Unrequited LOVE

•Chapter 35•

Coming to terms with yourself was one of the hardest things you'd ever done. After a week of living with Swap (and Fell, too), who proved an excellent friend and host, respectively, the reality of your new life set in.

You were never going home.

It was impossible, according to both skeletons. Once something entered the void, there wasn't no escape.

And right now, that was the last thing you needed to hear.

You lay curled up in the bed Swap'd gifted you, crying your nonexistent heart out. Not even the SOULless could escape the pain of loss, which both infuriated and comforted you.

At least I haven't lost everything.

A soft knock interrupted your thoughts. You un-bury your face from the pillow and wipe your puffy eyes. "W-Who is it?"

Swap's voice is quiet as he practically whispers from the other side. "It's Swap, may I come in?"

"G-Give me a moment!" You call, hastily fixing the bed and re-fluffing the pillow, unwilling to let him see you at your worst. The room he let you use is small, but quaint, with a modest bed, desk, and closet. The pale green walls have become a source of comfort. "Come in."

The door opens and Swap steps in. His eyelights dart to your face, then the bed, then back again. "...Are you alright?"

"Yeah..." you lie, mouth stretching in a wry smile. It feels fake. You feel fake. "I'm fine."

A sigh. "No, you're not. What's wrong?"

"W-What?" You blink. That was quick-

Swap stares you down, though his eyelights hold no anger. If anything, he looks concerned. "(Y/n), it isn't good to bottle up your feelings. Please tell me what's wrong."

Your will dissolves when he pulls you into a hug. Old tears run down your cheeks as you return the hug. "I... I miss them."

"Your friends?"

You nod into his bony shoulder. The orange and blue fabric of his clothes blurs and you momentarily forget the pain.

"It's going to be alright, you know."

I doubt it.

You sniffle. "Probably not."

Something rubbed the top of your head, shifting down to pat your wings. "Pessimism won't help, have some HOPE."

Did he just-

Your head swung up, staring at Swap. "Huh?"

The skeleton flashed you a dazzling smile, sockets crinkling at the corners. "If you don't HOPE, you won't get anywhere in life. Take it from me."

...It almost didn't occur to you just how right he was. "I... I don't have any."

"Is it because you don't have a SOUL?"

Well, duh...

"Yeah."

Swap merely chuckled. His index phalange tapped the left side of your clavicle. "I don't know much about bird monsters, but I do know you've got a heart in there. Use it."

And he was right.

You dried your eyes.

"Thank you, Swap."

Maybe everything was going to be okay.

***

Nightmare knew there was something wrong with him. His SOUL ached endlessly, not even sparing him when he slept.