft and affectionate as it rolled off of Cosima's tongue nearly had Delphine in hysterics again. Instead, she lifted her head enough to look up at her girlfriend, bottom lip trembling slightly at the look in Cosima's eyes.
"Don't worry, I'll never leave you."