I can feel your presence, yet you're still absent. || [SMG34]

Chapter 2

"So... it was real?" SMG4 asked. "That... dream... was real?"
Meggy nodded, opening her arms up for SMG4 to hug. "I'm sorry..."
Luigi came into the hug, to Meggy's dismissal, but all SMG4 did was look down, his hands scrunching up into fists.
"SMG4..." Mario called out. "I can go with you, Mario can keep you company."
"No. I.. I need to be alone... Please." He whispered, shoving Meggy aside from the doorway to leave Mario's house. "I'll be in my RV."

Sitting inside his RV, SMG4 sat on his bed, his elbows pressed into his thighs as he held his head in his hands, ashamed. He'll never get a chance like that again, to hold him when he wishes, to hold him when one is upset, to hold his face and... it's too late for that. Tears fell down his cheeks falling into his lap. He wiped his eyes, hiding his tears into his pillow as he went to lay his stomach flat against the bed. His throat felt clogged as he took in short breaths, gasping for air. His chest ached like it had been stabbed. His mind was fuzzy, he couldn't even count the number of stains on his pillow, it might be soaking by now. Head all fuzzy, SMG4 continued to breathe quickly and lightly into the pillow, the chest pain not going away. It hurt. It ached. Why did it hurt? Was it from... It was guilt. His sobs coughed through his throat as it tightened, like a feeling of being choked. Was this what SMG3 felt? Before he died in the arms and by the hands of his (probably not so) secret admirer. His tears stained his cheeks, leaving residue behind. His eyes darted around the RV as he hiccuped and sobbed and breathed. Breathe. Why was it so hard? He was doing so well before. Why is it difficult to now? He couldn't even think. His mind was fogged. Clouded, as some would describe it.
"SMG4? You in there?" A voice called out, followed by some knocking. Recognizable, but far. He couldn't reach them, he could only cough and sob as a reply to the voice. He could hear their footsteps, the RV tilting. Was that them? His breath hitched, trying to hold it together, but exhaled quickly due to the clogging and tightness.
"Go away." He choked out, trying to steady his voice and self, his breathing ot helping. "I said.. I said I- I I needed to be a.. Alon.. alone."
The footsteps stopped, almost like they were hesitating, there was slight pressure closer to the front but nothing more. He really needs a door to his bedroom. As he lifted his head towards the door frame, there stood a friend. Maybe? It was hard to tell with the tears in his eyes, but eventually, his body was shifted into a hug, with two arms wrapped around his body just underneath his arms. There was a slight orange behind him as he blinked to remove the tears, his breath trying to calm down. Despite wanting to be alone, he quickly fell into the comfort of his friend, resting his eyes on his friend's shoulder, fully leaning down, SMG4 was quick to cry again but into a different comforting source, his wails echo'd his temporary stay as footsteps and movement were overruled by his sobs.
"So, Meggy wanted to check on you, because dealing with death is hard, of-a course..." Mario started, as SMG4 silently let the tears fall onto his shoulder. "And-a... well, I was helping Luigi with some clean-up in the city. And... uh... he found-a this, and Mario  thought you should have it." He pulled out something from behind him, that could've been handed to him from Meggy, trying to gesture for his best friend to look, and soon enough, SMG4 got up to look at what his best friend could've gotten him. His eyes widened as his breathed slowly but was still hiking down from it's high. SMG3's hat. SMG4 looked at it intently, as he held onto Mario's shoulders for support, before taking the hat. It was in good condition, despite the events. Wasn't he wearing it when he was dead? Four couldn't remember, it wasn't like he wanted to anyways. He looked up at the two, as he sat on his bed with legs dangling off the edge.
"Thanks, guys." He muttered, pressing it against his chest.
"Of course, SMG4. We're here to help." Meggy smiled.
"Mhm..." he replied. "Sorry for snapping at you like that before."
"Don't worry about it, I'd do the same if I had the same amount of pressure you go through."
"Okay." SMG4 looked at the hat. "Can I be left alone again? I- I mean this is a good gift, thank you for finding it. I'm just... still going through." His breathing showed it, with dried tears stuck on his face, having not been the slightest of fully calm, but this... this does help. The two nodded and left, leaving just the hat and Four.