Dying and Everything in between

30|See ya tomorrow

─── ･｡•̩̩͙˚｡✧: *. .*:✧•̩̩͙･ﾟ｡───

"F-fuck," Lucas stuttered in between breaths, his face red and clothes clinging to his sweat-drenched body as he nearly collapsed against the side of the railings he was trying to balance himself on.

"Kid, don't push yourself anymore," Laura stood beside him. "If you can't do it, you can't. It's fine." She managed to snag some time off to be with him during his physical therapy sessions, which he appreciated.

But for some reason, her presence only made the crack in his chest split wider apart. He could feel the worry in her eyes digging into his skull's side. Every time his legs crumbled from beneath him, he never missed the subtle wince that flickered across her features when the physical therapist rushed to his side.

She was supporting him, yes, and at the same she made him feel like a failure.

It wasn't intentional— he knew better than that. There were things Lucas couldn't control, and this was one of them, but, it felt so horrible to stumble. His legs weren't working. No matter how much he willed himself to take a step forward, he couldn't lift his foot off the ground without over-exerting himself. The cold he got from standing out in the rain two weeks ago did nothing to help his body improve. That almost made everything worse.

This was so stupid, frustrating, and painful that he couldn't even take a single step anymore. What was even worse is that Laura had to watch that— he didn't want to think about it anymore.

"We should take a break." She was already waving off the therapist to leave the room before he could respond.

"Laura," He heaved, re-adjusting his grip on the metal bars. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not," Her expression was unreadable as she joined his side. "Come here and let me help you down." She gestured at his wheelchair.

"I said I'm fine. I-I can do it," He shook his head when she held her hand out toward him. "I haven't even tried."

"Lucas," She gritted her teeth, "it's been almost two hours. You haven't even moved from one end to the other. Give it up already."

"Laura, listen," He started but she was quick to interrupt him with—

"No, you listen! I'm talking to you as a medical professional and I'm telling you to please just stop it already," She snapped, her voice breaking a little. "It's over, Luc. I-It's all over."

Lucas's eyes widened. It took a second for Laura to realize what she just said, and when she did, he could feel her stomach drop. A dozen emotions flashed over her features. Regret. Guilt. Pain. Sadness. Everything at the same time and it contorted her face into this ugly pile of mess.

Laura took a step back, running one hand down her face while the other sat perched on her hip. He watched quietly, noticing how her hands wavered and her shoulders trembled.

She was exhausted, beyond exhausted, and at that moment, she looked small. So incredibly small that it made his gut twist knowing it was partially his fault. He hung his head low, swallowing thickly. There wasn't anything he could say or do. Not anymore, at least.

"I'm sorry," She breathed out. "I'm just— it's just been a long day. I-I'm sorry Luc."

"I'll stop," He replied right away. She merely nodded and helped him back onto his chair, her grip on his arms firm yet he could still feel a subtle tremor in her touch.

When he was seated back in his wheelchair, he rolled himself over to where she was sitting with the remaining strength he had left in him. His shoulders slumped once he joined her side; his gaze lowered to his lap as Laura's heavy breathing filled the empty room.