There's a bit of blood in this chapter, proceed with caution :0

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I sucked in a breath. Shieldy was alone, drawing in the dirt with a stick. Striding forward, one long step after another, I tried to look casual.

"Shieldy! H-Hey!" I called out to him.

He looked up and smiled, his face brightening until it radiated with warm happiness. "Hi Shelly, what's up?"

I scooted closer to him, cheeks flushing. "Nothing much, I-I just wanted to talk. Wh-What are you drawing?"

Shieldy moved his shoulders up in a small shrug. "I dunno, just little doodles..oh!" He perked up, beaming at me. My heart skipped a beat. "I have an idea! Anything you want me to draw?"

"I, uh- Uhm..an animal?" I stammer out, still recovering from the ray of sunshine that was Shieldy's smile.

He nodded, and gracefully dragged the thin stick across the ground as I watched on. I wasn't really looking at the drawing though, my attention was on Shieldy.

Every so often he'd screw up his face and stick out his tongue like he was trying to figure out something, and drummed his fingers on the grass, tapping the stick on the ground. He would suddenly change expressions when he started drawing again, from focused to excited, moving the stick around with his usual upbeat energy.

Shieldy's eyes shone brilliantly, much like his own reflective surface. The muted light gray and bold royal blue went together perfectly. And on a sunny day, it looked like he was glowing. His smile was perfect, and he laughed like an adorable little kid.

I sighed inwardly, heart fluttering. If only-

"Shieldy, Shieldy!" A new voice, Party Hat's voice, snaps me out of my daydreams.

Oh, please no-

"I need you for something, meet me by the big tree!"

Shieldy drops the stick. "Yeah, sure! Catch you later, Shelly!"

You always say that..

"O-Okay, bye..!" I squeak out.

A lump in my throat rises as Shieldy runs off, and I break out into a small coughing fit. My sides ache from the repeated hacking.

I look up after the coughing passes, and Party Hat is standing there, staring at me like I grew a second head.

"Hey Shieldy..I'll catch up with you later."

"Okay, see ya then!"

The mention of his name sets a tiny fire in me. His voice stirs my heart, making it beat faster.

I cough again, wheezing from the lack of air. My insides squeeze together, and tears stream from my eyes. I couldn't breathe..I can't breathe! A dull thump echoes around me as I collapse, still gasping for air.

A blurred shape is at my side, saying incoherent things. They nudge me to a sitting position, forcefully striking my back. No air was coming in now, frenzied panic clawing at my throat and lungs. Like a fish out of water, I gaped for oxygen, choking on invisible barriers.

Something comes shooting out of my mouth, then gently floats downward. More follow it, some red sometimes mixing with the white. I heave, and cough more. Air coming in rapid fire between every choke and gasp.

Weakly lifting my head, I turn to see Party Hat, eyes wide with alarm. He shakes his head and mouths things to himself, things I can't hear or make out. His face befuddled and horrified, Party Hat switches his gaze from me, to the objects I threw up.

White flower petals. Thin yellow-white streaks cut through the center of each large rounded petal. Moonflowers, I had learned. I was lucky these were the only things I was regurgitating.

"Shelly.." Party Hat's voice shook. "Those are..flower petals?"

I nod. My breathing was still shaky from nearly choking to death.

"Who is it?", He softly spoke. The wind could carry his voice away if it wished.

Despite my aching yearning, I struggle to say his name. "Shieldy.."

No one could see their true beauty unless they waited for the night. That's when the moonflowers bloomed. But barely anyone does that..they're content with the colorful flowers that open themselves up in the light of the sun.

Shieldy was such a person.

Party Hat laughed sadly, followed by a deep sigh. "I'm guessing you don't want it to be removed."

"Never." I firmly state. "I'd die anyday if it meant I could love him."

"So what are you going to do about it? You'll keep dying very painfully if you don't cure or remove the disease."

"Love is worth the pain." I utter, my lips turned up in a half smile, "You can go do whatever you need to do with Shieldy..I'll be fine here."

Reluctantly, Party Hat nodded, and stood up to leave. He walked away, stealing concerned glances at me.

