Chapter 12

Juvia stood at the doors of the hospital, not sure what to do. People were rushing in and out, attending to the scene just outside. Despite her best efforts, Juvia couldn't ignore the commotion behind her. And everyone's lack of acknowledgment for her pained her heart even more.

"Well, are we gonna go in?" Gray questioned, looking down at her. Juvia kneaded her bottom lip with her teeth. She wasn't sure she had the courage to go inside.

"Juvia doesn't know what to do when she gets there…" She nervously admitted. Gray, feeling annoyed, and sympathetic for the poor girl rolled his eyes.

"Just… just tell him goodbye. Tell him what you would if he could hear you. Y'know? If you love him, then tell him that. I guess.." Juvia's eyes widened at the serious response from her partner. She didn't expect Gray to take her seriously. But he did, and maybe because he knew the pain of telling someone he loved goodbye.

"Juvia guesses you're right. She needs to say goodbye." Gray nodded his head in response and started into the hospital. Juvia meekly followed behind him. She was still anxious to see Lyon. Possibly for the last time ever.

They silently made their way up to Lyon's room in the elevator. Every moment in there was unadulterated hell for the both of them. Juvia silently and anxiously waited for her one sided goodbye to her boyfriend. While Gray on the other hand just wanted to go home, not wanting to witness the goodbye. Soon enough the elevator doors opened.

Gray stepped out and made his way to what he assumed was Lyon's room. He was waiting to hear Juvia's footsteps behind him, but when he didn't he rolled his eyes and turned around.

"Juvia c'mon. I don't got all day here." He grabbed the young girls wrist pulling her out of the elevator. "This was your idea." Gray practically dragged her to the destination. He needed to get this over as soon as possible.

"It's this room," Juvia stated, breaking the silence as they came up to the correct door.

They stepped into the darkened hospital room. Juvia hesitantly walked over to Lyon while Gray leaned up against the back corner of the room. He refused to give the couple a second glance as he turned his attention to the nearby window.

Juvia reached out a shaky hand to Lyon's sleeping body. She took his hand in her's and to her surprise, she could feel him. His warmth spread from her fingertips to the rest of her hand. She felt his calloused fingers intertwine with her's, just like they had so many times before. Juvia swore his hand was made for her's. They just felt so right together.

"She can feel him." Juvia whispered to herself, feeling relieved. A smile curling up on her lips.

"Spirits can feel the living, but they can't feel you." Gray called out from the back of the room, interrupting the moment. Juvia twitched at the words, not wanting to think about it.

Juvia held Lyon's hand a little tighter and hugged him. "Juvia loves you so much. And she did this for you." Juvia spoke to Lyon's sleeping and unaware body. Tears helplessly fell from her eyes and dampened her clothes. "She's so sorry for leaving you, but she wants you to live. She needs you to live. I love you." Juvia silently spoke her confession and left soft kisses over his face. His forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, his mouth. Lyon's winter mint taste enveloped her mouth as his chapped lips melted into hers. She reveled in their kiss. Suddenly Juvia and Lyon's first kiss came flooding into her mind. She remembered the awkward clashing of their lips and teeth. But they laughed it off and tried again. The memory faded and Juvia smiled. Was this really their last kiss? She brushed back Lyon's silver hair. Her hand lingered a moment longer before she dropped it.

Her throat was sore, and her eyes felt droopy. She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep next Lyon once more, but she knew she couldn't. She wished and prayed somehow, someway he could hear her final goodbye. She longed for a response back, but silence only followed.

Juvia turned back to a distracted looking Gray. His eyes were focused on the nearby window, a conflicted look washed over his face. She quickly wiped her tear stained face and made a quiet cough, signaling she was ready to leave. Gray pushed himself off the wall and walked towards the door. Juvia let her eyes fall onto Lyon once more. She gave a silent prayer that he'd be okay. And that it would all be okay.

Tears continued to brim her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She reminded herself why this had to be done. Why she'd done it. She said she would die for Lyon, and she meant it. She didn't regret it for a second. But a feeling of emptiness enveloped her and she felt alone. Besides Lyon, Juvia had so many people to tell goodbye to. She had Erza, Sherry, Wendy, Gajeel, Mira, Chelia, and many others. The hole in her chest grew as she realized all she was leaving behind. She wasn't only missing Lyon's life, but everyone else's as well.

She longed to see her friends grow up. She longed to spend time with them. She longed to hear their laughs, see their smiles. Juvia had hoped for friends like them her entire life. And now they were ripped away from her.

All Juvia could do was hold her head high and remember the reason she had to. This would keep her going, and keep her strong. She sacrificed herself for Lyon's livelihood and that was something she could never have second thoughts about. And even if she did, it was too late for take-backs. Her friends would live on without her. But at least they'd have each other. Juvia would have no one. And that's what hurt the most. She'd take this burden, and take it alone.

They left the hospital and stepped into the dark night. Juvia obediently followed Gray. She kept her head to the ground, staring at the asphalt as she mindlessly followed. She noticed they'd already put a sheet over her lifeless body after accepting Juvia could not be saved. She wanted to scream at them, tell them she was alive. She was right here! But they'd never hear her. Her screams would be futile.

She had no clue where she was going, and she had no intention of asking. She was afraid, and more importantly, didn't care. She was still too caught up in her own thoughts to ask.

After walking for awhile down the main road Gray led her into the woods that cut away from the city. Any other day Juvia would have run for the hills, away from such an ambiguous and threatening looking place. But she had to comply, whatever Gray said would go. That was Juvia's new law.

After a few more minutes of walking, Gray stopped her. "Are you ready?" He asked, looking at her for the first time the whole walk. Juvia silently nodded her head at him in response.

"Alright, let's begin."

Surprise! Another super depressing chapter from me ha. But hey what can I say, this is some real sad stuff. But don't worry, the most recent chapters I've written are kinda funny and cute. So don't get too sad. Gosh, my own sad writing makes me super upset, oops! But on a lighter note. I hit 2500 READS! Okay, maybe that's not a lot to y'all, but to me, I'm screaming. I LOVE when I get favorited, followed, and especially comments. Whenever I get notified of a comment I seriously stop everything I'm doing to read it! I love when you guys tell me what you think. It inspires me and makes me smile! Anyways, hope you're all having a super lovely day. Today I actually had the best day I've had in a LONG time like omg. So I hope you're all as happy as I am. I want to write two chapters by next week and have another posted by then too. Hope you liked this, thanks for reading.