What if {ereri}

6

Levi

They took us to the docks, where boats waited to take us somewhere... safer.

People around us whispered.

Some cried.

Some just stood there. Empty.

I sat near the edge of the dock, knees pulled to my chest.

The air felt heavy.

Like the weight of everything had sunk into my bones.

Then—

"Levi."

Eren's voice.

I looked at him.

His eyes were distant.

"Is this... what it felt like?" His voice was low. Hollow. "Losing your mom?"

I didn't move.

But I knew.

I knew what he meant.

That numbness.

The kind of pain that made you feel like you weren't even real anymore.

I swallowed.

Tears burned at my eyes.

Was I cursed?

Because everyone I cared for was dead.

Was he next?

I felt a tear slip down my cheek.

Eren's eyes widened.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I—I didn't mean it like that."

The tears fell.

I couldn't stop them.

Then—

Eren pulled me into a hug.

I gripped his shirt, tightly.

"Alone," I mumbled against him. My voice was hoarse. "I... alone."

His hand ran through my hair.

I felt his breath hitch.

I felt his tears, too.

⸻

They put us onto a boat.

Eren sat beside me, staring at the fallen Wall.

His fists clenched.

"I'll kill them," he whispered.

His voice was low. Sharp.

I turned toward him.

"I'll kill them all," he repeated.

His hands shook.

"Every last one of them."

Then—

He sat back down.

I leaned against his shoulder.

He was warm.

I closed my eyes.

And I slept.

⸻

I woke up screaming.

My chest heaved.

My vision blurred.

Too loud. Too much.

I buried my head in my knees.

I felt hands on my shoulders.