This chapter is probably the most saddening that I've ever written.
Warnings for this chapter include dark nightmares, self-loathing, self-hatred, a bit of isolation, deprivation of love and friends, and blood (in nightmare form).
Chapter 4: Breaking the Silence
Time was a strange concept. Sometimes it went by fast and other times, it would go very slowly. It had now been four months since Six stayed at the Nest. Nearly a month had passed since she made her resolution. She still wasn't feeling ready yet to befriend other people. However, spring was a very strange season. It made Six feel a little hopeful that something could change.
Exploring a room somewhere in the middle area of the mansion, the girl in white heard laughter coming from another nearby room. She stopped. Laughter meant children and she should avoid them. However, it was a pleasant kind of laughter, filled with joy and fun and mischief. It wasn't the kind of laughter of hurting someone, it didn't sound haughty or cruel. Curiously, Six took a peek behind the door and saw two children playing in the sewing room. They were chasing each other without a care in the world, playing with the threads and fabric as they scatter around the floor. They must be new or had recently escaped if they were carelessly having fun. Either they were foolish for trying to make a mess for the Butler to find... or they were brave to make a lot of noises that attracted attention. Despite it was foolish, stupid, idiotic... Six felt a prang in her chest.
As much as she wanted to join, slightly envious of their fun-loving nature, she didn't want to get hurt. Sighing mentally, the girl tore her gaze away from the scene as she leaned her back against the door, shutting it. Crouching down, Six wanted to make herself as small as possible. That way, she could be ignored for a while. Perking up her head, she could hear footsteps approaching her way. It would have appeared that she didn't close the door gently enough because she could hear one of the children's voices exclaiming: "Hey! I think someone is over there!"
"Hello? Is anyone on the other side?"
They knocked and knocked, calling out. Conflicted, irritated, and feeling too many emotions, Six raise her hands to the sides of her head, covering her ears to block out that obnoxious noise. Closing her eyes, her resolution played in her head. I don't want to get involved... with anyone right now...
After some time, the two children left the door alone, thinking that they were just hearing things. For a few minutes, the lonely girl sat in silence as she pondered what to do. Choosing to end her exploring early today, Six decided to return back to her base as she got up to her feet. Climbing up a stack of books to reach a vent, she started to make her way back.
Along the way to the upper levels, however, the girl stumbled across a problem. There was a little boy with shaggy black hair, dressed in oversize dull clothes and he seemed to be wearing something on his face, though Six couldn't make out what it was. What was he doing? It looked like he was patting on the walls. The boy tripped, falling to the ground. Unfortunately for him, he had accidentally knocked over a stack of clothing when his hands desperately reached out to stop his fall. Now, the child was buried under the fallen clothing, his cries muffled by the fabric on top of him.
The girl bit her lip. She didn't want to get involved. Not now, anyway. However, she couldn't ignore his cries for help either. Walking over to the fallen clothes, Six cautiously approached the boy, throwing the pile off of him until half of his body was cleared. She paused, wondering for a brief moment if she should take his hand and pull him up or not. Awkwardly, the girl settled with pulling the young child up by his arm before letting go.
"T-Thank you!" the boy smiled in her direction. After looking at his face, Six could see what the boy was wearing. "I'm Haru. What's your name?"
My name is Six, but I can't reply.
"Hello? Are you still there? I'm blind." He pointed to the black blindfold over his eyes before reaching out arms out towards the air, trying to feel if he was alone or not. "Please say something," he urged.
Looking at the boy, Six turned her gaze to her hand and considered holding his. She wasn't supposed to get involved, though. She didn't want to. And yet, maybe it was okay to interact with this kid - just a little bit. Slowly, Six lifted her right arm out towards him before stopping to bring it back to herself a few times. Sighing mentally, she made a decision and fully extended her hand to hold Haru's left before turning her head to look away from him.
Six didn't understand why she was looking away from the boy. He did state that he was blind. Perhaps she was used to flinching away at hostile faces so it was a common reaction for her to do. Feeling Haru's fingers firmly squeezing her hand brought a familiar sensation to her body. It was like when the Nomes would hold her hand. There wasn't much difference if it was a child. The only change was a child's touch was more warm compared to the Nomes. It felt a little comforting - slightly better. At the same time, it felt... odd. Like something wasn't right.
