The Fallen(Nalu)

24- The Truth

"I really miss them..."

My whole world stops.

That sentence pierces my stomach like a knife, digging in deep and leaving a gaping wound in its place.

I stumble forward, my hand shooting out to steady myself on a tree next to me.

My eyes squeeze shut tightly, my hair falling freely around my face.

Of course he misses them. He's been stuck here with me for who knows how long it took him to find me.

Then why does it hurt so much to hear him say that?

What is this pain?...this horrible dread that feels like a vacuum in my stomach.

"Are you okay, Lucy?"

I glance to my side at him.

He stares at me with concerned eyes and I shudder.

That horrible expression of pain on his face has been wiped clean, the tear gone as if it was never there.

This pain...this is the pain that I've been trying so desperately to run away from.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?"

And yet for some reason at this moment I feel like I can't run from it.

I gulp.

"Why are you here with me?"

He steps to the side so that he's standing in front of me.

"Because I want to help you-"

The hole in my stomach grows at a rapid pace.

"But why?"

He frowns.

"Because I care about you, Lucy. I can't leave while you're like this."

I look back to the ground, my eyebrows creasing as the pain continues.

Stop talking, Lucy.

"You're going to leave me."

I can tell he's surprised without even opening my eyes.

This doesn't have to end yet. Stop. Now.

I don't stop, though.

As much as I'd like to stay like this forever....it's not fair to Natsu, is it?

"I miss them."

"Once you've helped me...you're going to leave me."

I can stop this. I can stop the hole from growing and force it away like I've always done. It's not too late, Lucy.

"Lucy...I would never leave you. Never."

A sting of pain pierces through my head and I wince.

"Run away, Lucy. I'll be right behind you."

"You're lying, Natsu."

He brings his lips together and stays silent.

"Why can't I worry about you for a change, Natsu?"

I don't even know where the thought is coming from...except that it comes from a place of sorrow.

I wince again as another jab goes through my head.

"Don't worry about me, Lucy."

Black spots appear in my vision and I breathe heavily.

This is what I've been keeping out.. This is what I've been fearing so much.

As much as I want to, I don't stop it...because as I've been feeling such bliss with Natsu...he's been hiding pain. He's been hiding the truth just as I have.

And it's all for my sake.

Just like back then?...

I steady my breathing and slowly stand up to face Natsu.

He stares at me with steady eyes, his lips pressed together as if unsure of what to say.

"It's okay, Natsu."

He stares at me for a few moments before unpressing his lips and letting out a deep breath.

"No, Lucy. I won't be coming back with you."

I try to hold myself together as everything feels like it's getting sucked away on the inside.

"Not in the way that you want me to, at least. I...I'm dead Lucy."

And with that, everything is gone, leaving emptiness in its place.