Goodbye.:EnglandxReader:.

Chapter Seven: Is this goodbye?

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.” –Steven Jobs

I saw a bright light in the darkness around me, confusion swept over my brain with several questions running through it until a blinding white pain shot through my head like a bullet. What happened to me? I thought as I slowly opened my eyes, only to wince at the annoyingly bright white ceiling above my head and shut them closed with a groan. I heard a small gasp before I felt someone lay a hand on my shoulder. I absolutely felt terrible, my stomach was churning, my head was aching like it had just been hit with a baseball bat, and I just over all felt quite weak, my limbs even felt too heavy to move!
“(f/n)? Are you awake, love?”
That British accent I knew anywhere. I snapped my eyes opened, only to find Arthur sitting beside me with a very concerned face though I could see the hurt in his green orbs. I quickly sat up but the motion had caused that cursed spinning feeling of being dizzy which Arthur quickly got to his feet to help keep me steady and gently push me back into the bed. I stared at him, confused for why he seemed so concerned over me. I was just once his colony, a small one at that, so why would he care for me? I tried not to think about it, it was going to make me sad so I quickly darted my eyes to stare out the window to see the skyline of Beijing in the dark of night. Wait, night?! I looked back over at Arthur, about to ask but then he opened his mouth to speak at the same time, which caused us to blush and look away from each other. Why? I looked back at him.

“Arthur, how long have I been out?” I asked tentatively, I was worried that I scared him, thinking that now I am at a hospital, everyone saw how bad my economy had truly gotten. I knew I looked like I am on death’s door step but I’m refusing to knock, refusing to be taken just yet. I knew it couldn’t be my time just yet, could it be?
He looked up at me; so many emotions swirled in those large emerald eyes. Sadness, hurt, concern, and misery. It was hard to tell which took dominance in them, but I would say hurt and concern were neck and neck with each other for this race. I bit my lip as the silence grew; waiting for his response but it seems that he was thinking on how to phrase the answer to my question.

“Too long. You fainted before the meeting even started and when we got you to the hospital, they said your condition was crucial and asked why you weren’t already hospitalized. Alfred had gone with them to explain what was going on while Matthew explained it to the rest of us. To say we were shocked is just the start of the emotions we all felt right then.

You were out for about for almost 10 hours; it’s almost midnight here so I volunteered to watch out for you until you woke up. Why did didn’t you tell me about how bad your economy really was, (f/n)? I would have helped you if you just asked. It wouldn’t have been any trouble at all; it probably would help us both more than harm either of us. But-“I raised a hand up to signal him to stop, which he did and I let out a breathy sigh.
“Arthur, I am sorry that I did not tell you about how bad things really were. I was too prideful to ask for help, I wanted to prove that I wasn’t as weak as everyone had thought I was. But as soon as it got so bad that I needed to be hospitalized, I called Alfred to come help me and not to tell anyone else about it unless I say so. He agreed to it as long as I called you so that you wouldn’t worry needlessly for me. But by that time, all hope was lost for my country, I had thought. Our crops were growing, but we didn’t get a lot of rain and borrowing it from neighboring countries was costing us a lot. Alfred told me that looking over the samples taken from the ground of my land that the damage was too far gone to reverse. I didn’t give up then but it does feel like things are going to go farther down. Already over half my population is dead and more than half of it wants to leave it because of health risks. I wanted the chance to see everyone, to leave more of mark behind so I won’t be forgotten when my health finally kills me. I-“Before I could say another word, Arthur wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace that I hadn’t expected.

“A-Arthur?” I stuttered as a blush spread across my cheeks but it slowly disappeared when I realized that he was shaking. Was he crying? Why? I slowly wrapped my arms back around him to return the hug and we stayed like that in the silence, just breathing in each other’s scent though I doubt mine smelled great, probably like the last dying perfume of a flower before the winter takes its life away.  He smelled like tea and for some reason, I could catch a whiff of fresh rain. He began to stop shaking then slowly let go, to my dismay; it was so cold now without his body heat.

“(f/n), please don’t talk like that. I know that things seem grim but they will get better, they always do. We as countries, we stand together and help each other. I will help you for now on, I promise and I won’t let you or Alfred stop me.” He said in a more stern voice but then his eyes widened with fear and tears began to form. I didn’t understand the reaction until I looked at my legs, or where they were supposed to be.

I pulled the covers back, seeing the light around my legs as I began to fade away. Tears filled my (e/c) orbs as the realization finally hit me, finally broke past my wall of denial. I was dying and already the light had taken my legs up to my knees, taking away my body form part to part. I looked up at Arthur who looked as shocked as I did.
“I hate to say this, but I was right, my time has ran out.” I said with a sigh and looked up at him, smiling a small smile to show that it is okay. “At least I tried.”

~Arthur’s POV~

I couldn’t believe my eyes, (f/n) was disappearing before my very eyes and the light was moving fast, even her hands had become transparent but I could still see their outline and some of the pale color. I knew now that this was a now or never moment, one that I will regret forever if I don’t tell her the truth. Tears fell as my eyes as I looked into her (e/c) that was once so bright with life but now even the light in them have faded away as she faked a smile to try to make this easier on me. It didn’t work.

“(f/n), I have to tell you this before you go. I have always cared for you immensely but my pride and fear kept me from telling you how I felt. You have always been by my side, willing to put up with me though I wasn’t always the kindest to you. I am truly thankful for every second I have spent with you and regret not a moment that I was in your presence. W-What I am trying to say is that I love you, (f/n)!” I didn’t want to hear her response, not yet so I kissed her, though it was a short one.

I pulled away, looked into her eyes that seem to have a loving look to them, they actually seemed to be bright again, full of light. How terribly ironic, the moment the life returns to her soul is in the moment that it takes away her body. I couldn’t tell what it meant, but I was just hoping she would understand and not be mad at me for not telling her sooner.
“Arthur.” I was pulled out of my thoughts as I heard her croak out my name, it was choking her up. “I-I love you too. I am glad that I was your colony for so long.” She said with a true smile, one that began to create wrinkles around her eyes even with the light growing closer with every passing moment. It had now taken her hips and working up her abdomen and it also had taken both of her hands. Tears began to fall form her face causing more to fall form mine as well.

“P-Please tell Alfred a-and Matthew that I love them too, they were like true brothers to me, and I will miss you all terribly. I do hope we all meet again.” She said as it started to move around her head, but as she began to be taken, a light glowed in the center of chest, though it was closer to the left side of her body but it glowed the same light as her eyes but all I could think about was how she was leaving us. Leaving me. Once her body was gone, I fell to my knees, unsure on what else to do. The tears ran like streams down my pale cheeks as I stared at the bed that her body had once been lying in only seconds before. She was really gone, she wouldn’t come back. I placed my arms on the white bed and buried my face in them, crying harder than I ever have before. This hurt worse than anything, and what makes it worse is that this time, there will be nobody to help me get out of this.