THE VOID

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕪-𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕖

~~~

Hero: "I can't do this anymore" ((he shouts across the room)) "I can't" ((he adds pleading))

Josephine: "You don't fucking mean that" ((she responds furious)) "Take it back"

Hero: "I can't" ((he moves back against the wall near the door)) "You need help" ((he adds))

Josephine: "No, I don't" ((she turns away frustrated)) "I'm fine" ((she adds))

Hero: "Stop saying that" ((he throws back)) "You're not, bloody fine"

Josephine: ((turns back to face him)) "Yes, I am" ((she shouts with so much conviction))

Hero: "I can't do this" ((he takes one more look at her)) "I'm leaving" ((he waits a few seconds for her to respond))

Josephine: ((stands frozen confused on how they ended up here)) "You won't" ((she replies with a cocky tone))

Hero: ((she responded, it's just not the response he needed. He moves and reaches for the door, he pulls it open and walks outside))

Josephine: ((is quick on her feet charging towards him)) "Don't leave, please don't leave" ((she says frantically but as she reaches the door, Hero slams it)) "Fine, I don't want you here anyway" ((she screams, but she doesn't mean it))

Hero: ((fights with himself, deep down he knows she needs this. He wants to go back in, beg her to get help. But that won't work, this is the only way))

Josephine: ((hears his footstep going down the stairs)) "Don't leave" ((she begs, while her fist pounds on the door. A few minutes pass, she turns and slides down the front door crying)) "Please don't leave me" ((she sobs)) "Please"

~~~

                                    {One week earlier}

Josephine: ((quietly sits with everyone, enjoying the dinner Hero made. She doesn't really talk much, but nobody really calls her out on it since they're eating. She contemplates telling Hero about the dreams. She knows they're getting worse, they've moved past just being in her mind. They are affecting her physically. She pushes the thought away, Hero has enough to deal with at the moment. She still hasn't heard from Mel and Jack. Felix says they're fine, but she can't help but miss them. They should be here, but she understands the need to run away. She thinks about doing the same, the more Hero tells her to go back to LA the more it feels like the right thing. He's convinced she only wants to stay out of fear and the more he says it the more she agrees. A small part of her, wishes he would tell her to stay. It's starting to feel like he doesn't want her too. They've become so quiet lately and distant. They have these rare moments of sweetness but it fades away and the rest is just numbness))

Hero: ((watches as Jo slowly moves her food around the plate. He's struggling the find the words, any words to say just to cut the tension. Something happened before he got back, he knows it. He can feel it in the way, she won't look at him. He knows he needs to man up and just ask her about everything, but she's not much of a conversationalist these days. Alice seems more worried than before, I think she hoped everything would get better once I was here. Today it feels like I'm making it worse, maybe she needs sometime alone. Maybe she needs me closer, so many maybe's. The only thing he's sure of is that she needs help, serious help. She needs to talk to someone, anyone. He thinks about maybe calling her parents, maybe they'll know what to do. He flashes her a smile at her and she mirrors it. Then they both go back to eating their food))