•Dalis Corner•

The word spread quicker than a letter being sent out on a non busy morning. Frank didn’t mean to accidentally slip about Eddie’s sickness, and Eddie of course didn’t blame them for it, but everything escalated pretty quickly after that.

The word first got to Julie.

Then Julie got to Sally.

Sally got to Wally.

Basically; the word spread around pretty quickly. Much to Eddie’s dismay.

The thing is, Eddie knew he would have to tell everyone the news eventually. Eddie had been keeping his illness under wraps for some time, hoping he could deal with it on his own without causing any worry or fuss among his friends. But as the news continued to circulate through the tight-knit community, he realized how serious everyone was beginning to take it. It was a nice gesture, but…

So now, for the first time in ages, Eddie was taking a day off from work.

Of course, it wasn’t exactly his decision, but the neighborhood didn’t really give him much say in the matter. Eddie found the entire ordeal rather embarrassing, wishing that he didn’t let his friends see him in such a pathetic state, even though they seemed to have no hard feelings. For now, he was confined to rest, sitting in the dining room with a needle and pin, swirling around in his mind like a hazy fog. It was like he was just sitting there waiting for something, anything to happen.

“Will you tell me a story,” Eddie asked. His voice didn’t lilt at the end; he said it like it was already a given.

“Something true or false?” Frank asked.

“Don’t matter none,” He shook his head. He brought the thin needle down to the blue fabric that rested the table and stabbed it through. After another second, he added, “Somethin’ false.”

“False it is, then.” Frank nodded and thought for a moment, “Ever heard of entomology?”

“You sure ‘bout that bein’ false, Lovebug?” Eddie shot him a quick smile, a raised eyebrow.

“I thought you wanted me to tell you a story.” The other responded, resting an elbow on the table. “But if you don’t want to hear about it, then frankly, I will ramble about something far more boring.”

Eddie chuckled and shook his head lightly. “Nah, you’re right. Tell me the story.”

“Mm. Okay. Far away from here…”

Frank’s voice was soothing, like a gentle stream flowing through the forest. He could tell the story was one from a book that Frank owned; but he didn’t mind. He hummed in contentment and continued sewing, all the while keeping his focus on the other. He found himself captivated by the imagery and the distant lands described in explicit detail.. Frank was always so good at giving that.

The room around him seemed to fade away, and he was lost in the story, drifting further from the reality of his own situation. Eventually, even Frank’s own voice became a distant hum in the background as Eddie’s thoughts wandered elsewhere.

His gaze turned to the sunset’s streaming through the window, casting warm patterns on the floor. Outside, the trees danced gracefully to the rhythm of the wind, their leaves descending with grace to join the quilt of clouds overhead.

His eyes then darted down to the tiny garden in the back. Amongst the vibrant purple and yellow roses dusted across the yard, he noticed that they had started to become overgrown, reaching a more neglected state than usual. Their preoccupation with Eddie’s health must have diverted their attention. The two should probably start attending to that again soon, he thought.

He blinked and returned his gaze at Frank. He… didn’t remember what the other was talking about. It seemed like Frank was really into whatever he was telling though. He didn’t want to be rude and interrupt, so he tried to listen again; picking up any clues of what the story could be about.

He let the story carry him away again, if only for a little while.

The needle he once held had slipped from his grasp, and it wasn't the fabric it pierced this time – it was Eddie’s own finger.

Blood welled up around the tiny wound, staining the blue fabric with the color.

“Eddie!” Frank’s eyes widened with concern, and instantly reached out for him.

Eddie hissed in pain, instinctively pulling his injured finger back, away from the sewing needle.

“Oh! Hah, my bad, I-“

“Let me see." They carefully examined the cut on his finger, their worry evident.

His face grew a light pink shade from embarrassment. “I-I’m fine, Darlin’, it’s just a little cut. Nothin’ t’worry about. I guess your story was so intriguin’ that I lost track of everythin’ else..”

But Frank, always the worrier when it came to Eddie, wasn't so easily reassured. “Let me go grab the first aid kit–”

“No!” Eddie cleared his throat, “No, I can.. I can handle it myself. You’ve been doin’ so darn much for me already.” He was quick to respond, pushing himself upwards to go fetch the equipment. “I’m fine. Finish the story for me. About the… uh…”

“Entomology.” Ew, bugs.

