There's a Story Behind Every Smile (Hitachiin Triplets, OHSHC)

Chapter Twenty Five

Teru wheeled into her house slowly, Takuma really too old to be pushing her and no stay-in nurse placed with her yet. All the furniture had been moved to the sides, or at least what was left of it, Akira's cooking supplies, beanbags, and life was taken away from everything. Tears welled rebelliously in her eyes at what wasn't there in that room, the lack of the coffee on the table next to the door, the jacket not thrown on the coffee table, that beautiful maroon colour gone from everything, except for the rosy colour of her right eye. That beautiful boy gone from everything.

It had taken her a month to be let out again, and she'd gotten so sick, and thrown up so much from her eating habits gone wrong, she was now stuck in a wheelchair, and actually too weak to even stand on her own. And it didn't help that she was left alone to fight it.

She was left sitting in the middle of the room, that family room that had been turned into an office, a lobby, a workplace-not somewhere where anyone should live. Not where she wanted to live. Anymore, at least.

She looked down the hallway as Takuma shed his coat, and noticed a single, cardboard box caught her attention. She knew she shouldn't, knew it was probably just a box Akira had forgotten, yet she couldn't help but shakily and slowly wheel towards it, Takuma caught up in talking on the phone by now. Besides, he knew how she could get when she was determined.

The closer she got, the more the dread pooled in her stomach and bile clawed at her throat. She gulped shakily as she stopped in front of it. She wanted to look away, close her eyes, yet that final, vital piece of hope in her heart shattered at the sharpie writing on the box.

I hope this will get you through the many days ahead, if not okay. She swiftly moved from her wheelchair to the floor, going to rip open the box with the box cutter left next to it, and tears sprung when she saw what was inside.

A maroon hoodie with earbud strings, a crimson-red pillow, a maroon and white teddy bear, an Evanescence t-shirt, a bottle of his favourite cologne, and most importantly, a necklace, and a letter. She quickly scooped them up as a sob escaped her.

  I've never felt this way before
Everything that I do
Reminds me of you
And the clothes you left, they lie on the floor
And they smell just like you
I love the things that you do

...

  We were made for each other
Out here forever
I know we were
Yeah, yeah
And all I ever wanted was for you to know
Everything I do, I give my heart and soul
I can hardly breathe; I need to feel you here with me
Yeah

Teru, I just thought you might as well know, now that I'm gone. Even if you don't love me, I'll find my way back to you. I'll always find my way home.

I love you, forever.

Takuma walked down the hallway thirty minutes later to see her laying over the box with a maroon hoodie on, a bear in her arms, two necklaces around her neck, a letter crumpled in her grip, and tear stains running from under her steamed glasses.