Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2012 23:52:15 GMT
2013, April 5th, Smith's house.
Eric hadn't woken up since getting back from the cave, and the weird machine. I had been going to school as usual, but after getting home today, I finally caught onto the fact that... Eric may not wake up anytime soon. Or ever. I put the thought out of my head, shaking and telling myself that my cynicism was getting the better of me. Eric was not going to die simply because I felt a little bit tired.
Rubbish.
I phoned the hospital and explained the situation, telling the whole truth. I wasn't going to lie about the machine or my negligence, after all, if I did, they wouldn't know the whole truth, and as such may not be able to save him. I wasn't going to let that happen.
An ambulance arrived, and some people with stretchers came into the apartment. I stayed quiet and watched, reflecting on myself.
Over the next few weeks I would go to the hospital every day after school, and stay with Eric until visiting times were over. I was always there with his parents, who came as much as they could, his mother and father only spoke when they needed to to me. They had been sad and they told me that they had forgiven me, or at least accepted what had happened... but as time wore on, they avoided eye contact, and I could feel that my presence was causing great discomfort in them. It was barely disguised, but they always tried to be polite around me regardless. All the lingering feelings... I always died a little inside when I saw their disapproving eyes. But I didn't leave Eric. I watched him, and I could tell that a small part of me wished that I could be the first thing that Eric saw when he awoke.
But soon, weeks turned into months, and into years. 3 years later, 2016, it was time for me to move to a university accommodation. I wouldn't be able to visit Eric, at all, at least not until I could afford a car and further cash still.
I visited for what would be the last time for a long time. His parents weren't here today.
The doctor who was mostly in charge of him walked up to me, with a grave expression.
"Mr Smith, uh, I was hoping mr and miss Mayson would be here today. It's not really in your power and I shouldn't really be asking you... but, we may have to shut off Eric's life support-" He began.
I got out of my chair and stood on tip toes to be at the same height as the doctor. It was loud and aggressive, and I couldn't stop myself.
"I may not be able to decide his fate, but let me tell you this- if anyone approves of shutting off his life support, you, his parents, anyone, I'll..." I calmed down and had a thought. I had no power. I couldn't threaten them with violence or anything else. I realized now, more than ever, just how little power I had over my friend's life. I just couldn't say anything. Then, I thought of something irrational and outright stupid.
"I'd never forgive anything. You, his parents, myself- if his life support is turned off, I will commit suicide." I said dramatically.
I knew it was ridiculous. I wouldn't be able to go through with it either way, but, this ridiculous statement was the ace up my sleeve, it was the one thing I had over the world which seemed to be conspiring to kill Eric.
The doctor nodded a little, and left me alone with Eric.
I looked at the peacefully sleeping face.
"Sorry to leave you alone buddy. I've got a life to live, and I'll live it for you." I said, trying not to cry. I dont cry, it takes ages to wipe them away and it's incredibly embarrassing.
I put on my serious face.
"Listen, buddy, I wanted myself to be the first thing you see when you wake up, however, I hope you can settle for this." I said, taking out a photo frame from a plastic bag by my feet. I placed it on his bedside table.
"I hope that will tide you over. See you buddy." I said, opting to leave quickly. The photo I had left behind was me and him at a party, having the time of our lives.
I arrived at university the next day and moved in without a hitch. I had my own room, and my classes were fine. Despite the newness of the situation things became much more sleepy for me, as they are, as I learnt the finesse required for game design. I actually designed something independently in my spare time, a simple little platformer.
I showed it off in a presentation to the class, and all were impressed. It captured the subtitles of having fun, something I found painfully ironic, because I never had fun.
