Bittersweet

Alive

Chapter 7

This chapter is in Sayori's perspective again a few days after the book fair! Because I know some of you might have been worried for our precious bean ;)

Sayori lie in her bed in the hospital room, alone.

Monika has been coming every day to visit, though she doubted she'd be out of there anytime soon.

There came a soft knock on the door.

"Come in." Sayori called hoarsely, her throat dry and her voice weak.

Monika poked her head in the door, a soft smile on her face.

Why must she always be here? She doesn't even care! Nobody does! I'd be better off if she didn't stop me...

"Hey..." Monika called softly, her hands behind her back.

"I'm sorry I'm late today... I, um, I made you something... A song... I thought you'd like to here it..?" Monika continued, biting her lip as she sat at the edge of the bed.

"Yeah!" Sayori called weakly.

Monika always made Sayori genuinely happy, even if it wasn't for very long.

She sat up slightly with Monika's help, and Monika set her phone in Sayori's lap.

The sound of a soft piano filled the space between them as Monika glanced at her lap nervously.

Sayori's eyes widened as tears began to slowly spill down her face.

She cares..? I'm alive... She wants me alive... She needs me.. And I need her... Oh, god, I need her...

The song ended and Sayori blinked back into reality to find Monika gazing at her worriedly.

"I..." Sayori tried to find the words to say.

Monika quickly leaned forward, wrapping her lover in a tight embrace.

Sayori shakily hugged back, using all of her strength to grip her tightly to her.

"I loved it..." Sayori whispered against her.

"I'm glad." Monika said quietly, rubbing circles calmingly over Sayori's back.

Sayori continued to softly cry as Monika just held her close and whispered sweet nothings in her ear.

"Moni... I want... To get better. For you...." Sayori said, her voice slightly stronger.

Monika pulls back, holding Sayori steady by the shoulders as she gazed deeply into her eyes.

"Sayori... Baby... I want you to get better, too! But what good will it do if you don't do it for yourself?" Monika reasoned, her gaze steady on the smaller girl.

Sayori paused. She hadn't considered that. She never did anything for herself anymore. Everything she did was for her friends.

"Okay... Then, I want to get better... For me.. For us..." Sayori said confidently, smiling softly at the gorgeous girl before her.

Monika leaned in, connecting their lips for the first time in days.

Sayori kissed back desperately, having missed the feeling of Monika's lips on her own.

They pulled away slowly and Monika grabbed a tissue from the bedside table, wiping the tears from Sayori's eyes and helping her blow her nose.

She discarded the tissue and cupped Sayori's face in hands.

She loves me... She needs me... I'm alive... Because of her...

Sayori leaned into her girlfriend's touch as Monika just stared lovingly at her.

"Hey." Monika called, Sayori snapping back to attention as their eyes met.

"I love you." Monika leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

Sayori smiled a genuine smile for the first time in a long time.

"I love you more." Sayori said jokingly, though she really meant it.

"I doubt that." Monika giggled, pulling Sayori in for another embrace.

They sat like that in silence for some time, content in each other's presence.

"Excuse me, but visiting hours are up." Sayori's nurse said from the door.

"One moment, please." Monika said with a nod as the woman excused herself.

She grabbed her phone, placing it into her purse as she stood from the bed.

Sayori looked up at her like a poor lost puppy, her eyes silently begging Monika not to go.

"I'll be back tomorrow. Right after club, alright? I promise." Monika assured her, holding Sayori's hands tightly in her hands.

"Okay..." Sayori nodded weakly, settling back into bed.

"Can you please turn the light off on your way out? I'm ready for bed now..." Sayori asked, pulling the blanket up higher on herself as Monika approached the door.

"Of course! Goodnight, baby." Monika called softly as she turned off all but the emergency lights.

Sayori settled into a restful sleep, nothing but her sweet, caring girlfriend on her mind.

~~~

The next morning, Sayori awoke to her nurse taking her vitals.

"Good morning, sunshine!" The sweet old lady called, her grey hair bouncing with each step she took closer.

"Hello." Sayori called with a faint smile on her face.

The nurse finished taking her vitals and placed three small pills on her tray.

"This is your new medicine. The doctors want you to take these twice a day at least until you're cleared to leave. That might change later, though." She explained, filling a cup of water for Sayori.

Sayori slowly sat up, taking the pills in her mouth and washing them down with the water.

"Thank you." Sayori said, setting the glass back down.

The older woman simply smiled as she exited the room, latching it behind her.

Sayori sighed as she glanced at the clock on the wall. Noon.

Monika will be here in three hours.

Sayori swung her legs weakly over the side of the bed, determined to use the bathroom without assistance this time.

She gripped the side of the bed for support, giving her legs a moment to adjust before she stumbled to the bathroom.

Once inside, she grabbed the hairbrush Monika brought for her and ran it through her matted, greasy hair.

Man... I need a shower...

Sayori stared at her reflection in disgust.

She was pale, sickly pale. Her hair was matted with sweat and clung in tangles to her head. She had dark, purple bags under her eyes.

She sighed, struggling the brush the rest of the way through her head.

After she finished, she set the brush down, combing a hand through her hair to check for any more knots.

Somewhat satisfied, she half smiled to herself.

Sayori sucked in a deep breath and walked back to her bed.

She sat back down slowly, leaning over to the mini fridge and pulling out a bottle of Gatorade.

There came another knock at the door as Sayori set the now-empty bottle into the trash.

"Oh good, you're awake." It was the doctor.

"So I've talked with my team and we wanted your opinion before we start anything..." This doesn't sound too good.