Dark City

45.

As Winter dissipated into Spring, Tom hoped for Alex's recovery and made regular visits to her home to check on her progress. She had stopped coming to his fencing classes, and each time he would visit, whatever hour it might be, he always discovered her in bed. Her new lifestyle left her looking tired and disheveled.

    Cool air of the changing seasons seeped in through an open window and the bone-thin girl shivered under her blankets. Aethelwulf was curled up at her feet. He looked up at Tom with woeful eyes and whimpered slightly.

    "You should close this," Tom said, going to the window. He slid the glass shut and latched it.

    "Do you want to play Zelda?" she asked.

    "Yeah. You didn't play without me, did you?"

    "Only a little. I did the Water Temple."

    "Oh. That's okay. I hate that dungeon." He sat down on her bed and propped himself up with pillows. Alex opened her laptop and started up the emulator.

    "I cried at the end of the dungeon. As many times as I've played this all the way through, I don't know why, but I always cry. I hate how things have to end."

    "Me too," he said. "You ever play Final Fantasy VII?"

    "Yeah."

    "Just hearing Aerith's theme gets me every time."

    "Aww." Alex rested her head on his shoulder. "That's adorable, Tom."

    "Don't tell anybody about that."

    She chuckled. They played for a few minutes, but Alex's fingers kept slipping between keys until suddenly her head drooped and she went limp. Tom nudged her and she perked up and readjusted herself in bed.

    "You tired?" he asked.

    "No. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath and rolled her neck. She was getting thinner each time he saw her. The very shape of her face had changed and become angular and frail.

    "How often are you using?"

    Her eyes flickered a pang of hurt. "You promised last time that you wouldn't bring that up again," she said, closing her laptop.

    "I'm scared, Alex."

    "You should go," she snapped.

    "Lacey swears nothing happened to you."

    "How would she know? I hate myself for being so stupid. And I keep being stupid. Please, just go." Aethelwulf emitted a low rumble from his throat.

    "I'll help you through it. I can help you if you let me." She groaned and hid her face in her pillow. Tom pulled her out of her nest in spite of Aethelwulf's growls growing louder. "Come here," he said, holding her. She relaxed against him, wiped her eyes with her sleeves. "Let me help you."