{Banana Smoothie} ✔️

Chapter 20

January 14th

Harry- 5 months 2 weeks

Atlas's POV

Opening Asher's door I trudge into the room.  Both his parents look up to me with sad eyes.  They try so hard to keep the smiles on their faces, but I can see right through it.

Hoping off of his bed one of them leaves a kiss on his forehead making him shiver.  "We'll let you guys hang out a bit" they smile heading for the door. I just nod making my way over to the sick boy's
bed.

He had no shirt on, but a blanket pulled up over his chest.  A wet rag layed over his forehead as he struggled to breathe. "Hey Ash" I whisper sitting on the bed next to him.  "Hi" he whispers sending him into a coughing fit.

My eyes go wide as I try to calm him.  "Hey, hey, it's okay it's okay!" I shout trying to keep him down.  He finally falls back to the bed fresh tears streaming down his face.

I suck in a breath letting my hand hold his hot cheek.  "Just relax okay" I whisper giving him a concerned look.  He nods lifting his shaky arm over to me.  He couldn't make it and burst out into a sob.

"Don't worry I'm right here" I bring my other hand the rest of the way to grab his.  "Close your eyes and sleep" I whisper moving my hand from his cheek.

Shifting around I lay down on my side beside him.  He turns as much as he can to look at me still balancing the rag on his head.   Squeezing Ash's hand reassuringly I smile.

"I missed you so much" I mumble bringing his hand to my mouth. He stays silent letting his eyes drift shut.  "That's good just go to sleep" I continued to talk letting him listen to my voice.

Just as I thought he was going to pass out he lets his eyes fly open a sad expression written all over his face.  "I-I miss Seren birth-". He cuts himself off gasping for air over the few words. 

"Asher, no talking" I warn him readjusting the blanket.  "Seren understands, she's got plenty more birthdays coming and you will be there to help us celebrate!" I smile as his face somehow becomes even sadder.

Seren had officially turned 14, three days ago.... still not old enough for a boyfriend named Aaron Flynn Longbottom or a boyfriend in general.  "What's wrong?" I snap out of my rant. 

"I-mi die" he stutters trying to get words out.  "I'm sorry I asked please don't talk lov- Ash" I about fuck it up recovering quickly. he seems to dazed to even notice though.   "I mi die.." I repeat out loud.

"Hey don't say that that you're not going to die!" I shout quickly shutting up as he cringes into the bed. "I'm sorry" I apologize once again putting a hand on his waist. I pull myself closer to him and he just stays quiet.

"You're going to be okay... okay?" I continue but he just looks ahead at me. "Ash..." I mumble but he doesn't respond freaking me out. I shake him lightly and he seems to snap out of it looking up to me sleepily.

"You okay?" I ask this time he shakes his head no making me suck in a breath. "Need me to get your parents?" I pry he keeps shaking his head. "What's wrong?" Staring intently at him wanting only the truth, but at the same time I didn't want him talking.

He turns onto his back readjusting the rag before letting out a horrible cough that you could tell was killing his throat. "I'm going... miss... all so much" he whispers with a raspy voice as I feel my mouth go dry.

"Asher no" I mumble my heart breaking more and more with every short breath.  I sit up letting go of him even though I didn't want to.  Taking the rag from his head I sigh the rag already burning from the fever raging through him. 

Walking to the other side I dip the cloth in the cold water bucket squeezing it to get all the extra water out.  Trying to keep myself busy so I didn't think to much I fold it 4 times before laying it smoothly on his forehead. 

"Did they cast a cooling charm on you?" I ask placing my hand on the wand in my pocket.  He begins to open his mouth and I quickly speak up "nod yes or no" I sternly say to him and he shakes his head yes.

"Is it helping?" The despair in my voice quickly becoming obvious.  He once again nods yes moving a hand to his head.  "How much?" he takes his hand from his head trying to show me, but let's his hand fall with a cough.

"Here I'm going to put my arms out and as soon as it gets to the amount it's helping you raise your hand a bit" I laugh and he smiles nodding. I missed that smile. I missed his laugh right now.... he was just in pain.

Stretching my arms out completely his eyes waited for me and I began to slowly shrink it the smile on my face dwindling as my hands grew closer to each other.

My hands grew less than 6 inches away he lifts his hand and I sigh. "Only that much?" I whisper wishing he was lying and he nods the slightest bit. "I'm sorry Ash" I groan rubbing the bridge of my nose. I just had no idea what to do.

Wiping my now wet hands onto my pants I look back up for some reason hoping he would be okay.  My face softens when I notice his lip trembling.  He notices me, and bites his lip to stop it.

With a huff I walk back over hopping onto the bed.  "I'm gonna grab you okay?" I tell him but at the same time asking for his consent.  He gives me a quick thumbs up letting his head fall back onto the pillow.

I let my hands slip under his back and lift him up into a sitting position.  He groans as I pull him into my chest.  "You okay?" I ask freezing. "Mhmm" he mumbles.  I hug him his chin resting on my shoulder rubbing his back and side.

"Just cry, okay? it might make you feel better" I chuckle a sad chuckle and his breathing stops for a second.  "I can't see you if that's what you're worried about... just let it out" I urged him wanting Ash to express himself.

The hands that were laying to his sides gripped the blanket. He lets out a heavy sigh before a choked cough. Patting his back a bit his coughing soon turns into a sob.  I stay silent just letting him cry.

He's scared and he has every right to be.   "Just let it all out" I whisper turning to kiss the top of his head. He continues to cry into my shoulder his body giving out on him as I had to hold him up. The rag was now in between us.

I grab it making sure it's stil cold enough and let it fall over his messy curls.  He lets out a raspy laugh which still made me the tiniest bit happier.  This time kissing the rag.   He laughs again but it causes him to go into another coughing fit.

He sits up quickly hunching over the edge of the bed grabbing at his throat. My eyes widen as I frantically think of things to do. The coughs soon turn more gag as he practically falls off the bed. Trying my hardest to handle everything I grab his arm keeping him up, at the same time reaching over to the other side of the bed I grab his thankfully clean puke bucket.

As much as I didn't want to see this I knew I had to help him. Wrapping my arm around his torso I let his back lean against me handing him the bucket. He quickly gives in.  Everything he had been holding back, he lurches forward throwing up into the bucket.

I rubbed his shoulder with my free hand looking the other way as he cried throwing up the little bit of breakfast we had forced him to eat this morning.  "You're doing great" I whisper my voice cracking.  Not even sure he had heard me he continues to throw up, by now nothing was coming up except liquids. 

I try not to throw up myself.... I hate vomit so much, but I knew he needed me at the moment.   He sat up continuing to cry and I realized he had finished throwing up.

With disgust I set the bucket back to the ground taking one of his other cloths to wipe his mouth. He just continues to cry letting his body fall back into mine.

"You still look beautiful"