Reaper ~ THG AU

Ch. 47: Gifts

It doesn't take long for Briar to make it back to my room. She doesn't say anything at first, just gathering up my dirty dishes that still sit on my bedside table. I watch her disappear through the door without a word, leaving me to fiddle with my blanket while looking at the box.

Some time passes, the only sound being the clock ticking by across the room. I stay where I am, staring at the white box sitting on the dresser near the door. Thoughts of opening all the notes my brother wrote before his passing coming to mind more than once. The only thing stopping me being the knowledge that they weren't written for me.

I already got my note...

The door opening once more causes me to look up. Briar steps in with another tray in her hands and a neutral look on her face. She steps over, setting the tray down before grabbing a chair and sitting herself.

"I'm not hungry..."

"I don't care. It's been over three and a half hours since you ate and it was over twenty before that." She sighs, grabbing the sandwich off the tray and holding it out to me. "It's just a tomato sandwich. Just how you like it. It'll hold you over until supper."

"Then why can't I just wait for supper?"

Briar huffs, setting the sandwich back down on the tray. She grabs the glass of water, glaring towards me as she holds it out next. I look down at the glass with disgust as my stomach rumbles in an unpleasant way.

"Fine. Wait till supper. But you better not argue when it's brought up. And you better eat all of it too. Now drink your water."

I sigh, taking the glass from her and deciding to chug it down before my stomach can complain. After taking the empty glass, she sets it down before grabbing the sandwich she just sat down. I give her a confused look as she takes a large bite.

"What? Someone has to eat it." She swallows as she gives me a look back before eyeing the box across the room. "What's in the box?"

"Nothing."

I answer quickly, looking down at the quilt clutched in my hands. She gives me a look before staring at the white box across the room. I watch as she stands, strutting over as my heartbeat sky rockets. I feel myself standing as she grabs the container.

"Don't..."

She freezes immediately at my body actually being upright for once. She hums, looking down at the box now in her hands. I gulp as she tucks it under her arm.

"What is it?"

"I alread-"

"Told me a lie. Now what's in here?"

Tears start to well up in my eyes, my emotions coming back full force. The feelings that I've been pushing down for days tumble out as my body makes contact with the prison I call a bed. Briar immediately sets the box down, moving towards me as a sob leaves me.

"It's...it's Ace..."

"What?"

"They're gifts made out of his ashes...just like this..."

My shaky hands grab the necklace made from my brother. Briar gasps, looking over the perfect diamond before standing. I don't stop her this time as she walks over to the box. I hear her open it, finding the notes with each of the smaller containers.

"There's one for me?"

"Of course there is...he loved you. There's also one for Sven and Sloan. I-I just couldn't bring myself to self to give him up fully yet..."

Briar sets the gifts down. I wipe away my tears, memories flashing in my mind. My hands shake as she her footsteps slowly walk towards me.

"Z...I know none of us can really know what you went through...but you can't shut us out. We all lost him. We're all grieving. But we're tired of grieving someone who is still here. Still breathing. Please. Try and find the Azalea you were before. Even if it's just the tiniest bit of her..."