But then just like that, Mary Davies. She was in my class, and as beautiful as goddess. She walked up to me with those stunning blue eyes, opened those perfect red lips, and asked if she could help me develop the game further into something really special. Dumbfounded and struck silly with infatuation, I agreed. And then we kicked it off. I began getting happier and happier, and forgetting Eric more and more as me and Mary began turning my simple platformer into something truly astounding. As time went on, she'd lean over me from behind, and place her slender hand on mine as we moved the mouse, and we smiled. These poignant moments made my heart melt. I began looking at the screen less and less and more at her dazzling smile and stunning face and figure... as the game neared completion, or, at least, what we had set out to do, however, I noticed her acting distressed around me. Impatient, almost. I wasn't dumb, however. In the past few months, we had grown incredibly close but we hadn't actually become an item. I understood what she wanted. So every time she came around... I tried to ask her out, but the words came out as gibberish and I'd quickly return the focus to the game. I went to the stores to look for a gift, but all the chocolates and roses in the worlds would not be enough to convey the maddening love I felt.
By the time it was new years eve of the year 2019, we had finished. And she had come over for a final play test of the game before we decided to sell it for real, now that we were leaving university.
I had put in something at the end of the game, without her knowing. A message just for her.
We played through it co-op. We had so much fun playing for hours and hours that night, we ate chocolate and reminisced over stories we remembered from creation, and other things, gossip, the future...
And then, at the end, I had added a fireworks display, and my player character suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her avatar against the fireworks display, holding a box up to her.
The fireworks exploded into a message on screen.
"Mary... I love you more than anything, but I have never been able to tell you just how much...
I know this isn't special, or a gift, or anything, but this game we have been working on... is the symbol of our love, as far as I'm concerned.
Mary...
Will you move in with me?"
Was the final message. The avatar opened the box to reveal that a key was inside. A text box appeared on screen, with yes/no as options for Mary to pick.
Smiling and crying tears of joy in real life, she selected yes and then jumped on me. I felt the warmth, and I felt so happy. Ecstatic, even. We spent the night together that evening.
I woke up the next morning with a terrible headache, Mary was sleeping next to me.
I heard the doorbell ring.
I walked over to answer the door.
Mr and Miss Mason were standing there, looking quite happy and somewhat sullen.
They spoke to me.
"Eric woke up."
Eric hadn't woken up since getting back from the cave, and the weird machine. I had been going to school as usual, but after getting home today, I finally caught onto the fact that... Eric may not wake up anytime soon. Or ever. I put the thought out of my head, shaking and telling myself that my cynicism was getting the better of me. Eric was not going to die simply because I felt a little bit tired.
Rubbish.
I phoned the hospital and explained the situation, telling the whole truth. I wasn't going to lie about the machine or my negligence, after all, if I did, they wouldn't know the whole truth, and as such may not be able to save him. I wasn't going to let that happen.
An ambulance arrived, and some people with stretchers came into the apartment. I stayed quiet and watched, reflecting on myself.
Over the next few weeks I would go to the hospital every day after school, and stay with Eric until visiting times were over. I was always there with his parents, who came as much as they could, his mother and father only spoke when they needed to to me. They had been sad and they told me that they had forgiven me, or at least accepted what had happened... but as time wore on, they avoided eye contact, and I could feel that my presence was causing great discomfort in them. It was barely disguised, but they always tried to be polite around me regardless. All the lingering feelings... I always died a little inside when I saw their disapproving eyes. But I didn't leave Eric. I watched him, and I could tell that a small part of me wished that I could be the first thing that Eric saw when he awoke.
But soon, weeks turned into months, and into years. 3 years later, 2016, it was time for me to move to a university accommodation. I wouldn't be able to visit Eric, at all, at least not until I could afford a car and further cash still.
I visited for what would be the last time for a long time. His parents weren't here today.
The doctor who was mostly in charge of him walked up to me, with a grave expression.
"Mr Smith, uh, I was hoping mr and miss Mayson would be here today. It's not really in your power and I shouldn't really be asking you... but, we may have to shut off Eric's life support-" He began.
I got out of my chair and stood on tip toes to be at the same height as the doctor. It was loud and aggressive, and I couldn't stop myself.
