Nevermind

Innocence is Futile

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XI - Plummet
Saturday, April 3

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I hadn't seen you for two days. I figured you were immersing yourself in work while you calmed down.

Could I have been any more wrong?

Tuesday night, we fought. As usual, the argument ended when one of us walked out.  As we screamed those last words at each other, I rubbed at my temple, feeling a headache blossoming.

I wish I'd gone after you. But hey... you could take care of your self and - invariably - another argument would have broken out if I'd had the nerve to interrupt your 'alone to think things through' time.

Wednesday night I still hadn't heard from you. I called your office from my own - and the secretary told me that you'd put a 'do not disturb' sign on your door.

That seemed pretty typical of you when you're in a sulk, you put one on our bedroom door every time... so I thought nothing of it.

I wish I had.

Late that night, I got a phone call. I picked up. "Hello?" I asked several times.

I picked up before the first ring was done, so caller I.D. Didn't catch the number. I remembered it read 11:23PM though.

ard ard a few gasping sounds. "I... need help...."

"Hello? Who is this, is someone there?" The voice seemed almost famr tor to me - but was too strained and raspy to recognise.  

Before I got out the final word, I heard a crash and clatter, then the line was dead.

I decided it'd been a prank call. 

Thursday came, the day nearly over....

Hopeless.

You were so healthy when I last saw you. Well, except for that headache... but I had headaches too.

I should have told someone. I should have made you ask Dr. Shimoyama's advice.

I should have believed the upset sounding voice of the woman on the telephone. Telling me you'd been rushed to the hospital.

It was April Fools day.

So, indeed, I thought it was your sick idea of an April Fools joke.

I obliviously shook my head as I hung up, and chuckled as I finished eating my supper before it went cold. I did my dishes, and threw a load of laundry into the dryer - starting another in the wash.

That was when I finally checked on your Ki.

I expected to feel laughter at a prank well played.

But... I could barely find your Ki at all.

Fear flashed through me as I took off - not even closing the door before my feet left the ground.

I flew as fast as I could to the hospital. To Dr. Shimoyama's wing.

I entered the hospital at a run... hearing the sound of a flatlining monitor - and the unmistakable arythmic tonality caused by use of shock padles.

It felt like it took forever. The heart tone flatlined again... and I begged the Fates it wasn't you, even as it gained in volume with each rushed step.

I barely registered that the tone had gone silent moments before I entered the Saiyajin Approved room that we always would find ourselves in.

I burst through the door to see them pulling a white sheet up over your head.

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I never thought the last words we would ever speak to each other... would be 'Nevermind'.

I never expected the last time we would see each other alive... we'd be arguing so loudly our ears hurt, or our throats become raw.

I never expected the last time I'd see you alive... your beautiful face would be twisted in hopeless anger.

That your last sight of me... would be the same.

What I did expect, was for you to come home. For you to act like nothing happend... just like always.

I expected we would greet every holiday together.

I guess some people would find it ironic.

I'm not some people... I'm me.

And I find it downright cruel.

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