𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦

nineteen

Worrying was the only thing Temperance could do now, apparently. She'd been duped once by Gluttony by being too shallow. Now she was avoiding that by over-thinking everything.

It was just as bad, but Temperance didn't notice that. Obviously because she's been fixated with how to get rid of the disease. She'd detached herself from the disease in hopes that maybe, maybe this way, it'll go away by itself. A futile attempt, but she wasn't willing to make peace with her illness.

Sighing, Temperance walked out from her room. She'll take a glass of water to clear her mind, then go back to sleep. The fever had went down, but the headache was especially bad today. Not for the first time, she'd wished she had the courage to get a surgery. She simply wanted out, and she's not one to think about the future despite all her worrying.

Patience's advice rang in her head, and she knew the reasonable thing to do was to confess or to ask him to heal her, but she still had pride to preserve no matter how much she didn't want to admit it. And she just didn't have the willpower to face him.

Cold water or warm water? she asked herself as she tip-toed to grab a glass from the cabinets. Someone helped her take it from behind, shocking her. It turned out to be Diligence yet again.

"How are you feeling, lil' sis?" he asked with a smile. "Better?"

Temperance cracked a small smile as she filled her glass with warm water. "Slightly," she replied, "I still have a headache."

Diligence winced in sympathy. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a blister pack of small blue pills Temperance recognized as headache-relievers. At Temperance's signature questioning look, he flipped it over to reveal the brand. "Tweaked," he said simply. "It works on us now."

Temperance knew exactly who tweaked it, but she smiled and popped a tablet in her mouth anyway. What's the use of trying if you know it'll all be fine?

As she thought of that, a sharp pain stabbed through her chest. She doubled over, spilling the water all over the table.