“Right, that. In fact – mind tellin’ the whole tale to me one more time..? Just so I can get a proper grasp on it.”

Eddie didn’t want to admit it out loud, but he had already forgotten the story. It wasn’t a surprise, really, and Frank was quite used to that.

Frank hesitated, torn between his desire to protect Eddie and his respect for his partner’s wishes. Finally, he nodded reluctantly. “Alright but please be careful. I’ll be right here if you need any help.”

“Thanks, darlin’.”

The grumpy neighbor then carefully resumed his storytelling. As the other listened, he couldn’t help but smile, despite the throbbing pain in his finger. Frank’s soothing voice provided a welcome distraction from the harsh reality of Eddie’s illness. It always did.

For a while, it seemed like nothing else in the world mattered except for the tale unfolding in the cozy room.

But it was rather pointless, really. As Frank was about to reveal the story’s climax, Eddie’s mind betrayed him. Again. It was as if a curtain had fallen, shrouding his thoughts.

But that’s okay, it’s not like the two had anywhere to go. Frank would retell the stories many times, if he had to.

As the yellow starthistle, as bright and blinding as the sun in the sky, was grabbed at the base of a thorny stem – Eddie nearly fell backwards as the weed came loose. With a groan, he wiped his forehead with his dirty gloved hand, drops of sweat rolling down his face. He felt his energy drain from him.

He had been up working since dawn with determination rushing through his veins, but now the sun was beginning to sink in the sky and he felt his hands ache with soreness.

He didn’t mind though. Honestly, he would've kept working into the night if it weren’t for Frank interrupting, greeting him by laying a hand on his shoulder.

“Mr. Dear, it’s almost time to… Oh!” Frank gasped softly as he looked around. “You’ve… cleared all the weeds.”

“Eh, most of ‘em are gone, but there’s still some stragglers I’ve gotta tear out. Stubborn fellas, they are.” His voice was a bit raspy from lack of water, and he let out a dry cough.

“It’s such a lovely day out, though, so I don’t mind any. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“No it isn’t.” Frank protested. “But… I will admit, it looks much better out here than it did before. Good job.”

It’s been a week since the secret has been revealed. Eddie wasn’t allowed to leave the house much, which meant the sending out letters had been mainly postponed. Yet, his compassionate neighbors have stepped in, leaving heartfelt ‘Get well soon!’ notes or flowers at his doorstep daily. While he deeply appreciated their kindness, it stung him in an unexpected way. Delivering letters had been his purpose, and not being able to fulfill that duty left him feeling somewhat inadequate. The neighborhood seemed to be getting by just fine, and he was just… here. Waiting.

As the days stretched on, Eddie’s restlessness grew. Without his daily rounds of delivering letters and connecting people, he found himself at a loss for how to spend his time. The idle hours seemed to drag on, and he yearned for a way to regain a sense of purpose and contribute to his community once more.

“You’ve done more than enough today,” They said softly, “You need to rest. The doctor said pushing yourself will only make it worse.”

Eddie turned his gaze to his partner and mustered a faint smile. “I know, lovebug, but y’know I can’t just sit here and do nothin’. It’s not in my nature to.”

“And I understand that. However, I will have to ask you to clean up a bit. Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Ah,” Eddie replied blankly, having forgotten about dinner. Or eating. Has he eaten today? His stomach growled horribly at that thought.

“Well, we better get movin’. I’m hungry as a bear before hibernation, and bein’ in this heat sure ain’t helpin’.” Eddie gave a tired chuckle and pushed himself upwards.

And as the realization came to him, his exhaustion and dizziness only seemed to increase, and so he pushed his mind away from the topic. He was going to eat very soon, and so he shouldn’t focus on his hunger.

So, he did the next best thing. Eddie reached out, cupping Frank’s face in his hands. His eyes locked with Frank’s surprised, but welcoming gaze.

“Oh my- hello there!”

“Howdy, there-“ Eddie chuckled. For a moment, the world around them faded into insignificance. Eddie leaned in slowly, their lips meeting in a gentle, loving kiss. It was a kiss filled with all the unspoken words. It was a kiss that spoke of gratitude, of cherishing every moment, and of the profound love they had for each other.

