Innocence

Healing

     Ralph set Simon on the beach. He held his hand. Piggy tore part of his shorts to wrap the black haired boy's wounds. Simon coughed. Ralph turned him on his side.

      "I let this happen," he muttered. He rubbed Simon's back.

     "Now, this is that Jack Merridew's fault! He's been aggressive this whole time!" Piggy argued.

     "I should've stopped him sooner," Ralph whispered.

      Simon's breathing caught in his chest. Ralph jumped. He blew air into Simon's lungs. The unconscious boy inhaled but didn't wake up.

     "I'm so sorry. Simon, please forgive me," muttered Ralph.

     A spurt of blood exited Simon's lips. He wheezed a few times before he coughed. His hacking had no strength behind it.

      "God, what do I do?" sobbed Ralph.

      After a long time spent motionless, Simon rolled over. He was right at the edge of the beach. Water soaked his face.

     The boy threw up violently. He opened his eyes to see why his throat suddenly burned. A pile of blood was in front of his mouth.

     The ocean carried away Simon's sick. Ralph finally noticed that he was awake. He pulled the black haired kid into his lap.

     "Oh, thank heavens, you're alright. Simon, you're safe now. I've got you," Ralph comforted.

     "...Let...go..." choked Simon.

      The voice didn't seem like his. It was raspy, weak, and had a hint of something that wasn't there before. Anger, maybe?

     The feeling behind it, Ralph realized, must have been heart break. It couldn't be hatred, Simon never hated anything. He didn't hate Jack Merridew, who had been against him since day one. He never hated being stuck on the island. After all this time, he never even hated Ralph, when Ralph despised himself.

     Furthermore, the emotion was stronger than hurt. Ralph had seen Simon hurt so much already. His hurt was painful, but Simon's broken heart was murdering Ralph.

     "...I said...let go," repeated Simon. His voice was a bit louder the second time.

      "You can't hardly walk," Ralph reminded him.

      "I'll crawl," mumbled Simon.

     "What if sumthin' happened to you? You couldn't get help," protested Ralph.

     "You wouldn't care. I'd wind up dead before you would," Simon remarked.

     "Now you listen! I've been worried all day! You were dying! There's an ache in my chest I haven't felt before! And it only started when I saw you bloodied up and bruised!" screamed Ralph.

      "If it weren't for your boyfriend Jack Merridew, I'd be fine," Simon said quietly.

     "I don't give a damn about Jack Merridew! I love you, Simon!" shouted Ralph.

     Simon gave up his fight. He allowed Ralph to hold him. He didn't feel well enough to keep talking.

     "...Dizzy...ache...hot..." he muttered.

     Ralph dipped his hand in the ocean. He poured the water over different parts of Simon. Piggy elevated Simon's head and rubbed the parts of it that weren't injured.