Who: Damocles Belby and Elsie Prod When: 9th May 1980, evening time after Elsie was moved back to her house in the afternoon. Where: Elsie Prod's home. What: Narrative of Damocles' thoughts. Rating: PG-13 Status: Complete.
How many days had it been? Three? Four? Damocles had lost count – and at that point, he was ready to give up. There were dark circles under his eyes – he hadn’t gotten enough sleep for the last couple of days; he had kept himself awake, waiting by his sister’s bedside and wait for her to say something, open her eyes -- move -- anything that could indicate that there was life in her. But there was no movement in the room, no sound that could actually be heard, and he was about ready to give up – even though he had told himself that he didn’t want to, he knew it was better to just… let her go.
But it was difficult. How was he supposed to let go someone who had been there for him for all of his life? He couldn’t remember when Elsie hadn’t been there for him. She was there when he needed help, when he needed someone to rant to, when he needed someone to argue with, when he had no inspiration with his work, when he needed assurance that everything was going to be all right. Somehow, Elsie always knew how to look things at the bright side for him – and she never gave up. She kept on fighting. Wasn’t he supposed to be doing the same for her as well? And yet, as he looked at her now, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had failed her as her brother. He had failed to protect her at that crucial moment when he should’ve been there for her.
And he was the one who had introduced her to the Order in the first place.
The guilt he had been feeling before turned into desperation. He reached out and took her hand – disregarding that it was unrecognisable – and when he did, he was surprised at how cold it felt. The desperation turned into fear – because he honestly didn’t know what do without her around. It was something he could not fathom nor comprehend. He found himself saying, “wake up,” No response. “Wake up, Elsie,” he tried again, shaking her shoulder, though gently, as if he was trying to wake her up from an ordinary sleep.
But still she didn’t move nor open her eyes – and as he sat there in silence once more, he knew that he was the only one in the room.