[Eren isn't expecting visitors. Who would he be expecting? It's not as though his mom or dad can come see him, and his friends are all stuck at home so they don't end up in the next room. When Erin introduces herself, it makes more sense. She's a doctor. Probably here to give him more bad news, or something like that. The mention of his father surprises him. A while ago, some nurses injected his IV with "a little something to calm you down", and it's working wonders; still, tears have been steadily, silently flowing out of his eyes ever since he woke up (was that yesterday? The day before?). They don't stop now.
[He tries to take a deep breath. The oxygen in his nose helps, but his chest still rattles with it, and when he exhales, he coughs. His voice comes out hoarse and croaky, partly from the fading illness, and partly from having a tube shoved down his throat.
[Quietly, he says:]
He's dead now. Sorry...[The words may sound oddly detached; they are. Although he cries, although he thrashed and screamed - nearly made himself pass out more than once doing so - he still hasn't fully processed the truth. He'll never see his mother or father again. They're gone.]
[ While she feels a touch awkward - a situation thing more than an Eren thing - she's entirely sincere when she offers her condolences, which she does so before depositing her backpack on a nearby chair. ]
I'm so sorry, Eren..-
[ He asks about her name, and she's forced to de-and-rerail her thoughts. ]
Uh- yes. Yes, we have that in common. Mine's spelled a little differently, but...
[ She's still holding the bag with his things inside, prompting her to move closer to him, to take things out one by one, hand him a small, handheld marble-maze puzzle. ]
I, ah...I brought you some things. Maybe they won't be what you like, but I know how dull staring at the same walls all day can be...
There's some clothes here, some better toothpaste, toothbrush. I wasn't sure what you were missing, so I kinda just got everything. There's some snacks, too. I didn't know if you preferred sweet or savoury, so again, a bit of everything...
[ It's a lot of talking, but it's delivered at her usual calm, thorough pace. ]
[As Erin lays out the items - some physically, some verbally - Eren only stares at her. He holds the marble maze in his hands, idly turning it back and forth, but his eyes stay on Erin. Another rattling little cough escapes him as he covers his mouth.]
What'd you do all that for...? Just 'cause you know my dad?
[ Erin's never been one to been unnecessary platitudes. Eren's grieving, but he's not a four year old.
[ Erin nods. ]
Yes. [ A small pause. ] ...I know visitation is very limited right now, and I didn't know if any of your friends were able to be here with you, so...I thought perhaps I could stay a while. Keep you company. Does that sound okay..?
[Eren isn’t four, but when Erin offers to stay, he feels it. He can feel his bottom lip pulling into a frown, his chin wrinkling while his eyes fill up and overflow. He nods, breath quickening while his burdened respiratory system tries to fight a sob.]
O-okay. [The sob wins. With the maze toy still in his hand, he throws his arm across his eyes to hide for a moment, letting a few more sobs come loose. They’re painful. His whole body hurts.]
I don’t even think— I-I don’t know if I’ll ever see my friends again.
D-did you know my brother is coming? We’ve never even met, but n-now he’s all…h-he’s the only family I have left a-anywhere…n-now…
[ Erin's not necessarily the first doctor to leap into comforting - during her time working in hospitals, she's seen co-workers hug patients, put arms around them. That's never been her approach, it's never been her instinct. But - at least in her opinion - she's never come across as cold as a result.
[ Maybe she's been wrong about that, maybe not. ]
You'll see them again, Eren. You've come out the other side of this, you'll see them.
[ Even this isn't said in a hurry to make him stop crying. It's said gently, but practically. Realistically, he will see his friends again. He'll be out of here soon, and he'll continue to get better. That knowledge give her words a confident weight.
[ As Eren cries, she sits in the second chair, this one closest to the bedside, pulls it closer. As he mentions his brother, she takes his free hand. Gives it a little squeeze. ]
[Eren doesn't quite realize it, but he's eager for comfort, for touch. When Erin takes his hand, he squeezes it back immediately, his grip weak. His arm drops from his face, free hand futilely wiping away tears as more replace them.]
All the way across the country. [There's a miserable sniffle, and then he's coughing again, bringing his hand back to his face. He'll be in the hospital a while yet with the way his lungs sound.]
What if he takes me back with him? Then I won't ever see them again.
[ So it'll take him a while to get here, then. Days at minimum, especially if he's driving, what with the closed roads, the quarantine orders, the curfews...
[ Eren will be here alone until the end of week, if not longer. ]
Don't worry about that right now. All you should be focusing on is resting, getting better.
[ Oddly, Erin doesn't think twice about the natural decision she comes to. ]
It'll work out okay, we just need to talk to your brother when he gets here. I'll stay with you until he does.
