[ Eddie was feeling serious deja vu. They'd been in this exact position what felt like years ago; Eddie, trembling on the floor, hollowed out from the fear and the grief and the tears, Gladio appearing to come to his rescue. He thought he'd made it past meltdowns like this. Apparently not.
Grasping the inhaler quick, Eddie shook it and brought it up to his mouth like a man starved. It helped, but not really. It was a poor replacement for Richie's hand in his own and his wise-cracking that always seemed to cut through Eddie's anxiety. That was gone, though. Gone like he should have known it would be. At least Gladio's comment broke through some of that, and Eddie smiled, if tightly. ]
You know it's been almost a year since we got trapped in that horror house? [ His second drag from the inhaler was like using a cigarette. Eddie savored it. Then he let his head drop back against the wall, staring listlessly at the ceiling. ] It's in October. I've been keeping track. Part of me thought I'd be the one sent back then but—[ And he squeezed his eyes shut quick before the tears could come. It sat heavy in his throat. ] Stupid, [ he choked out. ]