Whumptober+ Short Stories - Volume 1

Prompt 31 - Embrace

She was hurt. Broken. Sitting there falling apart in his arms as he held her close. Her shoulders shook with every sob, and he could feel her grip tighten on his sleeve. Gently he stroked her hair with one hand, muttering as he did so, "Shhhh, it's okay. You're gonna be okay."

Storme let out a tremulous breath and shook her head. "No. I'm not. I..." She leaned further into his chest.

"I didn't really want to. I was just... I didn't know... what else to do."

Vale nodded slowly. "Yeah." He said. "I know." Inside, he felt a terrible sense of guilt at his friend's words. I should have been here for her, he thought. If only I hadn't been so... so self-centered. He sighed.

This was his fault.

Hugging Storme a little bit tighter, he leaned his head back against the wall behind the bed and closed his eyes. He tried to picture her face, her carefree smile. It had been so long since he had seen that smile, especially since the depression had set in. She was so sad now; he could always see it in her eyes, even when she tried to hide it. For months, he had done all he felt he could do. And then...

Then he had let her down.

Opening his eyes again, Vale blinked back the start of tears and looked down at the girl in his arms. She had stopped making those heartbroken sounds, now crying silently as she waited. Whatever she had poisoned herself with, it would take effect fairly soon.

"Hey, Storme?" He said shakily.

"What?"

"I'm sorry... I wasn't there."

Storme sniffled, and curled up closer to him. "I don't want to die anymore." She whispered, looking up at him with her big, sad eyes. Vale gave her a sad smile as he wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her against him. She was quiet for a moment, then smiled back.

"I can hear your heartbeat."

Vale nodded, the tears he was fighting back finally beginning to run down his face as he replied quietly, "And I'm going to miss yours."