Short Stories (ErrInk)

A Pair of Wings - 6 Months Left

Imagine sitting in a hospital room waiting for the doctor to walk through the door. The sickening silence that shallows everything, the anxiety that makes your soul do flips and skip beats. You know the results were going to be terrible but you had no idea to what extent.

And then... when the doctor finally enters the room, you immediately notice the expression of pity that plagues their face. They stare at the clipboard that holds the results that you desperately wanted to know. Then they reveal the horrible truth of your existence. You have the same cancer that took your entire family from the earth that you walked on, except for your younger brother.

Well... that happened to me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Error's POV

I couldn't look away from the floor. It was more interesting than the man that stood with my lab results.

Doctor: I'm so sorry, Error. I know this might be hard for you to hear this.

Me: I was expecting this. I've attended many of my relatives' funerals. They all died because of this disease. I was bound to be taken by it as all.

I said, trying my best to hold in my tears. I prepared myself for this day but I guess a part of me wasn't ready.

Me: How long?

The man flipped through the papers.

Doctor: Roughly six months.

That's when I became scared. Deep down, I hoped to have just a little more time.

Doctor: But, I would like to keep you here tonight. I want to make sure that my calculations could be wrong and it's longer than half a year.

I nodded despite me knowing that even if he was wrong, I was still going to die. It wouldn't make a difference.

The man sighed before writing on his papers.

Doctor: Again. I'm sorry, Error. When you leave tomorrow morning, I think you should start getting your affairs in order.

I nodded, wiping the tear that was rolling down my cheek.

(Time Skip)

  I sat on the bed while silently crying. If only I had found out about the cancer eating my soul sooner. This is exactly what killed my older brother, Geno.

If there really was a god in the skies, I couldn't understand why they ruled over my family with an iron fist.

The sound of the door opening caused me to pause my thoughts. I tried to hide the tears on my face but I was too much of a mess for it to change anything.

A monster walked through, telling me that it wasn't my doctor. He was a skeleton like me but he had common pale white bones. Ink stains could be seen on he cheeks and he wore a brown scarf. There seemed to be a sketchbook in his hands.

???: Good evening Mr Queen. I'm a volunteer here. My name is Ink.

He introduced himself, placing the book on a table nearby.

Me: Just call me Error.

I said, looking at the window to the outside world. I didn't want him to see my tears. However, it seemed that he noticed.

Ink: What's wrong?

Me: I was told that I was... um... going to die in half a year.

  The happy expression on Ink's face immediately fell into one of shock.

Ink: Oh. Oh my god. I'm so sorry.

Me: Don't be. There's nothing you could have done about it.

  I said solemnly. Suddenly, I felt Ink's arms wrap around me and embrace me in a warm hug. Until now, I didn't realize how much I needed one. We sat still for a few minutes in comforting silence.

  Ink let go and sat in the chair that was next to my bed.

Me: Thank you, Ink. That felt nice.

Ink: It's the least I could do.

  He smiled, rainbow slightly coloring his cheeks. I smiled in return and enjoyed the comforting atmosphere that Ink gave off.

  Ink looked down and fidgeted with the end of his brown scarf.

Ink: Do you have any family?

  I shook my head. The only one I had left was Fresh but we weren't on speaking terms.

Me: One but he wouldn't care.

Ink: Why?

Me: He's angry with me. I accidentally made his crush like me even though I wasn't even interested in her.

  He hummed as he listened to me talk. I guess I had decided to pour the rest of my thoughts out.

Me: There are so many things that I want to do but I'm basically on my deathbed already. So much for "living a full life". I can't even apologize to my brother.

Ink: You can still do that.

  I turned my gaze to him with a questioning expression.

Me: What do you mean?

Ink: I can take you across the country and even see your brother. I can't get rid of your sickness but...

I can still help you