Nostalgia in Whispered Dialogue
Bye Jyouchan a.k.a. the Lisa Faerie
They'd always been the best of friends, and, even now, thirty years later, that continued despite the problems set before them. While Usagi had made many more friends other than this first, she had never forgotten her. How could she?
But it was, after all, many years later and Usagi was standing over the bed of her friend. "You never told me that cancer ran in your family, Naru-chan." It was a whispered nothing of a sentence that carried hints of nostalgia about it. Usagi was already prepared for mourning.
"We're just lucky that they caught it this early, I suppose, even though I've heard the doctors say I'm not going to live."
Usagi sat down in the visitor's chair. She herself had feared this as she saw her friend's life essence slowly slipping away. It almost disturbed her, how fragile these humans were. "Is Umino taking it well?"
Naru smiled. "He still tells me that I'm beautiful, even without hair or breasts. Even though I'm wrinkly and practically decrepit, he still loves me. I know he'll take care of Yoruko." Naru smiled. "I wish I'd aged as well as you. Usagi-chan."
Usagi smiled at the compliment, though taking it far away. "Everyone loves you no matter what, Naru." The words were the best that she could find at the moment, even though she knew that it was a bittersweet compliment.
Naru was silent for a few moments before she began to speak again. "Usagi, I'm glad that you still have your hair, at least. Even now you still style it like Sailormoon's. Mine would never grow long enough."
She wanted to smile, to chuckle, or to even have a laugh with Naru before the inevitable passing. And now, with a perfect opportunity and so little time left, she couldn't. She still regretted not ever telling Naru, not having ever been able to.
"Naru-chan." Usagi paused in her speech for a few moments, debating whether or not to let it stay silent. The inquiring look in Naru's eyes prompted her further.
"The reason that my hair was always like Sailormoon's is that...." She didn't quite know how to get the words past her lips. "Sailormoon's hair was like mine. Because Sailormoon's hair was mine." Her voice was a mere whisper now and had taken on a tone more serious than was wont between them.
Naru smiled. "It took you thirty years, Usagi. And now, you've told me your secret. So I guess I'll make no more of them."
Usagi was confused. Naru never had seemed the sort to have secrets.
"I knew all along."
Usagi smiled and, for some reason, she felt the beginnings of tears in her eyes.
No more words passed between the two after that. Visiting hours ended and they shared a tearful silent farewell. Naru's death came in her sleep. Her funeral was visited by many, including Usagi's human family. Umino wept and attempted to explain to his young daughter that she had gone somewhere better, although it was clear to most that she didn't understand.
Usagi didn't cry at the funeral, as she had no tears left. No, she had only memories of her friend and the remembrance of Naru's secret.
"I knew all along."
Bye Jyouchan a.k.a. the Lisa Faerie
They'd always been the best of friends, and, even now, thirty years later, that continued despite the problems set before them. While Usagi had made many more friends other than this first, she had never forgotten her. How could she?
But it was, after all, many years later and Usagi was standing over the bed of her friend. "You never told me that cancer ran in your family, Naru-chan." It was a whispered nothing of a sentence that carried hints of nostalgia about it. Usagi was already prepared for mourning.
"We're just lucky that they caught it this early, I suppose, even though I've heard the doctors say I'm not going to live."
Usagi sat down in the visitor's chair. She herself had feared this as she saw her friend's life essence slowly slipping away. It almost disturbed her, how fragile these humans were. "Is Umino taking it well?"
Naru smiled. "He still tells me that I'm beautiful, even without hair or breasts. Even though I'm wrinkly and practically decrepit, he still loves me. I know he'll take care of Yoruko." Naru smiled. "I wish I'd aged as well as you. Usagi-chan."
Usagi smiled at the compliment, though taking it far away. "Everyone loves you no matter what, Naru." The words were the best that she could find at the moment, even though she knew that it was a bittersweet compliment.
Naru was silent for a few moments before she began to speak again. "Usagi, I'm glad that you still have your hair, at least. Even now you still style it like Sailormoon's. Mine would never grow long enough."
She wanted to smile, to chuckle, or to even have a laugh with Naru before the inevitable passing. And now, with a perfect opportunity and so little time left, she couldn't. She still regretted not ever telling Naru, not having ever been able to.
"Naru-chan." Usagi paused in her speech for a few moments, debating whether or not to let it stay silent. The inquiring look in Naru's eyes prompted her further.
"The reason that my hair was always like Sailormoon's is that...." She didn't quite know how to get the words past her lips. "Sailormoon's hair was like mine. Because Sailormoon's hair was mine." Her voice was a mere whisper now and had taken on a tone more serious than was wont between them.
Naru smiled. "It took you thirty years, Usagi. And now, you've told me your secret. So I guess I'll make no more of them."
Usagi was confused. Naru never had seemed the sort to have secrets.
"I knew all along."
Usagi smiled and, for some reason, she felt the beginnings of tears in her eyes.
No more words passed between the two after that. Visiting hours ended and they shared a tearful silent farewell. Naru's death came in her sleep. Her funeral was visited by many, including Usagi's human family. Umino wept and attempted to explain to his young daughter that she had gone somewhere better, although it was clear to most that she didn't understand.
Usagi didn't cry at the funeral, as she had no tears left. No, she had only memories of her friend and the remembrance of Naru's secret.
"I knew all along."