nepenthe (noun)

something that can make you forget grief or suffering. 

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day twenty. 

They didn't have school that day. Chase had slept on the couch, and as a result he woke up early. He attempted to wake Zero up at around half past eleven in the morning, but it didn't work. He didn't try opening the door, as a way to respect Zero's privacy - and when he didn't receive a response after the sixth time that he had called out his name, he left. 

He tried again at half past four in the afternoon. Once again, he was met with no response. 

Zero hadn't eaten anything for the entire day and Chase was growing more and more worried by the second. 

He felt shameful because he was aware that he was the one responsible for Zero's present condition - and he had constantly been beating himself up over it.

When it was finally evening, he tried to call Zero once more. And like all the prior attempts, he was met with dead silence. 

He tried a final time when it was a quarter to ten. He even sat with his back pressed up against the door, pleading Zero to come out and constantly apologizing each second. He even offered to never talk or look at Zero again and said that the only thing he wanted was for Zero to at least eat something. 

Zero didn't say a word. 

Chase fell asleep like that with his back against the bedroom door. 

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