CBM: Self-Destruct

  The door opened with a surprised swing, revealing her standing on the porch outside, the wind moving her dress and hair in turbulent directions.

  Arion's mother had no energy to spend on warm welcomings – her tearful eyes simply recognised her, and she nodded, allowing entrance. As she was led inside, she whispered a "Thank you."

  The mother's condition caused her to worry about Arion's; she expected he would still be ill in bed, but he was in the dining room, seeming quite happy. He had been smiling before: when he saw her, it froze in a state of shock, before becoming even wider.

  "Emi!" he exclaimed, jumping up from his seat. His mother's bewilderment at his sudden action rang through the air, but Arion reassured her, and she grudgingly left the two alone.

  "I wasn't sure whether you would come see me," Arion admitted, as though he felt ashamed of doubting her.

  She shook her head. "I didn't know whether I would either... whether I should."

  Just as with Maia, the air was thick with things still had to be said. However, with Arion, the silence wasn't left awkward.

  "Arion... do you... know what happened?"

  "I was going to ask you... But... After you ran away after school, I was worried... I followed as soon as I could, but my mom grounded me, so I wasn't there for you straight away... I wish I could've been."

  It pained her more to hear Arion blaming himself than it did to know that his getting hurt was her fault.

  Arion had shyly been looking away, but he looked up now, his eyes unfocused with trying to think. "On the way there... I saw these shadows come around me. You won't save her, they said. I didn't know what they meant, but if you needed saving, I wanted to try. But then the shadows tightened around me, enclosing me... all I saw after that was you, Emi. And I knew I'd be okay."

  "You don't even know me," she muttered. "Why would you care so much about me?"

  He turned away, dropping his gaze, not knowing a reason that he could give her.

  "...Iwasatatherapyappointment," she whispered.

  Arion blinked. "Sorry...?"

  "I was in therapy!" she shouted, closing her eyes with the force of trying to restrain herself, but failing. "That was where I was going, that's what I didn't want you to know about... that was the life-threatening situation I was in that you felt you had to save me from, and that was what led to you getting hurt! It was therapy, that's all!"

  She stood back, surprised by her own outburst, as tears flew down her cheeks from startled eyes. Arion looked down, an expression of comtemplation on his face – but his conclusion was unreadable. She waited, unable to bear the pressure, for a reply or reaction of some kind – but he was simply ruminating. A split second later, though, and suddenly he looked up with a smile.

  "I don't mind."

  She bit her lip, his remark leaving her breathless. "What...?"

  She struggled. She didn't know whether he meant the demons, or the therapy itself. He saw her confusion, but just repeated, "I don't mind" with a smile, as tough that was the only clarity needed.

  But he took a breath and continued. "I still don't know what that shadow was, but I would rather know. I want to know... to be there for you." He noticed her turning away in an attempt to hide her bitterness, and so said, "Pushing me away is causing more harm – to the both of us – ... even if you don't want to open up, you don't need to run away. I'm not hurt! It didn't hurt me, see! And stop thinking you're too strange or whatever to be around – therapy is a normal thing! My mum went through therapy when my dad left... that doesn't mean you're abnormal, or someone to be avoided! Emi, I l–"

  She broke away as he tried to reach out to comfort her, tears once more flooding down her face as Arion named each one of her insecurities and disregarded them. It should've helped... but she was too stubborn to believe that her fears amounted to nothing. Instead, it felt like the gratitude of her situation, of her own condition, was belittled. She fought to express this, but all that came out of her mouth was sobs as she leant back against the wall and slid down it.

  Arion sat by her, issuing her with a tissue. She took it, nodding, trying to show thanks... But he understood, and felt it wasn't needed. As she wept, he absentmindedly touched the ribbon in her hair.

  "Emi, you're so pretty..."

  She closed her eyes and tried to convince herself she hadn't heard him.