The following day, Eden didn't go to school. She lounged around the apartment after waking up, too numb to feel the cold of the still open window and too occupied in her own mind to realize it. She knew she had to get a job, or any way to get money. Walking around town proved to be pointless- she never had a job, she didn't know how to job hunt.

So as she did in any situation she didn't know the solution to; she went to her grandmother. Nana Eeks always knew what to do, she always had a solution and she was always right.

Walking to the front desk, the lady immediately recognized her and lead her through dozens of white halls, passing through endlessly many white doors. For a hospital, it was strangely silent; nothing sounded except their footsteps.

Standing in front of the door with '425' written neatly in black, Eden felt dizzy. The woman entered, though Eden needed a breath before she saw how her grandmother really was. In the weeks she's been here, when Eden visited she was always sleeping. She slowly pushed open the door, looking at the spotless floor as she walked in, thinking that it was a crime to let her in with her dirty sneakers.

She heard beeps. She heard the nurse's footsteps. She heard coughing.

Looking up, she met the faded grey eyes of her grandmother. Taking cautious steps towards her, she sat at the chair next to her bed. The nurse left the room, giving them some privacy.

"Hi," Eden whispered. "I missed you."

Nana didn't reply. She just looked at Eden, her expression not changing.

"It's pretty lonely without you, you know. I was job hunting this morning. That didn't go well. And before you ask, yes, I'm taking my medication," she lied. "There is nothing left, nana. I don't know how I'll pay your surgery. I promise I'll give my best. There is no fight to lose until it's lost, right? You've always told me that."

Eden noticed her grandmother was looking at her with curiosity. There was no look she always gave her when she rambled, and there was no sign of any emotion on her face.

"What?" Eden asked.

"Miss... Who are you?" nana asked. Eden's breath hitched.

"Nana, it's me... I'ts your granddaughter, Eden," she said, pointing to herself.

"You're not my Eden," nana said. "She's dead, like all of them are."

"Nana what are you saying?" Eden interjected.

"Don't call me that. Who are you?"

"I told you-"

"You're not my granddaughter," the woman said louder, and Eden's heart was in a frenzy. Her own grandmother didn't remember her. The only person in her life didn't remember her.

The nurse rushed in, seeing as nana was starting to lose conscience. She ushered Eden out. Her hand was placed over her heart, tears welling up in her eyes.

"She doesn't remember me," she whispered. There was more footsteps coming down the hallway as Eden slid down the wall and onto the cold floor. As her knees hit the ground, she let out a strangled cry.

Someone sat on their knees in front of her, asking something, but she couldn't hear.

"She does't remember me," was all Eden managed to choke out. Her heart was breaking.

"She's all I have and... She can't even remember me," she whispered, her voice cracking. She was engulfed in a tight hug as she cried, the person rocking her back and forth.

Right now, she didn't care. She didn't care she was crying again, and she didn't care she was crying to Ace. She didn't care about anything right now; she just needed someone. Anyone. And he was there.

But that's not the part that touched her most. It was that no one was ever there. And now this boy she barely even knew held her for hours to no end, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of happiness.

He was there.

+

 She heard the phone ringing in the distance, but her body was unable to move; paralyzed, she engulfed the warmth around her- something she didn't feel in a fairly long time.

"Yes?" a familiar voice answered it. Though she had no intention of listening in the conversation, she found herself doing exactly that.

"I'm sorry, she's not available at the moment. can I take a message?" There was a pause. "I'll tell her, no worries."

+