Steven would wake up during the night just to cough up more flowers and then to throw them away into the sea since it was the only place where people couldn't find them. He didn't like doing that. He didn't like hiding what is happening to him.
Waking up at around 5am, Steven found Pearl sitting at the side of his bed, "Steven, why did you wake up so early?" She finally asked after a minute of staring at each other. Steven wished he could ask Pearl why she was watching him sleep or say a made up explanation but he couldn't even open his mouth. To him it felt like a whole bouquet of blue flowers would pour out of his mouth if he said even a word so instead he stayed silent.
"Steven? Please tell me!" Pearl was more worried now but Steven just tried not to hiss through the pain.
"STEVEN!" She shouted and at that moment Steven gave in and coughed up a few petals and flowers.
Pearl stared at the flowers but then finally asked in a trembling whisper, "Steven, what's happening?..." He didn't say a word, just shook his head weakly.