' miss riza ?? ' alphonse's voice is soft, almost soft enough to miss the way it shook, the way it cracked. there were monsters inside of him, ones no one could slay and they just kept eating at him. his frail hands grip the hospital sheets tightly as he speaks, his voice not fitting his personality. ' how do you can you kill a ghost ?? ' how can you sleep at night when the monsters in your head just won't let you have peace, when you don't deserve to rest at night because of them ??
she visits him the first moments she is permitted to move on her own. riza’s short walk led her to his room, and she takes the lone chair by his bedside. her breathing remains somewhat shallow and short, little puffs coming from her open lips as she just sits quietly with him.
they close at his question, features growing serious and contemplative. both him and his brother would have demons to conquer, she knew. but she had enough experience to know that she has plenty of her own.
a hand reaches out and covers one of his, hoping that the touch is soothing against his tight hands. she thinks she can feel them barely shaking.
“ you take it one day at a time . “ brown eyes level with his. “ you take care of yourself the absolute best you can. if you need help you ask for it. you do little things, that make you physically more comfortable and safe. you digs your heels into the ground and remember all of the reasons you fought, and remember how hard you fought. you think of the future and everything else you can and will do. they won’t be strong enough if you do that, i promise you. “
