@Elder-God-Jacks347
(I've actually painted my room. It's not as fun as it seems.)
(I've actually painted my room. It's not as fun as it seems.)
Lillian looked to the paper and then to the walls in awe. She slowly approached Darren and repeated herself, "Hey there Darebear."
(He's not exactly painting his room)
(Kind of is though. He is painting the walls of his room. I think it kind of counts.)
His hands were completely covered in paint, layer upon layer had dried on the white of his skin. His mouth was set in a frown; a knot of concentration furrowed his eyebrows. He still didn't answer, his paintbrush was sitting on his desk… you'd think he needed that.
(Ehh)
(I said kind of. So maybe a little, but not a lot.)
(lol)
Lillian let out a small sigh as she gently touched his shoulder and said, "Are you okay?"
His focus was on his hands, "I couldn't hold onto the paintbrush," Darren responded flatly. His fingers traced a streak down the wall that was probably supposed to remain straight but it followed the tremor of his hand; loud, spastic spots hiccupping out from the smooth path of paint. Darren let out an annoyed grunt from his throat.
Lillian sat down behind him and wrapped her arms around him, "Want me to help?"
Darren didn't respond right away. The tendons in his neck were tight and his arm was stiff as he started another streak. His left hand was limp at his side but a yellow piece of paper peeked from the edges if his closed fist.
Lillian continued to hold him not expecting an answer. She just wanted him to know she was here to help.
His grip held tight to the piece of paper as he picked the hand up like he had to check if he was still holding it.
Lillian asked him gently, "Whatcha holding?"
Darren didn't look away from the wall, he simply loosened his grip on the paper so she could take it. In neat handwriting, it read
Darren Anderson
Headache
Tired
Help
"It's from the pathologist, for when I lose my words. The tumor makes me forget words sometimes." He said stiffly. The entire page was covered with words.
Lillian
Lillian Pheonix
I love you
He forgot them at one point.
Lillian felt a small tear fall down. He had to go through this and he was trying to do it alone. She put it back in his hand and held him tighter, "You remember them now?"
He gave a stiff nod. The writing on the wall slowly becoming legible, barely but nonetheless a shaky D and an abandoned, sloppy L. He was writing what he forgot.
Lillian felt another tear fall down. He was… She didn't… She just buried her back into him to try and stop herself from completely breaking down.
Darren took a step back and almost fell over, "I forget words sometimes and they don't come back, the speech therapist said it'll help if I can write them down…. cueing hierarchy or something,"
Lillian nodded and stepped away from him and the wall. She sat on his bed looking at her hands. She muttered to herself, "D-does he remember… N-no don't think that. Be there for him."
"I didn't forget you," Darren's body shook, "It's not what I don't remember, it's what I'm afraid to forget," For the first time since his episode started he looked back at her.
Lillian let out a smile to him. She stood up and hugged him, "Well that's what I'm for right? So you can't forget anything."
His tense body relaxed into her's, "Please don't let me forget you," his head sunk and his hand dropped to his side.
Lillian held him close to her, "Never. I'll never let you forget me. Nor will I forget you. Promise."
"Promise," He twisted around to face her, "I've been having this recurring dream, nightmare really,"
Lillian asked him curiously yet calmly, "What's it about?"
"You're there, but your back is turned to me and I try calling for you but…" He swallowed hard, his eyes searched Lillian's. "But I can't remember your name. I forget. I forget and you walk away and–" His tears came suddenly and fast, streaking paint down his cheeks and collecting at his jaw, "I don't want to forget you, Lillian, I-I'm so scared I'm g-going to forget," His shoulders shook from a sob.
Lillian's eyes had become filled with tears. She held him closer to her and her uninjured hand wandered into his hair lightly massaging the scalp. She said quietly and confidently, "That will never happen. I'll always turn around and I promise you will remember me. I won't let you forget. It's going to be okay Darren. I promise."
Darren sobbed into her shoulder, "If I c-can't walk, or t-talk I don't care, I just don't want to lose this, d-don't want you lose you… I won't s-sign the papers,"
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