Recalling the boy's question, Six thought sadly, I wished I could say something, but I can't. My voice... I can't speak. There's no way for me to convey my answer to you. I'm sorry.
After a few moments of silence, Haru finally inquired, "Are you mute?"
The girl sighed, I don't know. I think I've locked away my voice. I don't know how, but... no one wanted to hear my voice anyway, so I can't speak. Six turned her head to look at the puzzled boy. This is a problem. You can't see so I can't mouth what I'm trying to say nor can I write down my responses for you.
It was impossible with this boy being blind. She couldn't write on paper and expect him to know what she would write, unless... Suddenly, an idea lit up in her mind. Holding the boy's hand so that he was palm up, Six wrote down her name with the index finger of her other hand. S-I-X. After finishing writing those three letters, the boy retracted his hand for a moment, his brows furrow in confusion.
"Six? Your name is Six?" he questioned. A name was nice, but having a number for a name didn't exactly help him. Deciding that the child he couldn't see was definitely mute, the boy asked a different question instead. "Um, are you a girl or a boy? I don't want to assume." Having his hand facing up again, the girl gave him her answer by writing the word 'girl' on his palm. "So you're a girl! Um... again, thank you for helping me."
Believing that she had involved herself enough, Six pulled her hand away from Haru, startling the boy. He tried to follow her based on her footsteps, only to trip and fall down again. Turning to see the clumsy child getting up to his feet, Six sighed to herself. Abandon him? Or help him? A day. She'll let the boy stay with her for the night. After... she'll send him off on his way. Just a day. It was so she wouldn't get attached. That was what she thought. But she secretly wanted to spend more time with him. What to do?
Walking up towards him, Six hesitated again with wanting human contact. It was a comforting touch - she knows this. Unlike all the other children who gave her cold looks or those five teens who roughly manhandled her, Haru didn't have a hostile expression on his face nor did he hurt her... at least, not yet anyway. She would like to be close, but...
I'm not ready yet... I'm not ready for nice things. I'll only hurt and that would get me hurt...
Against the closeness she desired, Six settled with guiding the boy by tugging on his sleeve. Taking him to her base, the girl immediately worked in making a smaller nest for the boy, a few feet away from hers. Hearing a clatter and a complaint shortly after, silently, Six glanced over her shoulder from the small nest she was trying to make.
"S-Sorry! I think I tripped over something!"
Indeed, Haru did trip. He had fallen from a scattered toy. Looking around her base, Six chastised herself. Her Nome friends would bring many toys to her base and play around, but they would occasionally forget to clean up their mess. Maybe she should have cleaned up before planning to invite her unexpected guest. Oh well, she'll start after finishing making the nest. Patting on the clothes to make sure it was comfy, she looked in the boy's direction again after hearing some noises. He was playing around with a smile on his face, filled with child-like innocence. Six tilted her head to the side at the sight.
Despite he cannot see, his clumsiness is very cute... The girl felt a longing in her chest. A soft smile started to appear on her lips as she giggled to herself. He seems like a good person...
Before she could let the thought linger a bit more in her head, she stopped herself right there. She shouldn't get too close. Keep her distance. Guard her heart. That was how it should be. And yet, in just a few hours later, Six got to know a little more about Haru's personality to better understand him. He was a chatterbox, often talking despite knowing she couldn't talk back. Seeing the boy practically frolicking around her base was such an odd scene that Six felt out of place. She sort of wanted to join...
No, no, no, no...! Six gasped at the thought, shaking her head.
She shouldn't get involved. She didn't want to get involved... Right? Looking at the younger child happily playing around with ease had Six feeling conflicted. It reminded her of the two kids she saw playing earlier. In actuality, she would like to get involved. She wanted to befriend someone. Haru was... different. A good kind of different, unlike her. He wasn't like all the others. But was that only because he couldn't see? After all, he didn't have his sight to see her. If he did...
Maybe... it's better if he couldn't see... Six found herself thinking. It was a terrible thought, a selfish thought. And she felt ashamed for thinking about it. Unable to see anything, only seeing darkness, not knowing when something bad will happen, always in constant fear, but she couldn't help it. If he could see, he would know that I'm different. He would hate me... he would leave...
