White Eyes [ E D I T I N G ]

21- " I 'm Sorry . . . "

The day after tomorrow, Hinata's nurse never showed up once again. So it was true, that he resigned. He was still new, so what hit him that led him to give up his job? Was it because she was hard to take care of?

She was perhaps a huge burden for him to carry. Just how many people did she bother just because of this stupid disease? Maybe this is why Neji kept everything regarding the illness. He decided to die alone, only leaving a girl, regretful of being obedient to him.

If Hinata died, would it be painful for those she left behind?

How would she even know?

She wasn't dead.

Her fingers ran through the knitted garment that he made before he left. It sure did feel good  to have someone care for you, even though they don't last forever.

“To everyone I cared for, thank you. To the people who made me stronger, thank you. I . . .  I can't tell how grateful I am,” Hinata covered her mouth as she started to sob. She started to hiccup, making it for her hard to breathe.

Her sight was getting dimmer and dimmer.

She sniffed, trying to wipe the tears away, “But I'm sorry, that the girl you wanted to be strong is slowly breaking down— ”

“—hopelessly trying to keep myself together.” She gulped,“ Yet failing hopelessly. I can't fix my heart.”

• • •

Mori felt empty.

The pain seemed to seep through his heart so deep, that the pain started to get numb.

He still wanted to help the helpless, but he lost the spirit. All this, all he did, was probably a lie that he wanted to be true.

He turned as his doorbell rang. He slowly treaded his way to the door, then slowly turned the knob, getting a glimpse of a letter.

He bent forward to pick it up.

Kotsuzumi Mori is dead inside. He didn't want to do anything today, even simply reading a letter. But despite his mental protests, he still tore the envelope to read the letter.

He scanned the message, his eyes widening at the word visibly printed on the thin sheet:

P O S I T I V E

• • •

The moment she opened her eyes again, it was pitch black. When Sakura arrived, all Hinata knew was that the pinkette gasped and started to call Tsunade.

The colors . . . They're all gone.

She couldn't see their faces, their smiles. It seems everything was too late. Naruto and his team haven't arrived yet, and she was relieved.

When she dies, she will stop being a burden to all of them. Her memories will reside in their hearts, while they carry on.

“I'm blind.” Hinata whispered.

Sakura yelped. “Hinata! We will find a way! Remember: when there is life, there's a wa—”

Hinata smiled. She could imagine Sakura worried and panicking. “It's alright. I already accepted it; I'm alright with dyin—”