"Marine? Are you here?"
Marine lifted her head up and turned to look at the voice.
It was a Pekora. No, two Pekoras. They looked like twins, except for their eyes. One had purple eyes, and the other had blue eyes. They were both wearing glasses.
"Bearshia? Nepgear? What are you doing here?" Marine asked, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Bearshia and Nepgear were the names of the two pekora twins. Somehow Marine knew this despite never seeing them before.
"We were worried about you," Nepgear said, "So we wanted to check up on you."
"You've been crying all day, Marine," Bearshia said, and she pulled Marine into a hug.
"I can't help it..."
Nepgear joined in, too.
Marine didn't understand why these two Pekoras cared about her. It was a surprise to her, but it felt nice.
She kept crying, hugging the two Pekoras as they tried to comfort her...
Marine was jolted awake.
It was dark. The clock said it was 3 AM.
Marine could still feel the pain in her chest. It hurt. It really hurt. The stress was getting to her.
Marine decided she wanted a snack.
She pulled her blankets off and started to walk downstairs.
Marine didn't even bother to turn on the light. She knew the way to the kitchen by heart.
She pulled open the fridge and looked inside. The fridge light was off.
There was a bunch of junk food. There was a small jar of strawberry jam, and a carton of eggs.
"Rushia's favorite jam..." Marine mumbled, staring at it.
Marine stared at the fridge, just standing there. She didn't know what to do. Her eyes began to fill with tears. She wiped them away.
"Marine? What are you doing?" a voice asked from behind her.
Marine jumped and spun around, her heart beating hard in her chest.
Rushia was standing there, wearing a black and white dress, her now purple hair let down. She looked so pale and sickly. She was paler than Marine had ever seen her before.
"R-R-Rushia..." Marine started, but she was breathing really hard, her heart was beating so fast.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Rushia looked at Marine with her big purple and red eyes. She smiled. "I'm here. I'm really here."
"R-Rushia..." Marine tried to say, but she couldn't.
"It's okay," Rushia said, reaching out for her. "I'm not going anywhere."
Marine reached for her. "Rushia... I..."
She ran to her, hugging her tight. "I... I thought you were..."
Marine was shaking and crying and trying to talk, but all the words were caught in her throat.
"I know," Rushia said. "I know, I know. I'm sorry, Marine. I'm sorry. It's okay now. I'm here."
Rushia hugged her tight. It felt like all the pain was being washed away, and she didn't feel that heartache anymore.
"R-Rushia... I'm..." Marine said. She was breathing hard. She couldn't stop herself from crying. "I love you..."
Rushia held her tight. "I love you, too."
***
"R-Rushia...?"
Marine woke up. The sun was peeking through her blinds. Her eyes were heavy, and she was sweating. She had another dream.
"Marine?"
Marine's heart was pounding in her chest. She turned around.
There she was, the girl she missed so much, the girl she never wanted to let go of, sitting at the end of her bed.
She couldn't believe her eyes.
Rushia was there.
"Are you awake? Good morning," she said, her voice sounding so real.
She was there, right in front of Marine. Her Rushia.
Marine's face broke out into a smile.
"I had another dream..." Marine started, reaching for Rushia. She was about to cry. "You were gone forever... I didn't know what to do without you."
"I know. I know, Marine. I'm sorry I was so mean to you," she said. She took Marine's hand in hers.
Marine could feel Rushia's warmth. She could feel her soft skin. It felt like everything was going to be alright again.
"I thought you were dead," Marine said. "Everyone kept telling me how much of a horrible person you were, but I never believed them. They never knew you. I'm so glad you're here, Rushia."
"I'm sorry, Marine," she said, her hand in Marine's. "I never meant to hurt you like that."
"It's okay," Marine said, looking at Rushia. She was smiling. "I forgive you."
"Thank you," she said, and then she leaned over and gave Marine a kiss.
"R-Rushia?" Marine asked, her face turning bright red.
Rushia smiled. "What's wrong, Marine? Have you been lonely?"
Marine turned bright red, nodding.
"Y-Yeah..."
"I'm sorry, Marine," she said. "But it's okay now. I'm here now, and I'll never leave you. again"
Marine nodded, still blushing. She pulled Rushia into a hug.
Rushia smiled and hugged her back.
"You won't ever leave me, right?"
"I promise."
"Rushia?"
"What is it?"
"Why is your hair purple?"
"Oh. That's because... Because..."
Marine raised her head to look at Rushia.
"I'm dead," Rushia said, and she giggled.
