Empathy
Eventually, by late evening, Savannah finally agreed to Leonardo insisting that she should head home, but with not a shred of willingness about her. Leo regained his strength for the most part. That was precisely what Savannah had been waiting for, and yet still did she feel hesitance at the thought of leaving him alone again.
The time neared ten p.m. now. Leo, as usual, sat on his living room couch, holding in his hands the bowl of soup Savannah had made for him before leaving, despite Leo's stubborn disapproval. It smelled delightful. A simple recipe of beef and vegetables in an herbal broth, good for the throat and soothing to the senses.
That girl's kindness. Leo hated how it warmed his heart.
In silence he finished the whole bowl of soup, then set it aside to pick up his phone. He hadn't checked for messages all day.
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You have (3) new messages from Noah
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Nothing from Blue, huh.
Breathing a sigh of mental fatigue, Leonardo opened his best friend's messages.
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Noah_bored
just checking in on you leo
today was kinda rough for me, just some stress at work but i'll be fine
hope yours was better :)
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Leo.nardo
i'm sorry to hear that :(
but my day wasn't really great either
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Noah_bored
aw no leo what's wrong..?
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Leo.nardo
dizzy spell
i'm doing much better but it was so bad earlier noah i was so scared
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Noah_bored
have you been eating well?
please don't neglect your meals leo i can't cook for you right now...
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Leo.nardo
no noah it's ok i did eat...
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Noah_bored
well good
look i promise i'll try to make a trip up to you some time soon, ok?
we've just been super busy and i've been exhausted and my family kinda needs my help around here, i'm like the main cook besides my father
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Leo.nardo
noah i know, it's ok don't feel bad, it just gives me something to look forward to
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Noah_bored
that's the spirit leo :)
well it's getting late so you should get some sleep
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Leo.nardo
it's only like ten :(
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Noah_bored
bed tiiiime for leonardo
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Leo.nardo
maybe soon...
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Noah_bored
good :)
night, leo <3
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Leo.nardo
night noah <3
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It was always bittersweet saying goodnight. But deep down Leonardo wanted for Noah to rest as much as Noah wanted for him. However with how much he had already slept throughout the day, Leo knew he wouldn't be getting to sleep again any time soon. Moreover, he had some questions for his recent, enigmatic acquaintance.
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Purple
you lied, didn't you
i'm not healthy
it's cus of my blood, isn't it
how long do i have left, huh?
three years? two months? a week??
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Blue
I would not lie concerning something as dire as health, Leonardo Diaz.
As I said to you, such things as dizzy spells are not abnormal. Have you been experiencing a great deal of stress lately?
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Purple
I have
but how do you know
how are you sure this is 'normal'?
where's your credibility??
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Blue
I cannot provide physical credibility, Leonardo Diaz, I can only ask for you to believe I mean my words. I wanted to be of encouragement.
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Purple
what benefit do you get out of this?
and don't pull that 'I wish the best for my brother' crap again, that can't be the only reason
i'm at the edge of my sanity here
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Blue
You are not.
If you were truly at the edge of your sanity, everything would be beginning to fall into place.
Noah Peterson would be here with you.
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His heart dropped to his stomach. There, it seemed to settle in a state of acute, nausea-triggering unease. Leo's breath escaped him as one hand shot up to cover his mouth. His fingers trembled as he tried typing out a reply.
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Purple
how do u know abt noah
tell me right now or i'll block u
i wish i could threaten better than that but i don't know anything else about u
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Blue
:( Leonardo Diaz, I thought I told you already. I have no desire to hurt you.
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Purple
well what about noah?? how do you even know about noah??
if anything happened to him my life would be over
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Blue
Do not stress yourself any further, Leonardo Diaz. I would never dream of laying a finger on the boy. I swear to you I am no one to be feared.
I would like to ask, how is Noah Peterson doing?
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Purple
he's fine, and he had better stay that way
what else do you know about him, huh? do you have his profile stored somewhere too?
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Blue
I know that he is your dear friend, Leonardo Diaz, which is why I am simply concerned for his well-being as I am for yours.
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Purple
he's...fine...away from my hellish life which I think is good for him...
but I miss him
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Blue
I sympathize for these feelings of yours, Leonardo Diaz. Wishing to be with someone who cannot be with you must be unpleasant.
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Purple
you wouldn't be speaking from experience, would you?
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Blue
Me? Haha! Of course not. I said 'sympathize', not 'empathize'.
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Purple
two letter difference
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Blue
Haha, this is true.
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Purple
how do you know noah
his blood is normal, he can't possibly have any significance to you
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Blue
Leonardo Diaz, everything concerning your life is significant to me.
Understand that I am as happy not to be alone as you are.
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Those words struck him. In his heart still sitting uncomfortably low in his chest, his heart which brawled incessantly with his ribcage because it couldn't bear another minute in the pool of anxiety it bled for itself.
This claim of Blue's. The first entirely believable thing she had said, and something Leo could deeply relate to, no less. It added plausibility to everything else, as reluctant Leo was to accept that.
It made sense.
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Blue
Although, I cannot say I am happy you know the suffering, Leonardo Diaz.
If anything, I wish that aspect could have been shielded from you.
So in that regard, I will admit to you, I do empathize. And I am truly sorry.
Truly, earnestly sorry.
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Purple
okay that's enough apologizing it's weird
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Blue
I am only expressing my feelings, Leonardo Diaz.
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Purple
oh so you have those
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Blue
Haha! You have a wonderful sense of humor.
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Purple
right...
i'm going to bed
unless you have anything of importance you wish to add
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Blue
Not at the moment.
I bid you good night, Leonardo Diaz. Sleep well.
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He wasn't fond of the conflicting feelings. But with how things were going, with both Savannah and Blue, Leo knew he would have to accept and get used to them sooner or later.
He lay his head on the small pillow he always kept on the couch.
Savannah had texted him some time in the midst of his conversation with Blue, and at this point Leonardo didn't have it in himself to ignore the girl anymore. At least not easily.
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Not_the_desert
i hope you feel better soon leo :)
i'll see you tomorrow
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Leo.nardo
good night