Reticent

Getting Worse

    Dream left George for maybe an hour or so only to return with some medicine once the sun had set. "I don't know how you'll react to this," he informed George. "but this helps us so hopefully it'll help you too." Dream handed George a little plastic container with things wrapped inside.

    "What is it?" George asked. His voice was still a bit shaky.

    "Those are cough drops. Don't chew them. They're supposed to help sooth your throat and stop the coughing. There's also a liquid version or a spray but neither of those are very pleasant."

    George carefully opened the container and took a drop, unwrapping it and popping it in his mouth. The taste was strong but it wasn't unpleasant. After a few minutes, George found that it worked. His chest still ached but the unbearable itch in his throat was soothed. It didn't hurt to speak.

    "Is it helping?" Dream asked. George nodded. "Good. I'm relieved. Don't let that container get wet, okay?"

    "Okay... Thank you." He slipped the container in between some rocks to keep it safe and dry.

    Dream sat down next to George upon his return to the bankside, eyeing him with caution. "I can't take you to a doctor. Take care of yourself, okay?" Dream said. "You're important to me."

    George's ears grew warm and a sharp pain struck through his side. "I'll be okay," he lied.

    "If you say so, George. I wish I could help more."

    "You're already doing so much for me. I'm grateful."

    Why was this coughing getting worse? George had never heard of anything like this. Though, he supposed most of his people didn't really use their lungs much. Perhaps they weren't meant to be used, then. Or at least not as often as George used them.

    But he only used them when Dream was around, for the most part. When he was alone, he was almost always in the water. Could he really be overusing his lungs?

    "I think I just need some rest," George theorized.

    "Then stop talking and get back in the water!" Dream playfully pushed George off the bankside and back into the water.

    "But-" George protested, though he was cut off before he could finish his thought.

    "No, none of that," Dream interrupted. "I'll stay here, okay? Just stay under the water. Rest for a while."

    George agreed, though reluctant, and submerged himself, allowing the water to swarm him. Breathing the clear liquid was quite a bit easier than the air, George noticed. There had been strain and force to get his body to use his lungs. That must've been strange, right? It was more than just hurting, there was a pressure in his chest. He just needed rest. Surely.

    Above the pond, next to the bankside, Dream watched George dip under the water and stay there. He sighed, trying to relieve himself of stress.

Dream had no idea he would get so emotionally attached to this place, much less a strange, friendly creature who just so happened to live there. Why was George getting so sick? Surely it couldn't have been Dream's fault. Maybe he brought disease or viruses George hadn't been exposed to. He said he travelled all over the world, however. Could Dream have really exposed him to something new?

Eventually, Dream managed to fall asleep, despite his onslaught of worry.

Two pale red petals drifted to the surface of the water.

When George awoke the next morning, his chest ached and he felt as though his ribs were bruised. Everything was sore. Including his throat.

Exhausted, George swam to the surface and reached for the container of cough drops he had stored. Only after popping one in his mouth did he notice Dream still sleeping close by. While staying mostly under the water, George swam closer to Dream. He looked so uncomfortable sleeping on the ground. His face was contorted, his brow furrowed. He looked stressed.

George felt a pang in his chest. This was his fault. George stressed him out. His only friend was in pain because of him.

"George..." Dream mumbled in tired greeting. George waved in acknowledgment. "Good, good... No talking..."

George giggled under the water. Sleepy Dream was quite out of it. How amusing~

"It'll be a bit harder to talk to you if you can't respond, though," Dream continued. "Do you know how to write?"

George shook his head. Having lived underwater his whole life, most written forms of literature didn't last very long. Learning how to read and write was virtually useless.

"Right, right..." Dream turned towards George. "We'll figure it out. We'll wait however long you need to recover."

George nodded in agreement. Though his chest was aching, avoiding air seemed to help a bit. He hadn't needed to stifle a cough since he woke up which was already a dramatic improvement. The medicine must've been helping as well.

Dream fell back asleep with newfound comfort and an expression of ease. George merely watched, scared to move in case the noise he made was enough to disturb Dream.

Around maybe forty minutes later, Dream awoke again. "Sorry," he said in a rough morning voice. "I didn't mean to fall back asleep..."

While staying mostly under the water's surface, George lifted one of his webbed hands and gently placed it on Dream's. It's okay, he conveyed. Dream smiled in understanding.

"You're very kind, George," he commented. He sat upright in the dirt and looked at George whose hand had slipped back into the water. "I appreciate you letting me stay after I pretty much invaded your home. You're a good friend."

George gave Dream a forgiving smile.

"Hey, would you be okay if I left for a moment to get something to eat?" George nodded and Dream left, though hesitant. George waited for him to return, not knowing how long it would take. Less than an hour, surely, so it wouldn't be worth it to leave the bankside.

Eventually when Dream did return, George was still resting in the same place he left him.

    George seemed so tired.

    "I'm back, Georgie~" Dream called softly. George stirred in response. "You can have some of what I bought, if you want."

    George nodded slowly and recklessly lifted himself out of the water so he could get closer to Dream. The second air filled his lungs, violent coughing ruptured throughout his body. It was labored and dry and after a moment, blood sprayed the land from George's throat. Panicked, Dream rushed over to George and shoved him back under the water in desperation.

    George resurfaced after a few minutes with an apologetic expression.

    "Don't do that again. Stay under there," Dream said sternly. He managed to hide the wavering in his voice.

    Fear. Unease. Worry.

    George wasn't getting better. He was getting worse.