~ Day 26- Thanatophobia ~
Takane had always believed that nothing could put Haruka off- that he was a thoroughly positive, unbreakable spirit, never fazed by all the hardships his unfairly fragile life could put him through.
She had been wrong, though.
After one of his attacks, a stronger one, she had come to visit him at the hospital, just like always. Each time he was brought in, she feared for his life, but for some reason, he had recovered each time up until now.
And every other time, he had sat there with his laptop glued in front of his nose, playing whatever game he wanted to beat Takane at, smiling at her and greeting her in that happy and upbeat way as though nothing had happened.
But this time, he was different. When she had entered his room, he had just been lying there, staring up at the ceiling as if it was interesting. He had spent so much time in hospitals that Takane doubted they could offer him anything new. Only when she came to stand right next to Haruka's bed did he look up at her, acknowledging her presence by giving her a small smile and greeting her softly.
"Haruka, are you okay?", she asked him quietly as she sat down in the chair next to the boy's bed. Her face was clouded by unwanted worry, but right then, she didn't care how bare her emotions were laid out in front of her. Haruka was acting strangely and she was scared for him.
"Yeah, I'm fine", he replied but didn't look at her. His eyes held some strange glassiness- as though he couldn't stop thinking about something. Takane swallowed, only to notice that her throat had gone completely dry.
Then, after a pause, Haruka continued. "It's just that this is the first time that I've been so scared. So awfully scared...", he whispered and looked at Takane, finally really looking her in the eye and seeing her.
"I know that feeling", the girl said and buried her fingers into the fabric of her skirt. "It's not about my illness. It's... every time you have an attack, I'm frightened beyond belief. But, if I don't have trust in you, then I'm afraid you won't wake up again."
Haruka sat up in his bed. "Takane...", he muttered softly, an uncharacteristically troubled expression gracing his features as he gently placed his hand on top of the girl's. "I'm afraid of dying. I'm so scared that one day, I can't return anymore, Takane. That I can't see everyone again."
Takane noticed how Haruka had begun shaking and tears were welling up in his eyes. And, not knowing what she was supposed to do, she acted on impulse for once. She brushed his hand off and leaned forwards, pulling Haruka into an awkward (their position was not very good), but warm and forceful hug. "I won't allow that", Takane said with all the determination she could muster up, even though both of them knew that these words weren't going to change anything.
Haruka hugged Takane back.
"Thank you."