The girl's brown eyes started to dull, losing the glimmers of life. Being hated was scary, sad, and lonely... she didn't want that. And yet, she was different, difficult. That was why wherever she goes, people seem to look at her differently. If Haru had a pair of eyes, his expression upon seeing her might change. After all, it would be easier to befriend someone who had similar interests and likes as you do. Two people who are too different are incompatible with each other. Just like two different species were incompatible. Being different makes you easily disliked. And Six was too different from everyone else. Her inconsistent ways make her different and she felt like she couldn't change that. If she could, she wouldn't know how.
"Hey, are you okay?" Haru's voice snapped her out of her dark thoughts. "I can hear you shifting around. It sounded like you were uncomfortable."
Six blinked before looking down to see her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. When did she...? Relaxing her fingers, she released the edge of the white fabric, letting her arms fall to her sides. Sighing mentally to herself, she tried to calm her mind down. She wasn't ready for friends yet anyway. Haru wasn't a friend. Just an... acquaintance. What was there for her to worry about? Still...
It would be nice... if we could be friends...
Becoming tired, Six decided to sleep early. The quicker she does, the faster the... parting will be. She'll go back to a life of surviving. This slight moment of normality - of peace - was nice while it lasted. After quickly pulling Haru to his bed, the seven-year-old went to hers before settling down. Pulling her blanket over her, the girl drifted to sleep.
~oOo~
She wanted friends. One of the things she was searching for was friends. It wasn't what she was mainly searching for, but it was one of her needs. One of her hidden needs. Friends. Companions. Someone to confide her feelings. Someone she could trust. Someone who wouldn't hurt her. Someone who accepts her. She was craving for it. Craving it so much! That... warm happy feeling that she had no name for. Having friends... she could be happy that way, right?
Standing in a black void, Six could see a young child in front of her. Black hair, dull clothes. It was Haru! What was he doing here? The boy had his back facing towards her. Should she approach? Six bit her lip. After telling herself that she wouldn't get involved... despite she was supposed to take a break... the urge to have at least one friend grew stronger. Maybe... just maybe... Haru could be her friend. After all, the boy was a good kind of different.
Running towards the boy, Six reached her hand out only to have it slapped away when she got close. "Don't come any closer!"
Startled, she clutched her hand against her chest. Looking up, she could see that Haru was now facing her. Unable to meet his face fully, she asked listlessly, 'Why?'
"Why? Do you think someone like you could become friends with me? The very idea of that is stupid!" Haru took off his blindfold and Six squirmed under his intense glare. "I can see now and with these pair of eyes, the sight of you disgust me! Ah, I'm so relieved that I'll only stay for a day! After the morning, we won't see each other again!"
Six closed her eyes and couldn't help tears welling up. No, no! She couldn't cry! She'd be pitiful! Haru would think that she's pitiful! He wouldn't help her if she was vulnerable and weak! Willing her tears from falling, the girl slowly opened her eyes, staring directly into the boy's hostile gaze.
Without warning, Haru's dull eyes started to roll out of his eye sockets, falling onto the ground. The child slumped forward like a broken puppet before crashing to the ground, in front of the girl's widened eyes. Six covered her mouth with her hands as she backed up from the sight. Out of nowhere, a pair of hands appeared from the shadow of the dark void, grabbing at her throat. Squealing in alarm, the girl tried to pry those rough fingers off her neck.
"You're nothing but a burden to everyone! Why would you think anyone would want to be your friend? Give up on that!"
'That's not true...!' she shut her eyes, shaking her head.
It was just a nightmare. It had to be a nightmare! She had to wake up! This just couldn't be real!
Another hand had appeared from the dark, tangled in her hair as Six could feel her head being yanked from behind. It hurt. Something bad was going to happen next! But what? No! She didn't want to see. So she still keep her eyes shut tight as she tried to turn her face away. She could hear more rustling and felt more hands coming, their fingers barely traced the skin on her body.
Footsteps were approaching her. It was unsettling. Each step had a weird slouching sound... like walking in sticky something. Eventually, the sound stopped. Someone was in front of her. She could tell from the ragged breath in front of her. It felt cold. The person in front of her was cold. She flinched when cold fingers brushed against her cheek, something wet coated her skin. The side of her face was being caressed gently. She doesn't understand! What was this touch? It was comforting, however, she also felt dread at the same time. Was it because it was the person in front of her that made her feel so scared that she couldn't accept this comforting touch?
