[He says he doesn't get it, but he reads her heart like an open book, laying out all her fears between them, like they were never a secret to begin with.
Cats are always like that, but he's in a league of his own.
Those words, coming from someone else, would be met with some hesitation and fear. With an inkling that they don't know what they're asking for because they're so kind, they can only see the good parts.
But when it's a cat-
When it's him-
He can't see his own heart, but he can see hers. She thinks he always could and that's enough stifle the protests ready to fall out of her mouth-things like you don't know and you'll leave because he wouldn't. She has faith he wouldn't. The cats never judged or left her. This one won't either.
She remembers how long he searched for Pachinko for-how terrifying it was in the expanse of darkness filled with unknown creatures and how he persevered through that. How he protected her through that. How he found Pachinko and he saved her from that.
He can't feel how his heart is and that confession, minor as it is, stuns her, when all she can remember is all the ways its shined over the years. He can't feel it, but she does every single day.
It's how most people here are. They can't feel it. Can't see it. And the ones who think the worst about their own hearts are the ones who have the brightest.]
I believe you.
[They're standing and she's gone with him, unwilling to let go just yet. She knows the chances of him vanishing before her very eyes because of the island are slim-
But the chances of him dying of this disease are larger. The flowers are already dotting his skin, in a scene that's too familiar for her liking. She could feel the petals on her fingertips before and now that she's really looking at him-
Now that his family's here-
She can't let him die. Not again.]
I'll always believe you.
[The numbing in her arms is receding for a moment and she reaches up to pat the side of his head, like she's trying to pet him.]
You're a very good boy, so I won't forget that. I won't ever hate Murasaki-chan either. It's okay if the secrets in your heart feel scary and you want to hide from them. You can reach out with your heart and I'll hear it. I'll stay here and listen until I can. You're special and-
no subject
Cats are always like that, but he's in a league of his own.
Those words, coming from someone else, would be met with some hesitation and fear. With an inkling that they don't know what they're asking for because they're so kind, they can only see the good parts.
But when it's a cat-
When it's him-
He can't see his own heart, but he can see hers. She thinks he always could and that's enough stifle the protests ready to fall out of her mouth-things like you don't know and you'll leave because he wouldn't. She has faith he wouldn't. The cats never judged or left her. This one won't either.
She remembers how long he searched for Pachinko for-how terrifying it was in the expanse of darkness filled with unknown creatures and how he persevered through that. How he protected her through that. How he found Pachinko and he saved her from that.
He can't feel how his heart is and that confession, minor as it is, stuns her, when all she can remember is all the ways its shined over the years. He can't feel it, but she does every single day.
It's how most people here are. They can't feel it. Can't see it. And the ones who think the worst about their own hearts are the ones who have the brightest.]
I believe you.
[They're standing and she's gone with him, unwilling to let go just yet. She knows the chances of him vanishing before her very eyes because of the island are slim-
But the chances of him dying of this disease are larger. The flowers are already dotting his skin, in a scene that's too familiar for her liking. She could feel the petals on her fingertips before and now that she's really looking at him-
Now that his family's here-
She can't let him die. Not again.]
I'll always believe you.
[The numbing in her arms is receding for a moment and she reaches up to pat the side of his head, like she's trying to pet him.]
You're a very good boy, so I won't forget that. I won't ever hate Murasaki-chan either. It's okay if the secrets in your heart feel scary and you want to hide from them. You can reach out with your heart and I'll hear it. I'll stay here and listen until I can. You're special and-
I want you to live for a very long time.