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Knock, knock, knock.
“Pure Vanilla Cookie…? It’s Black Raisin Cookie. May I come in?”
She waited.
And waited.
Nothing. Just like the past week.
Like clockwork, Black Raisin Cookie would come knock on the door to Pure Vanilla Cookie’s chambers and she would never receive a reply. Regardless, she would go in anyway, often holding a plate of freshly-baked bread with her crow carrying a glass of water by its beak.
Every time she came back later, she would only find small bites in the loaf, and the glass only half empty.
The only times she saw Pure Vanilla Cookie ‘out and about’ were when she would take a passing glance into the garden and see him sitting under the vanilla gazebo, looking off into the vast field of lilies he’d cultivated over the years.
Yet even those instances were rare, as she’d mostly find him laying in bed. Not even sleeping either, no. She checked. Multiple times, she had checked. He was always just…staring at the wall, with those glossy and sunken eyes that pierced Black Raisin Cookie’s heart like a harpoon.
In the past, even during his darkest hours, Pure Vanilla Cookie would still be roaming the kingdom, offering his hand to anybody that needed the help. That Pure Vanilla Cookie had been long gone for a while. Nowadays, he was more akin to a breathing corpse than the philanthropic king he had once been.
Knowing firsthand how grief can consume someone, Black Raisin Cookie had been giving him his space. But after a full week, with barely any word from him or even any sign he was taking care of himself…
She sighed and turned the knob.
A stray ray of sun shined through the closed curtains, illuminating the dust-covered floor. However, the rest of the room was dark, save for the vase of lilies that sat a short distance from Pure Vanilla Cookie’s bedside. Its petals glistened in the light, its majesty harshly contrasting with the rest of the room.
On the large bed in the center of the chambers lay Pure Vanilla Cookie, hidden beneath the uneven covers as always. She couldn’t see him since he was under the blankets, but she deduced from the positioning of the lumps beneath that he was facing towards the lily vase. A pang of sympathy briefly tugged at her heart, but she regained her composure and quietly walked in.
“Hey, buddy. Are you still alive under there?” She joked in a failed attempt at lightening the mood. Pure Vanilla Cookie curled in on himself further under the covers.
“Don’t wanna talk, huh…” She muttered, but sat near him on the bed nevertheless. “Suppose I’ll just be talking to myself here then. There’s been a meeting in the kingdom between the Ancient Heroes, and I went in your stead. I…hope you don’t mind.” She shifted into a comfortable position, crossing her legs while her crow rested on her head.
“Things have been doing well after our victory. The Cookies who took part in the fight have been steadily recovering, and they've been working hard on fixing the destruction caused. Apparently, the Licorice Sea in the Dark Cacao Kingdom has calmed as well, if only slightly. Hollyberry Cookie seemed in high spirits too. Golden Cheese Cookie…” she trailed off, “she didn’t show up. I’m guessing she’s busy making sure her kingdom is safe. I’m sure she’ll be fine, though. She’s strong, in more ways than one.”
“As for how we’re doing,” she went on, “I think you’ll be happy to know that we’ve been taking care of things around the kingdom in your absence. Watering the garden, taking care of the citizens, helping out Strawberry Crepe Cookie in their lab…everything’s been running smooth as meringue.” Her smile faded and she looked away.
“But…even then, your absence is still felt within the kingdom. I’ve had Vanillians come up to me, asking me when you’ll be coming back out. I would always tell them you’d be out soon, but at some point it became less of a matter of convincing them and more of a matter of convincing myself.” She fiddled with the paper clip holding her cape in place. “I’ve been trying to give you the space you need but all that’s done is allow you to continue destroying yourself.” She gave a shaky sigh.
“I…I just can’t let that happen any longer. I shouldn’t have let it go on so long in the first place.” She put her hand on what she assumed to be his shoulder. “I’m saying this as your friend, Pure Vanilla Cookie. I know it’s hard, but you need to let us help you.” She blinked away the wetness gathering in her eyes. “Please…we all miss you.”
She waited.
And waited.
Nothing.
Black Raisin Cookie breathed deeply and took her hand off, shaking her head. She moved to the edge of the bed and went to hop down before a hand gripped her arm tightly. She looked back, and felt her gut twist.
Pure Vanilla Cookie, the once oh-so sweet and serene Pure Vanilla Cookie, was a downright mess. His blonde hair was disheveled and clogged with split ends. His sunken blue and yellow eyes were reddened from tears that continued to trail dark lines down his face, which was twisted into a desperate, sorrowful grimace. His voice was rough and crackly—a stark contrast to his usual smooth and calming voice—and with that voice he uttered three words that shattered Black Raisin Cookie’s heart.
“Please…p-please stay…”