[Whether or not it's a promise Eren should believe, he isn't sure. He doesn't know this woman. Their only connection is resting in the morgue right now. The thought makes Eren feel nauseated, and all at once, he's breathing quick, nearly gasping. He covers his face with both hands, releasing hers. And he starts to sob, breaking only to cough until it sounds like his lungs are going to come loose. It seems that "little something to calm you down" is starting to wear off.]
It's my fault. [The words are broken, strangled, cracking.] I got sick. They brought me here. They're dead and it's all my fault.
[ In lieu of holding his hand, she gives his forearm a squeeze. ]
It isn't your fault. It isn't anyone's. People can be sick without even realizing it, without having symptoms. You can only control viruses so well outside of a lab...
[ You sound like a doctor right now. The kid needs comfort, not facts-
[ Erin's just as quick to remind herself that she finds facts rather comforting, but that's neither here nor there. ]
...Do you want to talk about it..? About them? Or just be quiet for a while..? I won't go anywhere either way.
[His response is as unhelpful as it is heartbreaking, simple, instinctual. He doesn't even mean to say it. It bursts out of him, entirely beyond his control - a craving, aching need that Erin can't satisfy.]
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[He tries to take a deep breath. The oxygen in his nose helps, but his chest still rattles with it, and when he exhales, he coughs. His voice comes out hoarse and croaky, partly from the fading illness, and partly from having a tube shoved down his throat.
[Quietly, he says:]
He's dead now. Sorry...[The words may sound oddly detached; they are. Although he cries, although he thrashed and screamed - nearly made himself pass out more than once doing so - he still hasn't fully processed the truth. He'll never see his mother or father again. They're gone.]
Your name's Erin...? [Did he hear that right?]
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I'm so sorry, Eren..-
[ He asks about her name, and she's forced to de-and-rerail her thoughts. ]
Uh- yes. Yes, we have that in common. Mine's spelled a little differently, but...
[ She's still holding the bag with his things inside, prompting her to move closer to him, to take things out one by one, hand him a small, handheld marble-maze puzzle. ]
I, ah...I brought you some things. Maybe they won't be what you like, but I know how dull staring at the same walls all day can be...
There's some clothes here, some better toothpaste, toothbrush. I wasn't sure what you were missing, so I kinda just got everything. There's some snacks, too. I didn't know if you preferred sweet or savoury, so again, a bit of everything...
[ It's a lot of talking, but it's delivered at her usual calm, thorough pace. ]
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What'd you do all that for...? Just 'cause you know my dad?
Knew...
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[ Erin nods. ]
Yes. [ A small pause. ] ...I know visitation is very limited right now, and I didn't know if any of your friends were able to be here with you, so...I thought perhaps I could stay a while. Keep you company. Does that sound okay..?
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O-okay. [The sob wins. With the maze toy still in his hand, he throws his arm across his eyes to hide for a moment, letting a few more sobs come loose. They’re painful. His whole body hurts.]
I don’t even think— I-I don’t know if I’ll ever see my friends again.
D-did you know my brother is coming? We’ve never even met, but n-now he’s all…h-he’s the only family I have left a-anywhere…n-now…
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[ Maybe she's been wrong about that, maybe not. ]
You'll see them again, Eren. You've come out the other side of this, you'll see them.
[ Even this isn't said in a hurry to make him stop crying. It's said gently, but practically. Realistically, he will see his friends again. He'll be out of here soon, and he'll continue to get better. That knowledge give her words a confident weight.
[ As Eren cries, she sits in the second chair, this one closest to the bedside, pulls it closer. As he mentions his brother, she takes his free hand. Gives it a little squeeze. ]
Do you know where he's coming from..?
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All the way across the country. [There's a miserable sniffle, and then he's coughing again, bringing his hand back to his face. He'll be in the hospital a while yet with the way his lungs sound.]
What if he takes me back with him? Then I won't ever see them again.
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[ Eren will be here alone until the end of week, if not longer. ]
Don't worry about that right now. All you should be focusing on is resting, getting better.
[ Oddly, Erin doesn't think twice about the natural decision she comes to. ]
It'll work out okay, we just need to talk to your brother when he gets here. I'll stay with you until he does.
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[Eren doesn't realize that his eyes are pleading.]
Really?
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[ She smiles, and it's one of the few times it doesn't feel
maskedpretend. ]I can't promise I'll be all that exciting to have around, but I'll be here, okay?
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It's my fault. [The words are broken, strangled, cracking.] I got sick. They brought me here. They're dead and it's all my fault.
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[ In lieu of holding his hand, she gives his forearm a squeeze. ]
It isn't your fault. It isn't anyone's. People can be sick without even realizing it, without having symptoms. You can only control viruses so well outside of a lab...
[ You sound like a doctor right now. The kid needs comfort, not facts-
[ Erin's just as quick to remind herself that she finds facts rather comforting, but that's neither here nor there. ]
...Do you want to talk about it..? About them? Or just be quiet for a while..? I won't go anywhere either way.
just attacking you with this one
I w-want my m-mom.
[He sounds so young.]