Hermitcraft/Empires oneshots/drabbles

Till Death Do Us Part (Beetho) Pt 2

I'M SORRY I MADE THIS PLEASE FORGIVE ME

I started working, realised how sad it was, but at that point I couldn't stop.

Funny story about when I started writing: I used ChatGPT to continue it for me to get ideas. and lets just say my streak of not get choked up over angst is over. It basically described Beef dying while Etho was holding him, and Beef was telling him to keep living and keep going and be fine without him.

But anyways, heres my version! I hope you enjoy... or not...

Tw: Death, medical stuff

It had been a month since Etho had been fired from his previous job. He managed to make some money working as a waiter in a small restaurant. With a few handouts from the restaurant, some nights going hungry, and even some generous help from friends, he managed to make ends meet. But Beef wasn't getting any better. Just a week after, they discovered the proteins had claimed his lungs, and was slowly working its way to his heart. That was bad. The doctors had made it clear they wouldn't do any surgeries. If his heart stopped... He'd be truly gone.

Etho was just finishing his shift at the restaurant when he got a call. With a feeling of dread, he pulled out his phone and hit answer. It was an unidentified number, which normally meant one thing...

'Hello?' A polite, quiet voice said on the other side. 'Is this Mr Ethoslab?' (Hehe Etho slab)

'Y- Yeah.' Etho replied, shivering.

'Your husband is much worse. You might want to come to the hospital. We're... Unsure of how much time he has left.'

Etho's heart was hammering, trying to break out of his chest. 'Yes. I'll come right away.'

———

Etho arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later and got admitted in. The reception staff had been the ones to call him. They gave him sympathetic looks and let him in immediately.

In the ward, Beef's face was paler than normal, but his smile was still the same- Like a ray of sunshine (Def didn't just write 'shineshine') the second he saw Etho.

'Etho...' His voice was croaky, and Etho dropped onto the seat beside him.

'How are you doing?' Etho took his hand, tracing circles on Beef's knuckles. Beef coughed.

'Not well.' He gripped Etho's hand weakly. 'Don't go.'

'I'm staying right here, Beef.' Etho slid one hand under Beef's shoulders, cradling him, and leaned down to rest his forehead on Beef's. The two stayed locked together for what seemed like hours.

But it was never long enough.

'Hey, Etho?...' Beef weakly placed his hand on Etho's shoulder. Etho leaned over him, eyes pricking. 'Yeah, Beef?'

'I'm sorry.' His voice cracked, and he coughed. 'I don't think I can... I'm slipping.'

'No! Nonononono...' Etho gripped his hand tightly. 'You can't leave. You can't just leave me alone.' A tear dripped off his face. 'Please, Beef.'

'Etho, can you promise me something?' Beef's breathing was starting to fluctuate.

'What is it?' Etho was starting to cry, tears rolling down his cheeks.

'You're- you're going to have to move on, Etho. Don't wallow in your grief. Find your friends. Talk to them. Live life to it's fullest.'

'I- I promise, Beef.' Etho ran his fingers through Beef's hair.

'We'll never forget each other... Right?'

'Never. Nevernevernevernever.' Etho pressed his forehead against Beef's, then gently kissed him for the last time. He listened as Beef's breathing got slower... And slower... He grip getting weaker...

The heart monitor began its long, monotonous beep.

I'm just gonna... Cry in the corner... And atone about what I made. Cya