As they pulled away, their foreheads touched.

“I love ya, Darlin’. More than words can express.”

“I love you, too.” Frank’s voice was equally hushed as he replied. “..How are you feeling..?” He asked, bending down to pick up some of the gardening supplies to prop up against the house’s wall.

“Doin’ just dandy! I, uhn.. ” There came the sound of a throat clearing. The reminder of his state immediately hit him again.

His head moved in something of a nod. “Yeah, fine,” He paused for a slightly shaky breath. “Just need to sit down for a minute..” He stepped away from Frank, doing his best to steadily lower himself to inside.

“Dizzy?” Frank offered to wrap an arm around him to help him keep balanced.

Eddie forced out another flow of air. “I’m sure it’ll pass. Just hungry.”

Frank’s worry deepened as he helped Eddie to sit down. He couldn’t ignore the signs any longer, and he knew they needed to have a serious conversation about Eddie’s health. But for now, he decided to focus on the immediate concern; getting Eddie something to eat.

“Let’s get you some food, and then we’ll talk, alright?” Frank said softly, trying to reassure him while his own concern weighed heavily on his heart.

They did their best to keep Eddie’s plate full, hoping that a good meal would help alleviate some of the exhaustion and dizziness that had plagued him throughout the day. They shared a quiet dinner, but the unspoken fears hung heavy in the air.

Eddie picked at his food, his appetite still not fully returning, and his thoughts increasingly preoccupied with the topic he had been trying to avoid. Frank watched him closely, concern etched on his face. Both of them knew that they couldn’t keep ignoring the elephant in the room.

After a few more bites, Eddie finally put down his fork and looked at Frank.

“Listen, I know we need t’talk about this. But can we please do it ‘nother night? I... I don’t wanna ruin tonight with all that heavy stuff. I want t’cherish the time we have together, just like we always have.”

The sudden conversation caught Frank off guard, but they quickly regained his composure and insighted in on the prompt, “I… understand, and I want to enjoy tonight too. But we can’t keep putting this off. Your health is too important.”

Eddie lowered his gaze, his fingers gently tracing the rim of his empty plate. He knew Frank was right, but he didn’t want to admit it. “I know, I know. It’s just… I ain’t goin’ anywhere anytime soon, right? We have time.”

“Well, yes-“ Frank frowned. He reached across the table, taking Eddie’s hand in his own, their fingers intertwining. “But we can’t keep avoiding this forever..”

“And we won’t! In fact, it’s all that gets brought up around the neighborhood, honestly...” Eddie sighed. He honestly hated thinking about it any more than he hated thinking about bugs. And trust him — he hated bugs.

“Listen, We’ll, ah, talk about it ‘nother night. I really want t’enjoy this moment with ya, just for tonight. If that’s alright with you.”

Frank squeezed Eddie’s hand gently, a mix of emotions swirling within him.. “Frankly, I want nothing more than for you to be well,” they whispered, “But I won’t push you. We’ll talk about this when you’re ready, but promise me you won’t keep pushing yourself like this.. Your health matters too much to me. Please.”

Eddie managed a weak smile and nodded. “I promise. We can talk about everything tomorrow. A long, nice conversation about it, kay?”

…

“…Tomorrow it is.”

Death was supposed to be peaceful, at least that’s what Eddie hoped for, and the rest of humanity who were equally as afraid of what the afterlife might bring. He hoped it would be calm and quiet, like the low thrum of a fan on a hot afternoon, or the rain’s pitter patter at the window, maybe even just a deep sleep after a long day.

But he was beginning to realize it was the exact opposite of that.

He by no means wanted to die, of course, even if he didn’t really have a say in the matter. He tried everything to be okay in front of everyone, especially his partner – the love of his life. The thought of leaving Frank behind terrified him more than anything else. It was a never ending nightmare for him. So, he tried not to think about his illness. Avoid it. Pretend it wasn’t there.

But Frank was not anybody’s dummy. He knew Eddie wasn’t doing well. Eddie was drastically getting worse, and they both knew it.

“Eddie Dear?”

With a slow creak, Frank pushed the door open, practically inviting themself into the room. He probably shouldn’t have, but he knew Eddie wouldn’t mind it, he wasn’t supposed to be working anyways. The faint scent of school glue lingered in the air, and the low hum of the fan proved comforting background noise that Frank was all the more used to by now.

