envy glanced around her room, knowing the cost.

he missed her, though.

not that he'd admit it to anyone, but the virtue had grown on him.

planted a seed of hope in his heart only for his own siblings to

t
e
a
r

that away.

leaving an empty hole, a neverending chasm in his heart.

he walked around the pristine room. he paid people to clean it every day.

not today, though.

today, it's his turn.

carefully, painstakingly, slowly, he started on the desk. each item was lifted and the surface under it wiped delicately.

her bracelet. her earrings. her favorite book. her shoes. her sketchbook to practice writing with.

hours passed, and envy stayed silent and passive, cleaning every surface in the room.

when he reached the windowsill, though, where her hairclip rested, he smiled fondly.

this is the hairclip i bought for her, he recalls.

he holds it, all thoughts of cleaning forgotten.

a tear

d
r
o
p
p
e
d

down his cheek.

he leaned against the windowsill, supporting his entire body weight with his right hand, clutching the rag he'd been using to clean in his left.

and he

s
o
b
b
e
d
.

his thin frame shook with every sob.

after all, it's been a long time since he'd cried.

— a.

//kindness dies AU. also i felt like making envy cry. yeehaw.