Why... why was her body so sensitive towards touches?
"Six, look at me," Haru ordered.
She hesitated for a very long time until she reluctantly opened her eyes. Immediately, a soundless scream erupted from her throat as she squirmed at the sight in front of her. The boy was now her height, leaking blood from his eye sockets! It wasn't just there. Every inch of his body was dyed in red! Six understand now. His fingers were wet because blood was on them. And now, it was smeared on her face.
Haru suddenly burst out laughing. Without eyes, from his smile alone, it seemed like he was enjoying her horrified expression. "Truly, you're pathetic! What a sight! That look of devastation on your face!" With his other hand, he held her face gently at first before roughly pulling her towards him. The hands around her neck and hair made it difficult for her to breathe. "You are... DISGUSSTTING! Someone like YOU will NEEVVVEER be my FRIIEEEND! Don't ever show up in front of me again, FILLLTTH!"
Jolted awake, the girl immediately sat up, panting. It was just a nightmare! She had woken up! Trying to calm herself down, she slowly took in a breath before letting it out. It wasn't working. Her slow breaths gradually grew erratic. Her heart was still pounding hard against her chest and her body was shaking badly. Loosening her tight grip onto her blanket, she settled with wrapping her arms around herself.
Fighting back tears building up in her eyes, Six closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. It was impossible. It was impossible for her to be welcomed as a friend. That nightmare might not be true. Haru wasn't like that. However, she felt like no one would be able to understand her at the same time.
Opening her eyes after she calmed down enough, the girl turned her head towards Haru's sleeping form. Having never experienced being accepted for who I truly am, it frightens me...
It was exceedingly difficult for her to imagine and believe in a happy future. Was a happy future even possible for her? Happiness was so brief and foreign to the girl. She wrapped herself even tighter. The very idea... even with acquaintances not willing to befriend her scared her deeply. It wasn't really them not befriending her was what scared her. It was rejection, a sudden change. That was her most scariest dream. Another thing that possibly relates to her past. She didn't know why, but that connection was so easily made. She curled further in herself. I'm scared...!
"Six?" The girl lifted her head to see the boy moving around in his bed. Had she woken him up? "Six? You had a nightmare, didn't you?"
Did she make so much noise that he was able to deduce that? Any screams and cries she makes wouldn't be heard, but moving around was a different story. Haru was already getting up and trying to walk over to where she was. When he had gotten close, he stumbled and tripped on the floorboards. Before he could fall, Six grabbed his hand. She blinked before immediately letting go, turning her head away from the boy as her hands returned to gripping onto her blanket tightly. She shouldn't get involved. She didn't want to get hurt.
It's impossible... to be friends in the end...
"Is that what you really think?"
Six blinked, looking back at the boy. What? How did...? Why did he say... that...?
As if he had just caught his mistake, the boy gasped, a hand flew over his mouth. If he did have a pair of eyes, Six would imagine him staring at her with a shocked expression. His reaction caused the girl to look at him with a mixture of surprise, confusion, anger, and... something else. Suspicion. Could this boy in front of her... hear her thoughts?
"Listen, Six, I can explain!" Haru pleaded.
Deciding to put her theory to the test, Six demanded accusingly, Have you been listening to my thoughts this entire time? When she got a confirmed guilty nod, her eyes narrowed. How could you?!
All of her thoughts... her true voice... all of those things were private! A hidden voice that couldn't be heard, the real feelings of what people felt... The truth. And... Six felt her heart sinking to the bottom of her chest. Haru had heard all of it - since she had introduced herself at his first question upon meeting him. He had heard everything. He just pretended that he didn't hear.
"I'm truly sorry, Six. I didn't mean to deceive you. I had this ability since... I was born. I couldn't see anything, but I could hear people's true thoughts and feelings," Haru explained. "I can't control what I can or cannot hear."
Slowly, the anger within her fizzled out. Six wasn't sure how she should comprehend. She would like to be accepted... to be understood. But not like that. To have someone hear her thoughts felt... a bit intrusive... especially if it was a one-way thing. However, if it was something Haru couldn't control, then she couldn't really blame him. She couldn't stay mad at him.
Relaxing her fingers as she uncurled them, she sighed mentally. Despite she knew the answer, she asked anyway. So you've heard everything?
