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“You’re neglecting yourself again, aren’t you?” the girl asked as she glanced around the messy bedroom. Stuff was strewn everywhere—books and papers scattered across the floor, a stack of empty cup noodle containers piled on the table. “You know, for someone moving out tomorrow, you look really unprepared.” She stared at him, lying on the bed, gazing blankly at the ceiling. “If you keep this up, you’re going to end up killing yourself, you know?” she said as she walked over to the side of his bed.
“…I really don’t care if I die. It’ll just make everything easier for—” His words were abruptly cut off by the girl’s sudden movement. She grabbed his collar, choking him slightly as she forced him to sit up.
“What the hell did you just say?” Her voice was full of irritation.
“…I said what I said. I really don’t care if I die. It’ll just make things better, so I won’t have to carry this guilt anymore.”
She stayed silent for a few moments, his words making her even more upset. Her fists clenched. “Don’t make me smack some sense into your head. It wasn’t your fault. It never was. It was an *accident*. There’s literally nothing you could have done to prevent your sister from passing away!” Her anger reached its peak as she threw him back onto the bed.
He didn’t snap back. Instead, he reached for something under his pillow—a worn photobook. He opened it and flipped through a few pages, reminiscing about the countless happy memories he shared with his sister. “If I hadn’t asked her to take me to that concert that day…”
“You need to let go of the past—”
“And just forget about her and the whole accident?” he cut her off, his voice strained.
“I said let go, not forget everything, dumbass.” She had regained some composure, though a hint of irritation still lingered in her voice. She sat beside him. “It hurts me to see you like this, believe me.” She paused for a few seconds before continuing, “Imagine your sister watching over you now. Do you think this is what she’d want to see?”
“…No.” He tried so hard to hide the sadness, but it crept through. His body trembled.
“That’s what I thought.” She put an arm around his shoulder. “Let it all out, dumbass. Don’t hold back those tears.” As soon as she said that, everything he had tried to hold back crumbled. He rested his head on her shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.
“You look so pale… and a bit thin too,” she added softly. “After you move, promise you’ll go outside more often, okay? Always remember, I really care about you. Text me or even call me if you need anything. I don’t care if it’s in the middle of the night—I’ll answer right away. And don’t you dare forget about me.”