Aphmau

My face is flooded with tears, and my heart is pacing with pain.

"W-who is she?"

"You."

His words hit me like a rock, making my face heat up into a deep red.

"B-but I never-never talk when w-we meet up...y-you always do!"

"It doesn't mean that I still don't enjoy seeing you and feel safe around you."

"E-Ein..."

"Look, Aphmau, you are my safe place. That is the reason why I couldn't leave you be about leaving you. I am so scared something will happen to you if I don't see you, and just knowing you were sick made me feel worse. I had to see you, whether I had to continuously text you or stalk you..."

I sigh, looking down to my lap, feeling my blush deepen in its color.

"Let's just finish this cake then I'll leave...I think I blew out your comfort zone back there...I'm sorry."

"N-no. You didn't. I honestly understand completely."

He smiles weakly and pulls me over to him, hugging me tightly. I wince, the pain in my arms overwhelming.

"Ow!"

"W-what?!"

He let's go of me, backing away with worry on his face.

"N-nothing!"

"Aphmau, you just screamed. You're hurt!"

"I-I just stubbed my toe! I'm all good though!"

"You scream when you stub your toe?"

"I have very painful senses."

He shrugs, agreeing with me.

We sit down, continuing to eat the cake. I wolf it down faster than I've ever eaten, I've been starved out from my father this whole time, what do you expect?

"Someone was hungry." Ein chuckles.

"H-hey! I-it's red velvet! That stuff is good!"

"No kidding."

He gulps down his cake right after me, his ears twitching around.

I smile and grab his plate along with mine, bringing them over to the sink.

I am pretty suprised how well I know the place, I was expecting dad to have changed it over the past year of locking me in my room. But no, it is the exact same from when mom left...

We sit down on the couch, us both looking bored out of our minds.

"So, you promised you would talk about your family," Ein starts, "I would like to know more about them."

"O-oh! Right...okay," I clear my throat, "well, my father travels around the world, always bringing back some new souvenirs for me. My mom, w-well, she d-died in a car crash a f-few years ago...I have no siblings, b-but I manage. It is h-hard, yes, b-but...I have moved on."

Ein looks at me with emotion filled eyes, looking like he saw a ghost.

"Aphmau, that is horrible. I am so sorry for the loss of your mother..."

"And I am sorry for the loss of your sister. Honestly, my story isn't even close to as bad as yours is."

"You are just giving me sympathy."

"No, I really am not."

Ein smiles, bringing his arms out. I realize what he is doing, and a lean forward into his hug. He hugs me tightly, making me wince from the pain.

"Thank you, Aphmau. Thank you for everything you've done. You've made me happy when I'm down, made me laugh when I'm crying, you've done everything," he says gingerly, but his happiness stops, "yet, I have no idea who you are."

"W-what do you mean?"

"I have no idea who you are," Ein says, loosening the hug, "I barely know anything about you. I have no knowledge of what you have experienced in life, while I have shared everything. I want more details about you Aphmau. I need more. I crave it..."

"Ein..."

"Please? Just something! Anything!"

"Ein, I can't."

"Why, Aphmau? You always say that! We've known each other for how long and I don't even know how old you are!"

"Ein, that is enough...I don't want to talk about it."

"What, you don't trust me?!"

"No! Ein, of course I trust you! You are the one person I trust!"

"How should I know that?!"

"Ein, why are you getting so defensive!!?"

"Oh, so now you're calling me defensive!?"

"No! Ugh, Ein, why are you so mad?!"

"I'm not mad, you ate the one who seems to be having anger issues right now!"

"What, you don't trust me now?!"

"I would, but you seem to be having problems with me!"

"Why are we fighting!? Friends don't do this!"

"What, are we not friends anymore!?!?!"

"Ein!"

"You know what, I'm done! We had fun times, Aphmau, but that seems like it was all a lie!"

Ein gets up from the couch, stomping to the door.

I run up behind him, pulling on his shirt.

"Ein, don't go!"

"No, Aphmau! I choose my own path, and I don't want to see you again! Ever again!"

He opens the door, slamming it on me.

I fall to the floor, looking at the door with regret spinning through my mind.

"What have I done...?"

I begin crying, pulling out my knife. I pull up my sleeves with a rough pull, tearing off my bandages. I cut my arm down to my wrists, hiccups and sobs releasing from my mouth.

"I am a stupid idiot!"