"Everything," Haru confirmed, much to the girl's dismay. "Six, you said that it would be best if I can't see, but with this-" he pointed to his blindfold, "I don't need my eyes to know if you are different or not. From your true feelings alone, I don't think I would hate you."
The girl blinked at his words. Do you really mean that? she wondered softly.
"Yes," the boy nodded his head. After a pause, he sighed, "Do you really want me to leave in the morning?"
She didn't really know anymore in all honesty. She wasn't supposed to involve herself yet. At the same time, now that Haru know about her, she wanted him to stay for a little while longer... Due to the many conflicting feelings Six was experiencing, Haru couldn't read her thoughts. It was like different people talking at the same time that you couldn't tell who was speaking or what they were talking about. He sighed to himself before reaching out and holding her head, snapping the girl out of her mind.
He simply smiled at her. "Sleep. You can decide tomorrow morning. Whatever your answer is, I won't complain."
He gave a reassuring squeeze before letting go to return to his little nest. The loss of contact stirred something within Six. She didn't want the comfort to end! Desperately, she leaned over to reached out and grabbed onto his sleeve, catching the boy's attention. Despite she knew he couldn't see, she was focusing her gaze downwards to hide the tears that were starting to shed.
Please... Don't go away. Don't leave me alone...
She gripped tightly onto his sleeve until she felt his hand placed on top of hers. Startled by that, Six looked up to see his smiling face. "Alright. If you want, I won't go anywhere."
~oOo~
In the morning, Haru didn't leave. He stayed, much to Six's relief. Knowing that he could hear her thoughts made communication between the two of them very easy, but it also made Six want to actually speak. Even if it wouldn't stop her thoughts from being heard, she still longed to talk like any normal kid. Slowly, she opened her mouth and tried, but no words came out.
"It's best if you don't try and force yourself to talk, Six," Haru spoke. "I'm not trying to discourage you, but this seems like it would take time. Don't push yourself."
The seven-year-old simply stared at the boy. Despite he was younger than her by about three years, the way he talked almost sounded like what an adult would say. She wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. However, his words were encouraging. It made her feel a little better.
For eleven days, Haru stayed with Six. She felt relieved to have company. However, the more time she spent with Haru, the more she felt... like it wasn't real. Not that the boy was faking his sincerity, just... Six wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to feel about him. There was a different feeling from the friendship between the two of them, she could feel it. Granted, she never experienced a lot of friendship before despite knowing the word. This... connection with Haru... it was more than a relationship between acquaintances, but less than friendship. No, that wasn't right. Rather, it felt closest to friendship. However, at the end of the day, she chose not to worry too much about it, even though it was nagging on her. On the twelfth day, the two of them were sitting on a box, their shoulders touching as they faced the sunset through the Nest's upper windows.
There was silence between them until Haru broke it. "This... brings me back... sitting with someone, talking with someone... and so much more."
Yeah... Six softly mused in her head.
The boy sighed, "Six... I have to ask: do you hate yourself?"
At that inquiry, the girl blinked. Her pleasant expression from staring at the sunset became downhearted as she lowered her head to stare at her feet. Without having to reply using her thoughts, she simply gave a nod. Haru had grown to distinguish between the movement of her body when she was either nodding or shaking her head. To answer his question... Indeed, she did hate herself. However, she wasn't sure if it was just her time at the Nest or if it was before that. Perhaps she hated herself in the past, that presence was there for some reason. However, the feeling of self-hatred before and now felt out of sync. The past hate might become related one day if she remembered. However, that didn't matter at the moment. Right now, from the time she failed at her first attempt to befriend someone till now, she hated herself. Maybe in the future, that hatred would only grow and deepened but yes, she hated herself.
"When do you think you can stop hating yourself? Despite I have no eyes, I don't want to 'see' you being like this." In spite of Haru's words, Six merely shrugged her shoulders, completely at a loss. "Do you want to stay like this forever?"
Her shoulders started to tremble. No...
"Then... when do you think you should stop hating yourself?"
Six simply closed her eyes and shake her head. I don't know...
"Do you want to know what I think?" Even though all he could hear was silence in her thoughts, from the gentle movement that he was feeling, he had a hunch she was nodding her head yes. "I think... rather than someone rejecting you like what you feared, if someone out there accepts you... that's when you start forgiving yourself and... start loving yourself. True friends... they will always accept you no matter how many mistakes you make. So, when a friend does accept you one day - truly and fully - start forgiving and loving yourself, okay? Love yourself and let others love you."
