🌊 Tidus POV:
I stay quiet, looking down and fidgeting with my fingers. I don't know if I've ever felt a despair like this before. The doctors don't know what's wrong with me. Nobody knows. They say I'm healthy but I'm clearly not. I just wanna feel normal again like how I used to. I'm only 17. I don't wanna die.
"Grandpa?" I keep my gaze on my hands, endless worries rushing through my mind.
"Yes, lil shrimp?"
"Do I…" I hesitate, afraid to even say it. "Do I…have a rare deadly illness?"
"Of course not, lil shrimp. These doctors are just not skillful enough to know what's going on. But don't you worry, we'll find answers."
"But what if we don't? Am I…gonna die?" My voice cracks and I feel a tear rolling down my face. My lip quivers. "I don't wanna leave you, grandpa. Then who will take care of you? Who will laugh with you? Who will play board games with you? Who will be there for you when you're sad? Who will eat meals with you? Who will talk with you and make sure you're okay? Who will--"
"Shh, shh." He suddenly hugs me. I sniff repeatedly, crying harder. I hug him back, clutching tightly onto the back of his gray coat. I dig my face into his shoulder to muffle my cries, squeezing my eyes shut.
"I-I'm scared, grandpa." My voice trembles, fear wrapping itself around me like chains. I cry uncontrollably.
"Don't be scared. Just calm down. Everything will be okay, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you. Erase all your worries, okay?"
"I love you, grandpa." I don't let go of our hug, his coat soaked with my tears.
"I love you too, lil shrimp." Sounds like he's crying now too.
"When I die, don't live alone. I don't want you to be lonely."
"Stop talking like that, Tidus! You're not going to die!" He sounds upset, but I know he's scared too. "Want to go see some doctors at Cloudwing Island? I know it's a long 2 hour boat ride to get there, but it might be worth it. Maybe the doctors there will know what's going on with you."
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This was just a little snippet of a story I've been writing. 🎨🌊🧜
If you listen to this music while reading, it makes it even more sad. 😭
