Goodbye, Oh Loveless One. - PK

[Josif 544]

Spoiler

 

"You will find peace not by trying to escape your problems, but by confronting them courageously."

- J. Donald Walters

 

 

It was a beautiful day for it, the sky was clear and the sun sat perfectly centred in the blue expanse. Cassien prepared his lunch, a small bag of cashews, and a thermos of black coffee, his favourites. He'd stuff them into his pockets and search around for his medicine, opening drawers and cabinets, only to find the empty container. Perhaps he could pick up more in Lurin, that medicine was the only thing really keeping him breathing now-a-days.

 

A creaking in his home alerted him, only to realise it was likely Aleksey, the poltergeist of his own making. He hadn't the heart to do what needed to be done, the sight of his former partner hurt, far too much to bare.

 

Before leaving the house, he ascended the stairs and stopped outside a particular room, one that a close friend of his, Asteria had been staying it, and only recently move out of. He missed her company, he missed her, so he made a daily ritual to come stand outside the empty bedroom and knock on the door, uttering a "I'll be back soon Az, goin' for a walk." before stepping away.

 

On his way out the front door, he looked to his right, at table surrounded by empty chairs. The spot reminded him of Ellie, one who he'd spent a good majority of his recent days with, he wished he could see her again but she had disappeared not too long ago, a thought that pained him so. A sigh escaped the sickly man as he continued on, treking across the bountiful fields of Dunwen and over the arches towards Lurin.

 

He'd stop under a tree to catch a breath, breathing was difficult nowadays, his infection had developed rapidly and his lung ached with each hoarse exhale. He wondered if Einhard was home, perhaps he'd go visit after getting his medicine.

 

The rest of the walk to Lurin was a slow one, each step began to feel more and more difficult, like walking through knee-high water. That's when it happened, a sharp pain across Cassien's chest, causing him to collapse to the ground in agony. He'd begin a coughing fit, something he'd grown used to over the last few years, though.. this one was worse, the worst it had been up to this point. If he could make it to the city, maybe, maybe he would be okay?

 

If only that was the case.

 

 

Moments passed in a blur, he couldn't remember what happened, Cassien found himself in a bed within the Lurin clinic coughing and wheezing out, he couldn't breathe. On one side, holding onto his hand was Einhard, looking more worried then he'd ever seen. On the other, Asteria, her eyes full of tears.

 

He'd wondered when this day would come, thought long and hard about how this would go down. The plan was to leave, find some far off place and die alone and at peace, but he didn't mind this. 

 

As he lay there, his mind wandered, to a face of someone he wished were there, Irena. It had been a few days since he'd last saw her, and he regretted lying to her about his diagnosis, maybe if he'd told her, she would be here.

 

That was all in the past now, this was the now, and it was ending. Before he closed his eyes, before he took that long peaceful sleep, he spoke one last sentence.

 

"Don't forget me.."

[EmiliainWonderland 2311]

Asteria sat in her home with her children, thinking of Cassien again. It was hard to fathom how much she had lost, but she'd persevere. 

"Wherever you went Cass, I hope you're finally at peace. You deserve at least that much. . ."

[TysCreations 459]

Einhard peered over Cassein for a while after his death. His eyes void of tears yet his mind... his mind played an unfair game. fixing his sleeves he'd speak in an unwavering manner  "ill be seeing you soon friend... don't be having too much fun without me.." The old elf joked to himself but it did not brighten his mood as he'd turn to leave the clinic.

[xo31 3984]

The thing that was Aleksey stirred.

 

"Leaving so soon? No fun. . ."