WARNING: THIS SCENE IS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING! I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU DO NOT READ IF YOU GET SICK EASILY.

Chapter Eighteen: Romeo and Juliet

*As the doctor and nurse stepped out of the bathroom, they both sighed together. It appeared that Hiiro and Serena would be all right together for the time being.

“Carl, what happened?” Bertha finally asked.

“Well, I was working on Spencer’s case, and Cathy buzzed me to say that a ‘Mr. Tsukino’ was in the lobby looking for his daughter. Well, naturally you can imagine my shock. As far as I had known, there was no Mr. Tsukino. I told her to send him in immediately. When he barged in the door, I was, well, shocked. He came into the room raving like mad about his daughter Serena and how he wanted her home. He didn’t believe me when I said she was mentally unstable. He didn’t believe me when I said she was sick. Then he claimed we were only out for money, otherwise I would have cured her within the last three months I’d had her.”

“But it can take years sometimes to heal an anorexic bulimic to the point where they can fend for themselves!” Bertha yelled.

“I know. I tried to convince him of that, but he refused to see it my way. Finally I decided that it might clear things up if he saw Serena.”

“So you buzzed her in.”

“And immediately she froze with fear. I knew something bad was going to happen. I knew it. I don’t know why I didn’t call security sooner… He started beating her, right in front of me, and then I threatened the cops. Then he stopped, and when she tried to pull away- he had her wrist at the time- he went ballistic again. Then he began clawing at her like a madman, kissing her and trying to rip her clothes off. It was the most sicken display of… I don’t know what it was. But I was physically sick watching it. That was when I did call in the security, and I got up and tried to pry him off of her, but he was huge. Finally security showed up, and you followed.”

“Of all the… I cannot believe it! He tried to rape his daughter in your office! He must be mentally insane as well!”

“I agree. Even a drunken man would never do that to his own daughter- especially not while he knew who she was and was in public.”

“Poor Serena.”

“Well. I’ve finally got the motives. That must be why she tried suicide. She was sick of being used by her own father. The poor, poor dear.” Carl shook his head sadly and ran his hands through his hair, pausing. Then he cleared his throat and continued. “And. I know why she’s anorexic bulimic.”

“She told you?”

“No. Her father did. While he was beating her, her called her a piggy. Imagine, being called a piggy by your father as he rapes you.”

“I would rather not.” Bertha snorted. “All the same, I know what you mean. It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s sickening to know there are people in the world that are that twisted. And she was so innocent. It just isn’t fair!” A tear trickled down the large woman’s cheek.

“That’s the price we pay for working in a mental hospital. Life is never fair for our patients.”

“But this time, I don’t understand how life could be so cruel to such a young girl. Imagine if none of this had ever happened to her. She might have been normal. She might have finished high school, gone on to college, gotten a degree. She might have become a psychiatrist. But now… Now she’s been corrupted and shocked beyond belief.”

“I hope I can help her now that I know the underlying causes. I hope the God I can help save her soul before it’s too late.” A heavy silence fell over both doctor and nurse as they thought over their patient. Suddenly, the doctor broke it.

“Bertha, since when do Hiiro and Serena get along?”

“Since their run in outside your office the other day. I don’t know why, but something must have just… clicked between them. I know they haven’t been speaking to each other, but I also know that he was still giving her his drawings. In fact, I found her looking at one last night.”

“But… why would she trust him more than she trusts us? Haven’t we known her longer? Wouldn’t we be the obvious choices for her to run to?” The doctor scratched his head confused.

“Maybe. But maybe Serena simply found a kindred spirit in Hiiro.”

“Kindred spirit? What are you talking about?”

“A kindred spirit; like a soul mate, only love doesn’t necessarily have to come from it.”

“Interesting. Perhaps their drawing and painting has brought them closer together?”

“Maybe. But I think it was more. I think both of them needed each other. I’ve seen them together, when they’re alone. A sweeter, more innocent couple I’ve never seen.”

>>>)(<<<

“Hi, Hi, Hiiro?” Serena’s teeth chattered. His concern mounted. Reaching up, which was hard to do because she whimpered when he removed his arm, he turned the cold water down and turned the warm water on. He wasn’t about to let her freeze to death, even if the point was to shock her out of her fear.

“Serena?”

“Is, is he gone?” She whispered.

“He’s gone.” He hugged her tighter, inhaling the sweet smell of her strawberry shampoo.

“I don’t want him to come back. Ever. I want to leave with you Hiiro.”

“He’s not coming back. If he does, I’ll kill him. I swear Serena, I’ll murder him in cold-blood for you. I’ll protect you, I swear it.”

“Good.” She nodded, her blue lips regaining color. “How did you know?”

“I heard you screaming while I was in the phone booth outside the doctor’s office in the lobby. I ran as fast as I could to get to you. I swear, if anyone ever lays another finger on you…”

“Hiiro, I’m so cold.” He rubbed her arms vigorously, trying to warm her.

“Sorry. The doctor thought it was the only way to bring you back to reality, minus shocks.”

“No shocks!” She screeched.

“No shocks. I won’t let them. You aren’t crazy.”

“Tell that to them.” She whispered, nuzzling his chest with her nose and inhaling his clean smell.

“I will.”

“They won’t believe you.” She told him softly.

“I’m make them.”

“I feel sick. I want to throw-up.”

“Serena…”

“Hiiro…” She pulled away from his grasp and leaned out of the shower dripping water all over the floor and rug. Leaning over the toilet, she began to heave. Simply thinking of her father made the bile rise in her throat. Soon the food she had eaten earlier followed, and finally a few drops of blood. She felt woozy and lightheaded as she sank back into Hiiro’s arms.