"I may not be able to decide his fate, but let me tell you this- if anyone approves of shutting off his life support, you, his parents, anyone, I'll..." I calmed down and had a thought. I had no power. I couldn't threaten them with violence or anything else. I realized now, more than ever, just how little power I had over my friend's life. I just couldn't say anything. Then, I thought of something irrational and outright stupid.
"I'd never forgive anything. You, his parents, myself- if his life support is turned off, I will commit suicide." I said dramatically.
I knew it was ridiculous. I wouldn't be able to go through with it either way, but, this ridiculous statement was the ace up my sleeve, it was the one thing I had over the world which seemed to be conspiring to kill Eric.
The doctor nodded a little, and left me alone with Eric.
I looked at the peacefully sleeping face.
"Sorry to leave you alone buddy. I've got a life to live, and I'll live it for you." I said, trying not to cry. I dont cry, it takes ages to wipe them away and it's incredibly embarrassing.
I put on my serious face.
"Listen, buddy, I wanted myself to be the first thing you see when you wake up, however, I hope you can settle for this." I said, taking out a photo frame from a plastic bag by my feet. I placed it on his bedside table.
"I hope that will tide you over. See you buddy." I said, opting to leave quickly. The photo I had left behind was me and him at a party, having the time of our lives.
I arrived at university the next day and moved in without a hitch. I had my own room, and my classes were fine. Despite the newness of the situation things became much more sleepy for me, as they are, as I learnt the finesse required for game design. I actually designed something independently in my spare time, a simple little platformer.
I showed it off in a presentation to the class, and all were impressed. It captured the subtitles of having fun, something I found painfully ironic, because I never had fun.
But then just like that, Mary Davies. She was in my class, and as beautiful as goddess. She walked up to me with those stunning blue eyes, opened those perfect red lips, and asked if she could help me develop the game further into something really special. Dumbfounded and struck silly with infatuation, I agreed. And then we kicked it off. I began getting happier and happier, and forgetting Eric more and more as me and Mary began turning my simple platformer into something truly astounding. As time went on, she'd lean over me from behind, and place her slender hand on mine as we moved the mouse, and we smiled. These poignant moments made my heart melt. I began looking at the screen less and less and more at her dazzling smile and stunning face and figure... as the game neared completion, or, at least, what we had set out to do, however, I noticed her acting distressed around me. Impatient, almost. I wasn't dumb, however. In the past few months, we had grown incredibly close but we hadn't actually become an item. I understood what she wanted. So every time she came around... I tried to ask her out, but the words came out as gibberish and I'd quickly return the focus to the game. I went to the stores to look for a gift, but all the chocolates and roses in the worlds would not be enough to convey the maddening love I felt.
By the time it was new years eve of the year 2019, we had finished. And she had come over for a final play test of the game before we decided to sell it for real, now that we were leaving university.
I had put in something at the end of the game, without her knowing. A message just for her.
We played through it co-op. We had so much fun playing for hours and hours that night, we ate chocolate and reminisced over stories we remembered from creation, and other things, gossip, the future...
And then, at the end, I had added a fireworks display, and my player character suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her avatar against the fireworks display, holding a box up to her.
The fireworks exploded into a message on screen.
"Mary... I love you more than anything, but I have never been able to tell you just how much...
I know this isn't special, or a gift, or anything, but this game we have been working on... is the symbol of our love, as far as I'm concerned.
Mary...
Will you move in with me?"
Was the final message. The avatar opened the box to reveal that a key was inside. A text box appeared on screen, with yes/no as options for Mary to pick.
Smiling and crying tears of joy in real life, she selected yes and then jumped on me. I felt the warmth, and I felt so happy. Ecstatic, even. We spent the night together that evening.
I woke up the next morning with a terrible headache, Mary was sleeping next to me.
I heard the doorbell ring.
I walked over to answer the door.
Mr and Miss Mason were standing there, looking quite happy and somewhat sullen.
They spoke to me.
"Eric woke up."