I'll never be cured. He doesn't like me in that way, and I'd be surprised if I was even a friend to him. Whenever we speak, someone or something interrupts us, and Shieldy is gone again without a second glance. It never hurts any less, my heart twisting as I try to suck it up.

The familiar wrenching feeling throbs in my chest.

I can't have him.

I whimper, biting my lip. Something is clogging my throat.

Why can't we just have a conversation?

My legs tremble and tears well in my eyes. Soft hiccups leave my mouth, turning into gasps for air.

His soft smile, his eyes I could just melt in..his warm touch.. His carefree laughter fills my head. The way he glowed, how he'd impatiently bounce on his toes, his over exaggeration of boredom by groaning too loudly, he'd spin himself in circles until he fell, laughing through it all.

Tightly, I curl my toes to possibly try and stifle the burning I felt. I gag. Blood spurts out of my mouth and dribbles down my chin. Large white flowers slide out, splattered with thick, dark scarlets.

None of it will be mine. I won't ever know his comfort or soothing voice, laying gentle kisses on my lips. I won't cuddle his warm body in the cold nights, his arms wrapped lovingly around me. It'll never happen. He doesn't see me like I see him.

My vision blurs with tears, fat drops of it stain the grass. More flowers burst forth, along with a thick brown tendril that didn't seem to end. It was in my chest, my throat, squeezing my heart and lungs until nothing was to remain. Dark green heart shaped leaves unfurled as they slid into the open air.

Desperately, I claw at the stems that protrude from my mouth, jerking them out of my body. More come after that. The salty taste of seawater builds up. I'm choking! I'm going to die! My attempts to fight against the obstructing objects are futile, every breath out and no breath in.

A heaping mess of beautiful white flowers, green leaves, and twisting brown tendrils lay in front of me, all coated in spots of blood. Still, it grew higher, larger.

Screaming. Panic. Yelling. Running. Crying. I'm picked up off my feet. Objects on the ground drag me down and trail behind. More screaming. Blurry blue skies. The stuff lodges and creates a thicket in my throat. White noise. Numbed pain. Faraway sirens. Yelling. Lighter. White and red. Crying. Blue. Yellow. Jerking. Jostling.

Dying.

Black.

Crying..someone was crying. Sniffling, sobbing, and quiet shushing.

Coughing. Someone was coughing. I recognized the gagging. A voice starts up from beside me, their footsteps echoing across the floor.

It was comfortable, and warm. I struggle, but open my eyes. Everything is so white..I probably would've thought I'd died, if not for the voices coming from a corner of the room.

Slurpy, Party Hat, and..Shieldy. All three of them.

I open my mouth. My throat is dry, no way I could talk to get their attention. There's also a mask on me. For the first time in a while, I'm breathing normally.

How am I still alive? Did they take all of it out? I shift to the side; my body aches. A glass of water sits on the side table. All of a sudden, I'm extremely dehydrated, my body craving for fluid.

I grunt, pulling myself to a sitting position.

"Shelly!", The three of them exclaim in unison. They clamber over to my bed, Party Hat bursts into tears and Shieldy attacks me in a hug.

"I thought we lost you!", Party Hat wails. He cries into a surprised Slurpy's arms, who pats him on the back for comfort.

"Party Hat, there's no need to cry. She's okay," She tells him quietly. However, Slurpy looks me in the eye, silently asking what was going on.

My attention falls on Shieldy, still with his arms around me. I sink into him, letting his warm embrace envelop me entirely. Love bursts and blooms in my chest.

"I'm glad you're okay.", Shieldy said, smiling. His eyes were mesmerizing.

"Okay, give Shelly her space. She needs water," Slurpy cuts in. Shieldy stepped back. "The doctor said you were okay to remove the oxygen mask when you woke," She explained to me, removing the mask and handing me the water. I managed to control myself with it, downing the rejuvenating liquid in small gulps.

The disease wasn't completely removed, I could still feel a tightness in my chest. I guess the doctors must've pulled out an entire plant. But whatever they did, it saved my life..for the time being, anyway. My feelings for Shieldy were still there. Eventually, I would start throwing up flowers again.

But for now, things were okay. The moment of Shieldy hugging me, I could feel his relief and love flowing from him. I'm probably overthinking it, but..maybe it was a hint of something more.