“Blood Serena?” He asked, shaking her shoulders.

“I’m so tired Hiiro.” She moaned, falling into his arms. He caught the collapsing girl and realized instantly that she had a fever.

“Serena? You’re sick Serry.”

“I know I’m sick Ro. I’m so tired.”

“I’ll put you on the bed, and…”

“No. I’m not tired- my soul is. Hiiro. I’m so tired of remembering people like my father, my mother, her boyfriends, Darien… I can’t forget them. They haunt me Hiiro. I’m so tired of constantly being followed by these shadows. They make me sick, they force me to throw-up.”

“Serena, I’m going to get the doctor and then…”

“No. Stay here, with me. Kiss me.”

“You’re sick…”

“Kiss me Hiiro.” She looked up at him, her eyes begging him. So he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers in a chaste kiss. There was none of the passion they had had for each other the night before. Now it was pure, innocent love and care that he poured into the kiss. He tried to will her to get better through it, but he knew in his heart that she would never recover from today. It had been the final blow to her sensitive psyche, and she would never be the same. God, he wished for her to be the same.

“Hiiro. I’m so tired.” She told him when the kiss broke.

“I know. I’m tired too Serena. This goddamned world!” He yelled, slamming one of his fists onto the cold tile of the shower wall. “It never gives people like you and me any breaks. We’re always being given the raw end of the deal, and frankly, I’m damn tired of it! It’s not fair! Damnit, it’s just not fair!” As he began to cry, Serena took it upon herself to cradle his head in her thin, bony arms and kiss away his tears.

“Hiiro, Hiiro! It’s alright!” She cried. The water from the shower was obstructing her vision, but she was able to look up and spy a very familiar object. Letting go of Hiiro, she reached up.

“Serena? What are you doing?” He asked her, his tears forgotten.

“Hiiro, it’s a miracle tool. Don’t you see?” She fingered the plastic body of the razor. “It can all be over. Hiiro, we can end it here and now. God, let me end it.”

“Serena! We can’t! No, you can’t!” He yelled, trying to grab the razor from her hand. But she had already extracted the metal blades.

“Aren’t you tired? I’m tired. Tired of failing. I failed at everything Hiiro, even death. But maybe this time I can finally succeed. Help me Hiiro. I want the pain. I want it so that all the heartache can die. I want to die.”

“But I love you, you can’t die Serena, God, you can’t die!”

“I can. You can too Hiiro. We can die together- just like Romeo and Juliet. Hiiro, we can leave this world that we hate so much!” And she raised the razor.

“Don’t!” He yelled. But it was too late. She had already sliced once. Red liquid welled from the slash and began to drip from her wrist. Thick rivulets of the coppery fluid dripped down her arm. It mingled with the water in the shower and the tears that fell from both of their eyes.

“It’s too late Hiiro. I’m ending it. I want to end this.” And she made the second incision. Hiiro began to sob as he watched the woman he had fallen in love with take her own life. He watched her slice through her flesh, watched her lifeline bleed with the red blood that told her to be human and mortal.

“Serena…” He sobbed, holding her closer.

“I love you Hiiro.” She lifted her head and looked at him one more time with her innocent yet dead sapphire eyes. He kissed her long and hard, the passion returning.

“I love you too Serena, God I love you too.” And with that, he grabbed the razor from her. Looking down at his own, pale wrist, Hiiro cringed.

“If I died Hiiro, if I killed myself right now, what would you say?”

“I would say nothing.”

“What would you do?”

“Kill myself to join you.” She shot up.

“You would kill yourself for me?”

“Yes.”

He could see through his papery colored skin the blue and red veins that awaited his sharp, metallic slice. As he dragged the razor across, he marveled at the pain he did not feel. There was no sting, no rip or tear, only the dull feeling of an ache that pounded in his skull. One more wrist, and then he was finished. He had severed the blue and red lines, and death was near.

“Hiiro?”

“Hmm?”

“Tell me.” She whispered. “What do you think it’s like to die?”

“Why?”

“I’m tired. Humor me.”

“I think… I think dying is like…I think that when you die, you don’t realize what’s going on. That everything becomes blurry and spins in circles. You forget everything… and then you remember only what you thought was most important- family, friends, memories.

“I think maybe you feel so relieved of all the burdens that you had to carry during life that you feel like you can fly, but at the same time you feel heavy, like you’re drowning. Then, maybe a bright light will just… appear, and from there… only God can tell you.”

“I love you Serena.” With that, he bent down and raised Serena’s face with his sore wrist. It was pale, her eyes closed, and her breath ragged. Then, with what worldly strength he had left, he allowed his head to droop forward and his lips to crash upon hers one last time.

“Life is never fair.” Bertha shook her head sadly.

“I don’t hear any screaming any more. I think Hiiro’s calmed her down.”

“Let’s check. I don’t know how we’re going to help Serena get through this, but I swear we will. Somehow.” As the two stood up, Carl held the bathroom door open for Bertha.

“Oh my God!” She screamed. He ran inside after her to see what had scared her. The sight that met his eyes was either the most depressing sight he had ever seen, or the most beautiful; he was not quite sure which it was.

Beneath the falling water of the shower and amidst the steam lie Serena and Hiiro. The red blood that had pooled around them created a puddle of crimson water; like a mock red carpet rolled out for the King and Queen. The King and his Queen stayed still, entangled with each other. Their fingers were entwined, wrists pressed together, mingling their blood as it dripped from their bodies. Serena’s hair was let loose in a honey cascade that covered both herself and Hiiro. But the most touching of all… his lips were still pressed to hers in their last kiss of undying love. The King and Queen, Romeo and Juliet, were dead. *