My Angel

CH. 2 - I can't forget you. I won't give up on you.

"Come on, get up."

The dark curtains hanging over your bedroom window are thrown open, flooding the room with light. You whine pathetically and pull your blankets up over your head. You have no intention of facing the day, and your best friend's persistence is no match for your stubbornness.

Lazuli sighs heavily, tucking a few loose strands of her light blonde hair behind her ear.

"You've been in bed for almost two weeks now," she reminds you for the umpteenth time, "do you really believe that the best way to get past this and move on is to laze around in bed all day?"

"No," you concede, your voice muffled by the pillows as you nestle your face further into them. You make no effort to move, and Lazuli is not the least bit surprised by this. This is the third time today she has attempted to coax you out of bed. You warm, cosy, safe bed. You cannot bring yourself to find the energy to leave it, knowing that reality exists just outside of your blanket shield.

"Up!" Lazuli growls, seizing a cushion from the foot of your bed and hurling it at the motionless lump beneath the covers that is your body. You emit another groan of protest. You curl your hands into a firm grip on the fabric of the blanket to hold it in place. You know what is coming next.

You feel the bed shift as Lazuli's weight joins yours on the mattress. Despite your best efforts to maintain a tight hold on the fabric concealing you, the covers are torn away from you in an instant. You shiver slightly as the cooler air of the room licks your skin, and you roll over quickly with the intention of glaring at your friend and snatching the covers back. When your eyes meet hers however, you freeze, and your resolve to be annoyed with her crumbles.

Is that worry in her eyes?

Impossible. Lazuli doesn't worry. Ever.

Her piercing blue eyes continue to stare into yours for a few moments longer.

"What?" you query, tilting your head upright, "Do I have something on my face?"

She continues to stare.

"Laz, what is-"

"-You've lost a lot of weight," she interrupts you with a gentle voice that isn't her own, "and you're pale as a ghost. When was the last time you ate anything?"

You prop yourself up against the headboard in a sitting position and hug your knees to your chest. When had you last eaten? You can't remember. You think for a few beats longer before shrugging apologetically, "I-I don't know."

More staring.

Then something smacks you across the side of your head. You blink in confusion, trying to work out what just happened. And then you spot the cushion clutched in Lazuli's hand.

"Ow! Hey, that hurt!" you exclaim.

"So what?" Lazuli cries in response, clearly enraged, "You're doing a lot more damage to yourself! Isolation and starvation are not going to help you, and it sure as hell isn't going to bring Whis back to you! He's gone, it's over. Now get up!"

At the mention of his name you feel an inexplicable desire to slap her. You grit your teeth and hiss, "Don't... Don't talk about him."

"Why?" Lazuli's eyes narrow as they lock onto yours, "Are you afraid that talking about what happened will take from your pitiful excuse to live like a hermit and make you actually face reality? What happened to you both is awful, but its no excuse for mistreating yourself!"

"... Stop it..."

"What do you think Whis would say if he saw you like this?" she continues, ignoring your protest, "Would he applaud you? Or would he tell you to stop being so weak and pathetic? I think we both know the answer to that."