What he found, inside, was a passed out Eddie at his desk. His large arms were used as his pillow as heavy, dry snores escaping from his lips. Frank stood at the spot right at the door, unsure of what to do.

Today was supposed to be the day the two discussed Eddie’s health, and where to go from here. It was promised. Yet, there sat Eddie, knocked out, his vibrant pink hair tousled and wild. It wasn't even three in the afternoon. His position looked really uncomfortable, too.

“Oh, Eddie..”

Frank gave a small sigh, and put a hand on the other’s shoulder to try and wake him. But before he gave a shake, he remembered the bags under the other’s eyes that morning at breakfast. He didn’t even know if Eddie got any sleep the night before.

Frank was really trying to ignore the worry about his partner right now that had kept creeping up for the past several weeks. Eddie was working way too damn hard, even for his measures.

He could see the rise and fall of Eddie’s chest, the soft and rhythmic sound of his breath filling the air. His gaze wandered to the scattered freckles, like stardust on Eddie’s body. His eyes, green with hints of brown, remained closed, their usual droopy allure hidden, while his thick lashes rested peacefully. It was a good thing that he seemed to have finally given into his sleep deprivation.

Maybe it would be best to let the other sleep. He seemed beyond waking anyway. If Frank were stronger, they would carry Eddie to the bed. But that option was most definitely out of the window… unless he wanted a broken back.

He shook his head and quickly went to retrieve a blanket and pillow. Gently, he covered Eddie with the blanket, being careful not to wake him. They then placed the pillow under his head, hoping he would be more comfortable. It was the least they could do. He fidgeted with his bowtie as he glanced over at the things Eddie had been working on. It was a bunch of littered notes, mostly. It looked like a personal tracker of his growth, reminders or daily chores he needed to do, amongst a few doodles of some of his objects scattered around the room. He decided to leave his noseyness there.

He flinched when he heard a sigh that came from Eddie, who was now laying more relaxed and seemed to have slipped into a completely comfortable state of sleep.

He sighed in relief when the other didn’t wake up. Any sleep was better than none. Though, it would be nice if he could sleep on a bed. Still. Frank watched Eddie for a moment, gently brushing a strand of pink hair away from his face.

“You always did work too hard..”

Of course He knew that avoiding the conversation about the sickness wouldn't make the problem disappear, but seeing Eddie like this, worn out and exhausted, made it even harder to bring up. Eddie might be asleep for just a few minutes, as he realized that was a common pattern the other was suffering with as of lately, but with how exhausted the other looked; he assumed he was going to be sleeping for a good while.

They decided to pull up a chair and sit beside the desk, quietly keeping watch over the love of their life. Time seemed to slow down in that room, the only sounds being Eddie’s soft breathing and the occasional creak of the chair as Frank adjusted their position. Their heart was heavy with worry, but there was also a glimmer of hope that perhaps, with time and support, they could find a way to navigate this difficult journey together.

Even in a deep slumber, Eddie’s arm began to move. Slowly, it found its way toward Frank. He instinctively wrapped his arm around their shoulders, pulling them closer.

He was surprised but didn’t resist. He leaned into the embrace, feeling the warmth and security that came from being held by the person he loved.

In the stillness of the room, they both found comfort in each other's presence. The weight of the unspoken words hung in the air, but for now, they could simply be together, drawing strength from the love that had brought them this far.

Just before Frank closed his eyes, he turned to glance out the window, noticing the vibrant hues of the yellow and purple roses apparent again. He hummed slightly, and shifted closer to Eddie.

Very well. We can wait another day.

Frank quietly accepted to himself.

Maybe tomorrow.

That conversation didn’t come tomorrow, though.

The days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. As the seasons changed, so did Eddie’s condition. He had good days and bad days, and Frank was always there to take care of him. Each day brought new challenges and small victories, but the weight of the issue hung over them like a cloud.

The neighborhood continued to thrive, even without Eddie’s daily rounds of letter delivery. Life went on, but for Eddie, time felt fragile.

One evening, as Eddie sat in the garden, weak and tired from another day’s futile attempt to maintain normalcy, Frank approached him. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow on the scene.

“Mr. Dear,” Frank began, his voice gentle but firm.