Silence came after his request. It was expected. Letting that question linger in her thoughts, the girl's eyes changed. Instead of a melancholy look, her eyes contain a softness to them. Her lips were pressed together tightly. Despite she knew that she wouldn't be able to speak, she opened her mouth regardless.
"Yeah..."
Hearing a sweet, soft-sounding voice startled Haru. He turned his face towards her direction. Meanwhile, Six's eyes widen, her own voice surprised her as a hand flew over her mouth. It didn't sound terrible. It was... pleasant-sounding, which was a surprise for her. Did she... did she just... talk?
"Wow..." Haru breathed. "Your voice is very pretty."
A soft blush started to appear on her face at the compliment. "T-Thank you..."
"I'm happy," the boy beamed. "I got to hear what you sound like. That's enough for me."
Not understanding what he meant, Six turned to glance at Haru but to her surprise, he was starting to fade! "H-Haru! You're...!"
"Fading? I know. It's my fate... as a Chimera."
Chimera? What was that? Six frowned at the word. She didn't know what that was, what that even means.
Understanding her confusion, Haru elaborated, "I'm not really here. No one can see me other than you. I'm just a stand-in for the one you're really longing for - the one you're searching for. Just an imaginary being - a mix match creation."
Not real? Imaginary? As in 'imaginary friend'? Suddenly, everything started to make sense to Six. She had felt that the connection between him and her to be more than acquaintances but less than friends. If Haru was a Chimera, then that means... he wasn't real. Since she could see him, did that mean Haru was her imaginary friend? But she had no memory of making any imaginary person aside from the Songstress... so, was he created before her arrival at the Nest? The rules of the living illusions for her lay as followed: they must have an appearance and personality, they could only interact with and be seen by the creator, and they must have a purpose to be 'born'. If they finished their purpose then...
Looking up at Haru's fading form, she asked in a quiet voice, "Am I... going to forget about you...?"
"I completed my purpose. Therefore, I have no more reason to exist," he answered with a sad smile on his face. "I get to hear your voice! So I'm satisfied," he added cheerfully.
"I see..."
Even though he didn't directly answer her question, his response told her enough. She was going to forget. It was the rules she had established. Then again, they were rules anyone could come up with. It was natural for imaginary friends to be created. It was natural to interact with them when no one else could see or hear them. It was natural that they'll eventually be forgotten, therefore 'die' when a child outgrew their childish tendencies. These twelve days will probably feel like a dream...
"It might be, but... even if memories of my existence... even my words... would be gone, at least I managed to leave proof that I was here." Haru pointed to her neck, indicating that her ability to speak was the proof. "Who knows? Perhaps when you grow up, you might recall these events more fondly. You'll forget right now, but when you mature and look back to the past, you'll remember."
The fantastical being had wrapped his transparent arms around the girl, pulling her into a loving embrace. The sensation felt very odd to Six. Despite Haru was an imaginary friend she must have created in the past... despite he wasn't real... this hug felt the closest to an actual display of affection kids would do. Was she supposed to accept it? Or not? Would it even matter? Very soon, she'll forget. It was strange. Kids would eventually outgrow their imaginary friends after achieving real friends. So why does she feel sad? Was it because she doesn't have human friends yet? Or was it something else?
"Have hope, Six," the boy encouraged. "I'll have hope too. I was based on someone's appearance and personality when you created me. Through someone else, I've gained a purpose. Illusions eventually must be put to rest. Even though my purpose ended, I do pray that the person whom I'm based on will find you and love you just as you are."
Slowly, Six wrapped her arms around Haru. This was really farewell then. Tears started to well up in her eyes and they were threatening to fall. For a brief moment, she contemplated if she should let them fall or not. She had cried before, many times. But she had normally been alone when no one saw her. Only the Nomes had seen her tears. No one else. And despite Haru being a Chimera, why was she feeling such overwhelming sadness?
Her body trembled as her voice hitched. She hated crying, but she couldn't help it either. Tightening her grip until the very end, the girl buried her head on the transparent boy's shoulder.
"Thank you, Haru... and..." Six closed her eyes as tears fell. "Goodbye."