A Modern Love Story

Chapter 28 - Davey

Criticism spot! :)

just for those who may not know! Switch is the shorter term for the console Nintendo Switch, and a "joycon" is just what the controllers are called! <3

Jack's POV

Crutchie only seemed to grow weaker as the night went on, although the tea did help his voice, or at least he said it did. After eating dinner and playing some relaxing games on my Switch, I noticed it was getting very late, past the time Crutchie usually showered.

"Hey, did you want to shower tonight?" I finally asked, looking at him.

"Yeah, sorry," he said quietly, rubbing his eyes.

"You have nothing to apologize for, I'll go start the water quick, okay?" He nodded, and I got up to do just that.

I put his arm around my shoulders to help him walk there as usual, since he really didn't want to be carried. I waited patiently outside the door as per usual, helping him back to bed once he was done. He was far shakier this trip than the first one, almost unable to make it back to the bed. Once back, I looked him over, my heart aching as there wasn't much I could do to help. Finally, he opened his eyes to look at me, to which I smiled.

"Can we maybe play a game on your Switch?" He asked, my smile growing.

"Of course, do you want me to sit you up a little bit?" He nodded, so I gently moved his pillows to support him, helping him to sit up.  I turned everything on and got in bed with him, handing him his joycon. "What do you wanna play?"

"Something really relaxing, if that's alright," he mumbled, his voice starting to sound tired again.

"How about... Minecraft?" He nodded with a slight smile, so I started it for us.

We played for longer than I expected, Crutchie eventually getting tired and not having enough energy to play. He did ask to watch me play, though, so after I helped him lay back down, I kept playing until he was fully asleep, joining him soon after.

At some point in the night Crutchie woke up from a nightmare, but was unable to sit himself up from how weak he was, making it hard to breathe. He was clutching his chest and staring at the ceiling, tears streaming down his face.

"Crutchie, hey," I said, waiting for him to look at me before I did anything. "I'm gonna sit you up, alright? That way you can breathe," he nodded, and I gently put my hand behind his back and lifted him up, laying him against my chest so he didn't have to hold himself up. "You're alright," I assured him, playing with his hair.

"I can't br- I can't..." He trailed off, his voice the scratchiest it had been yet.

"It's okay, focus on me," I said calmly, tearing up because of just how bad he was shaking. "You're safe, I promise."

We sat together for a while, Crutchie able to calm down, but still shaking from exhaustion. I helped him to lay back down, facing him as I continued to mess with his hair.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked, to which he looked at me.

"It was just a dream of what happened, but with my Dad in it, too. Nothing I haven't dreamt before," he nearly whispered, breaking eyecontact. "I'm okay now, I just... I had to calm down. Can we... Can we go back to bed now?" I grew more worried as he took breaks in his sentences, something he usually did to avoid stuttering. 

"Mhm," was all I said, putting my arms around him. I waited for him to fall back asleep, only then allowing myself to close my eyes.

The following day I let everyone know that movie night was on, and I chose to again stay home from school with Crutchie, as he was doing even worse. Once he eventually woke up I gave him his medicine, also having him eat something  in hopes that he might get some strength back. After finishing, though, he simply settled back down in bed, closing his eyes.