"Eddy?"
Stumbling toward the door. Hands reaching for stability. World spinning.
Where was Eddy? He said he was going to be here for the night to work on some things instead of going to Brett's family dinner. Or did he say something else?
Looking down at feet. Heart beating a little faster at silence. Pushing the door open.
No, maybe he said something else. Some part of him recalled there being a mention of a concert or a recital, or a mention of a project that Eddy had wanted to start. Or perhaps he said something else beyond that, or perhaps he didn't say anything at all, or maybe they were even in Toronto right now, or maybe-
Eyes looking at mess. Red flowers lining the floor. Petals scattered over the carpet.
Blinking.
Eddy, facing the dark night. Eddy, standing in the center of the scarlet. Eddy, carrying the burden of roses in his arms, the color crawling up his shirt and embracing his skin, clinging to it like it was all there was left in the world.
Who was Eddy, even?
***
"Brett?" Eddy waved his hand in front of Brett's blank stare. "Everything alright?"
He had been sitting like this for the last minute or so, unresponsive to the food in front of him and Eddy holding a spoonful of rice to Brett's mouth. Eddy blinked, adjusting his seat to take a better look at the deadpan Brett; a shiver ran down his spine at the sight of how unsettling this was, even if it was not the newest experience.
He shook his shoulder gently. "Brett."
Brett finally glanced up at Eddy, his eyes wide with confusion as they landed on his face. Time seemed to move slowly while Eddy was processing what was going on behind those eyes, how they looked at him as if he was unfamiliar and foreign as if they had never met before. He felt his grip on Brett's shoulder tighten unconsciously; he felt his own eyes well with desperation as they searched for anything in Brett's face that would suggest otherwise.
"Y-You're..." Brett hesitated. "You're my best friend. Best friend for years. For a long time."
Eddy's stomach sank.
He ran his thumb over Brett's collarbone, setting the spoon down to hide his own shaking hand. His head felt like it was being hit with a whole spectrum of truths - you know he's not who he used to be, he's going to be making mistakes, he will eventually forget you - as he nodded; he felt like he was unable to hide whatever disappointment he felt and looked down at the same ring that glinted on both his and Brett's finger.
Eddy had promised himself that he wouldn't get upset. He had told himself that he knew this was going to happen, that this was inevitable in the end. It wasn't the worst scenario yet (Eddy feared the day when Brett would forget that Eddy even existed in the first place), but there was still something crushing about the way he mumbled best friend, like that, was all they ever were.
You're being selfish, Eddy. Stop worrying about yourself and take care of Brett.
But he was tired, so damn tired. He would never leave Brett, of course, but he hoped that there would be a day when it would be fine to have his emotions and thoughts take priority over Brett's every once in a while. There was no longer a moment when Eddy would be able to vent - his friends and family weren't going to listen, as usual, there was no point venting to Brett about his Brett-related worries, and there was no time for him to relieve stress using his typical methods.
"Yeah." He took a deep breath, shutting his mind out. "I am."
****************************
-vilopan_
YOU ARE READING
Remember Me
Fanfiction"Even if you start to forget everything about you, I promise I will still remember you." When Brett is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, Eddy is the only one who can help Brett stay as Brett. Mystery, romance, and lots of sadness. Col...
