Endless Love ("Neiko")

A Painful, Yet Peaceful Day

Naomi turned in bed. The sheets were messy and Naomi's clothes were disheveled.

I mean, why wouldn't it be with Seiko tossing and turning all night long?

Naomi fixed her shirt and sat up, rubbing her eyes. A yawn escaped from her mouth as she looked down to where Seiko is sleeping. A smile tugged at Naomi's mouth.

She looks so peaceful. She thought.

Naomi ran her hand over Seiko's forehead and got up quietly. Naomi went to the bathroom and then downstairs. She decided to make breakfast for her mother, along with Seiko.

Naomi made a basic breakfast; eggs with toast and bacon. Naomi turned off the stove and placed the food on the table. She washed her hands and started walking up the stairs. Naomi got to the top and yelped in surprise. Seiko had just turned the corner, startling Naomi. Naomi lost her footing and fell backwards, a shriek slicing through the air. She reached her hand out to grasp anything in order to stop her fall and ended up grabbing Seiko's sleeve by accident. Naomi fell, and with Seiko's shirt in hand, so did Seiko.

The two girls toppled down the stairs, crashing to a stop at the bottom. Naomi's mother, Natsumi, botled from her room to the top of the stairs in a panic. She looked down and saw Naomi and Seiko in a heap at the bottom. Natsumi ran to where the girls were and kneeled next to them.

"What happened?! Are you okay?!" Natsumi asked.

"I'm fine." Seiko answered with a groan.

Naomi was ahead of Seiko on her knees, her head touching the ground. She was holding her head in her hands out of pain.

Seiko shot to Naomi's side and placed a hand on her back.

"Naomi, are you okay?"

Naomi shook her head against the hard-wood floor. Seiko heard the faintest of cries coming from her.

"Naomi, sit up please." Seiko pleaded.

Naomi exhaled, "It hurts..."

"I know, but please." Seiko answered.

Naomi slowly got up from her position on the ground. Her eyes were still screwed shut, tears streaming down her face.

"Where does it hurt?" Seiko asked.

"The back of my head." Naomi answered weakly.

Seiko softly put her hand over Naomi's head. Seiko touched the part of Naomi's head where it hurt the most, Naomi cowering away from her touch.

Seiko frowned, "I'm sorry."

Naomi shook her head and quickly moved closer to Seiko, burrying her head in Seiko's chest. Seiko hugged her back softly, making sure not to hurt Naomi. Seiko rubbed soothing circles around her back.

"It's okay, Naomi."

Seiko looked up at Natsumi, "Do you have any ice packs?"

"Maybe..." Natsumi paused, "I'll go check."

Seiko nodded, "Thank you."

Natsumi scurried off, searching for an ice pack in the house just as Seiko had asked. Seiko kept cooing soothing words to Naomi until she sat up out of Seiko's grasp. Naomi wiped her face and looked at Seiko sadly.

"I'm sorry..." Naomi said quietly.

Seiko shook her head, "Don't be. I'm fine, okay?"

Naomi nodded her head slowly. Just after Natsumi came back to the girls with a small ice pack. She handed it to Seiko and left to the kitchen. She must've thought Seiko had it under control.