Savior

Day 69

"I finished the book," said Maeko as she plopped down next to Teppei.

"How was it?"

Maeko stayed silent for a moment. She couldn't find the right words to express what she had been feeling. She didn't want to tell him that she could relate to the main character.

"It was heartbreaking, I guess."

Teppei took a sip from his cup of tea. "You relate to the main character, right?"

Maeko chuckled nervously. "How did you know?"

"You had similar experiences."

"Yeah, on the first part, when he couldn't be with his soulmate."

Teppei placed the empty cup on his bedside table. "Do you know why I told you about the book's story?"

"Because I asked you?"

Teppei laughed. "Yes, you did ask. But I would've told you about it anyway. I let you see me read the book on purpose."

Maeko looked at Teppei curiously. "Why?"

"So that we don't end up in the same situation."

Maeko felt her cheeks warm up. No way. How could he know?

"Maeko-chan, I don't want our friendship to fall. So, please, don't let yourself suffer any longer. I can't make you happy."

A tear fell from Maeko's right eye. "What are you talking about?"

"Matteyo! Please don't jump!"

Maeko turned around and saw a brown-haired boy pull her into his arms.

"I don't know you and I don't know what you've been through. But please hang on for now."

The boy rubbed her back and embraced her tightly. Maeko burst into tears.

Teppei sighed and frowned at the window. "Please stop putting all your time on me. There's nothing for you to pay back for. I didn't save you back then, Maeko-chan. You saved yourself. The only thing I did was show you that you can."

"You stopped me. You saved me."

"You chose to live. If you hadn't, the moment I took you back to your house, you would've killed yourself."

Maeko was left speechless. Teppei's words were true. She truly didn't want to fully succumb to the darkness. She wanted to pull herself away from it. If she hadn't wanted it, she would've taken every chance she got to disappear in this world.

"Maeko-chan, we're both broken people. We can't heal each other. I still haven't moved on from Riko. And you're still tied to your past."

Maeko lowered her head. "What do you want me to do?"

"Stop coming here all the time, Maeko."

"No. Why would you say that?"

"You can't tie yourself to me. You need to set yourself free, Maeko. I want you to discover yourself without someone else beside you. To love yourself without someone doing it for you. To accept yourself regardless of what other people say."

Tears streamed down Maeko's face. "I'm so used to seeing you."

Teppei wiped Maeko's tears with his right hand. "At first, I thought the right thing to do was to heal you. But I realized I can't do that since I hadn't healed myself yet. Don't worry. I'll still be waiting for your new stories and your adventures. Just let yourself heal first."

Teppei reached out on the drawer on his bedside table and pulled out a white envelope. He stared at it for a moment before he gave it to Maeko who grabbed it shakily.

Maeko gave a last look on the whole room before putting the envelope on her bag. Slinging her bag on her shoulder, she gave Teppei one last smile before stepping out of the room. With a heavy heart, she slowly exited the hospital. As soon as she stepped out, Maeko couldn't hold it in anymore. She burst into tears.

At his bedside table, Teppei placed a frame holding a picture of him and Maeko. He smiled as he looked out the window. A tear fell on the floor.