The Harlequin's Curse

      Have you ever felt alive, but dead at the same time? No? Lucky. Or maybe you know what it's like to be the happiest person in the world, but at the same time shudder with fear that in reality you are just a placeholder in this world? Also no? Yeah, you are really lucky. Or maybe at least once wanted to fall through the ground from the horror of the unknown and never appear again? Missed again? Okay-okay, I get it, you really do live a good life if this has never really happened to you. But now we should remember the one whose life decided to play a cruel joke on her. Or rather, dozens of cruel jokes at once.     Trembling hands, a wildly pounding heart, heavy and abrupt breathing. And of course... the softest hazel hair. It's not hard to guess who we are talking about – Luan. The girl whose life turned upside down in just a couple of days. A girl whose true appearance, famous for its positivity and humor, was locked behind an impenetrable clown mask, bright makeup and a cheerful costume. Everyone saw her as a real angel who was ready to do everything so that no one was sad and there was only laughter and joy everywhere. Such people are loved. Such people are appreciated. But unfortunately, they are loved and appreciated only temporarily. Meanwhile, the titanium mask hiding all the ailments cracked, the makeup spread across her face, and the costume came apart at the seams. Nothing could withstand real thoughts, and the monument to a joyful utopia crumbled.     And what now? Now poor Luan is lying on her bed, and in her room stands a tall albino in a bright shirt. The very one she was so afraid of and looked forward to meeting at the same time. Lincoln was more than a brother to her. He was much closer, like a beloved little brother, the most loyal friend and a true protector all rolled into one. What if something else...?     – How are you feeling? – asked the confused boy, trying not to show that he was no less scared. The question brought Luan out of her trance, after a slight tilt of her head and a look turned away in shame, the answer followed:     – I'm... fine. More or less okay, – she answered, still feeling ashamed and trying to find something to hold her gaze on, but her eyes only ran around the ward randomly. Lincoln began to slowly approach the bed, simultaneously examining the person lying on it. Approaching one of the small chairs left by the parents, he carefully sat down on the one closest to his sister's bed and lowered his gaze.     – You...ah, forgive me, – the white-haired guy began, – then I should have... should have paid more attention to you. Luan instantly understood how her parents felt when they heard her apology. Guilt, misunderstanding, and regret flooded her heart at once. She wanted to rush to her brother right then and there, hug him as tightly as possible, and cry into his shoulder, denying his guilt. But Luan couldn't move, her body seemed to have turned to stone, and her brain drowned out such urges. "You still don't know how he feels about you now", – the thought flashed through her head. This was enough to freeze in fear and only mumble the only words on her tongue.     – Link, what are you saying... this is not your fault, – the girl repeated in a quiet and trembling voice, trying to convey this to her brother.     – Whatever you say, but still, – Lincoln sighed heavily. – Okay, the main thing is that you're alive. And you will recover. How long will they keep you here? Luan wanted to answer this question, but she didn't know how long she would have to hang around here. They seemed to be taking care of her health, and it was still scary and embarrassing to go back to her home and look her family in the eye, but she also didn't want to stay here for more than a few weeks.     – I don't know, but they told me that I'll definitely be lying here for a while. Maybe a couple of days, or maybe…, – the girl swallowed nervously, – a couple of weeks, or even months. The albino looked up at her, hearing the last words, and tensed up, slightly squeezing his wrist.     – I wouldn't want to.     – You wouldn't want what? – Luan looked at him questioningly, not hiding her genuine surprise.     – I wouldn't want you to be kept here for so long. Our home has become too quiet without you, – Lincoln said, smiling weakly at the corners of his lips, glancing at his little sister. The latter almost lit up with joy, but restrained herself. "It still might not be so. There's no need to rush", – another dark thought entered the girl's head. She tried to throw them away, but it didn't quite work. Okay, she was used to this. Especially now she shouldn't think about it at all, there was little time to talk to Link.     – I wish I could believe it, – Luan answered with the same weak smile, even slightly spreading out on the bed. The morning was unusually bright and early, which made it seem freezing and, to some extent, hypnotizing. The bright sun illuminated almost the entire ward with blinding poisonous orange rays, and a cool breeze blew from the slightly open window, rare gusts of which made one shrink and wrap oneself tighter in a warm blanket.     – Luan, this may sound too strange, but why me? – Lincoln asked, quietly exhaling and pursing his lips, but in response he received only an incomprehensible look from his coffee eyes. – I mean, why did you want to see me? Not Luna, not anyone else, but me? Her heart quickened and breathing became even heavier after that question. There was no specific answer to this question, even a vague answer was difficult to form. Maybe a dream last night? It was unlikely that it was the reason for such a desire. They had always been very close, maybe this. Maybe this, but again – this is not the main thing. No, there was something more, a much more compelling reason, which Luan couldn't understand yet. Or didn't want to. But why was he interested in this?     – I ... I just ... I don't know, I thought that ... you and I have always had a very warm relationship. We were not just brother and sister, we were almost best friends, – the girl said in a trembling voice. – We had no secrets from each other, we always shared everything. And that's why I... I chose you. Lincoln listened to everything, nodding his head, and then reached out and gently stroked the bandaged palm, trying not to press too hard on the already tight bandages. Luan froze in surprise and stared at her brother, not fully understanding his actions.     – Thank you, – whispered the albino, whose stone face of calm began to crumble, and the corners of his lips rose higher and higher. – Thank you for this. All the bad thoughts flew out of the girl's head, and she sobbed, covering her brother's hand with her palm. A few tears rolled down her cheeks, and her other hand reached for Lincoln, who quickly realized what to do. Getting up from his chair and coming even closer, he sat down on one knee to be level with the low bed and the outstretched hand, and hugged Luan as carefully and tenderly as the situation and the devices with sensors hanging in clusters nearby allowed. Disheveled chocolate-colored curls gently wrapped around the guy's shoulder, and his bandaged hands clasped behind his back. It immediately reminded the girl of Benny – how he calmed her down just last night. But now everything was more tender, dearer, more pleasant. Everything was... better? Yes, much better.     – I will never leave you, – Lincoln said quietly. – Never ever. The tears, barely holding back until this moment, flowed from Luan's dark eyes. She squeezed her hands tighter, sobbing loudly, and buried her face in her little brother's neck. His words were like daggers through the heart of the defenseless girl. It was hard to accept – she had basically betrayed him and brushed off all his help, and he continued to protect her, promising to never leave her alone. It made the girl feel like an even bigger bastard, but it didn't matter now. She was fine now. She was safe now.     – Lincoln, you're… the best brother in the world, – Luan whispered, continuing to burst into tears. – Please, never forget that. And forgive me… Please… Only a few minutes of hugging had passed, but for these two it seemed like an eternity. The tears stopped flowing from her eyes and dried up, the sobs were replaced by rare sniffles, and the girl's head lay like a glove on his strong shoulder. Link carefully placed her small bandaged palm on the bed and began to stroke Luan's head, smoothing out her unruly hazel hair. Peace – that's how it could be described in one word. No one wanted to interrupt the touches that were so necessary right now, because of which the head didn't think about anything, the body burned in agony and relaxed, and the heart no longer beat in the rhythm of such a chaotic and frantic fear. Heavy eyelids dropped, hundreds of thousands of burning sparks raged inside the lungs, muscles and brain, the mind became clouded as if each had taken a multi-colored pill from a slyly smiling stranger in one of the Miami clubs. Now they wanted only one thing – to stop time, to forget about everything in the world and enjoy it endlessly. In an instant, this became their secret dream, but, like most sincere desires, it was not destined to come true.     Luan was forced to leave the astral plane of pleasure by the quiet sound of the opening door, which wouldn't have made her move even an inch, even if she could. Benny's head poked into the room, he immediately saw the couple and froze in place. He didn't want to ruin such a touching moment, although Luan thought for a second that for the first time in a long time something negative appeared on Stein's tired face – discontent, anger and... jealousy? She even saw something resembling a grin for a second, but most likely it seemed to her – the guy had hardly slept for several days, so it was just from fatigue. Probably.     Meanwhile, Benny's hands appeared from behind the door – first he pointed to his watch, then raised his hand with five fingers, after which he nodded and disappeared behind the door. Lincoln didn't notice or hear the arrival of the "uninvited" guest at all, he only continued to hug his sister, stroking her on the top of her head. "Only five minutes left? How quickly time flew by", – Luan thought sadly and decided to talk to Link about her sisters in the end. After all, this was also very important, she was unlikely to see them in the next few days. With great reluctance, she extricated herself from the tender embrace, spending a lot of effort and breaking off a small piece of her heart.     – Link, how are... how are the sisters? – Luan asked, sniffling.     – Quite gloomy, even for Lucy. But they seemed to perk up when they found out you were awake, – Lincoln said, sitting back down on the chair, biting his lip and looking away.     – So they already know, – the girl became noticeably sad, pulling her knees up to her body and hugging them with her hands.     – Yeah, is something wrong?     – No, it's just..., – a languid silence hung in the room for a second, – I think they were upset that I chose you and not one of them. They probably think it's unfair.     – Most don't think so, – Lincoln objected, pursing his lips, to which he received a very surprised look in response. – Lori and Leni were kicking me to the car, so they definitely understand everything, – he grinned, laughing nervously. Luan didn't take her dumbfounded eyes off her brother, understanding what he was getting at.     – Most, but not all... huh?     – Luna, Lynn and Lola are still somewhat unhappy about what happened, – the guy answered with a heavy sigh. – The last two will give you a real interrogation and give you a bunch of lectures on the topic of "What were you thinking when you did that?", you know them. But Luna... She seems really... disappointed? I don't know what word to choose, – Lincoln finished, realizing that the news was not very cheerful.     – Yeah... I should have expected that, – Luan muttered, resting her head on her knees and almost curled up into a ball. Her disheveled hair hung like curtains on her temples and covered her saddened face.     – Hey, what's wrong? – asked the albino, reaching out and placing his hand on his sister's knee. – You don't think she doesn't love you anymore, do you? In response, he received only silence, the girl's head only buried itself even more in her knees.     – Luan, no one has stopped loving you, it's just... Luna was a little traumatized by this. But she'll come to her senses and everything will be fine, I promise you, – Lincoln reassured the girl. Luan raised her head and looked into his eyes with hope. Her brother had never deceived any of his sisters – if he promised, then he would do it, no matter what it took. But now it seemed to her that Lincoln had no control over this situation. He couldn't get into the rocker's head and change her attitude towards Luan, could he? Or maybe could...? This doubt made the girl believe the words he had said at least a little.     – Okay. Okay. I really hope so, – she squeezed out a quiet cry. She really wanted everything to go back to normal. Like before. Like just a week ago.     – That's great, everything will be fine, – Lincoln said with a smile at the corners of his lips, as the door opened and a familiar guy in a more or less neat robe walked in.     – I hate to interrupt you, but time is running out, – said Benny, rubbing the barely noticeable bags under his eyes. – They're waiting for you in the hallway, Lincoln.     – Yeah, yeah, of course, – the latter said with a sigh, getting up from his chair. – Thank you, Luan, – Link continued with a slight smile and tenderness at the same time, – this is really very important to me. Confidently approaching, he reached out his hand to the figure on the bed and pulled her to himself. The white-haired boy suddenly came closer, and soft lips kissed the girl on the very top of her curly light-chocolate curls. The lucky girl blushed crimson, not fully realizing what had just happened.     – I'll always be there, sunshine, – Lincoln whispered smiling, moving back to the door. – You can be sure of that. And by the way – you really suit your loose hair, you're so cute with it. With these words, he pulled the handle and left the room, smiling once more for the last time. Immediately after his departure, Luan sank deep into herself and her thoughts. "He... he just kissed me on the top of my head... But why is it so... nice? And these phrases... What's happening to me?", – the girl couldn't understand, running her eyes around the entire room. The only brother in the family had kissed her and the other sisters «in a native way» before, it was completely normal, and no one had ever refused, much less been against it. But now... now it was especially pleasant, especially gentle, especially caring, it was somehow... Oh no, stop... Luan caught herself thinking a not very pleasant thought, which either scared her, or upset her, or both at once. Luckily, Benny was standing next to her, who brought her out of her stupor:     – Luan, are you okay? It took the girl a few seconds to remember where she was and what was going on. Coming out of her trance, she shook her head and lightly massaged her temples, trying to gather herself from the spread jelly into something resembling a person.     – Yes, yes, I'm... okay. Everything is okay.     – Are you sure? – Benny asked warily, his face now clearly showing an unkind mood.     – Yes, I think... yes, I'm sure, – Luan answered, gathering her strength, trying not to show it. In fact, her thoughts had never jumped around like that before – the questions "Why?", "What has changed?" and "Is it really true?" were jumping like grasshoppers, and she couldn't catch them. And even if she could, there was simply no answer to any of them. The completely confused person could hardly answer the simplest question, not to mention what was really worrying her now.     – Okay, then I have news for you, – Benny continued, looking at the door with displeasure, – your head doctor assessed the results of the tests and analyses, his conclusion is that we are ready to discharge you in a couple of days, but with one condition – you need to leave a phone number for communication, in the future we have psychological consultations planned. The specifics of the disease, all that stuff, I think you understand, – the curly-haired guy said, leafing through some papers. Luan, who just a few dozen minutes ago wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible, was now afraid and nervous from this news.     – Do you agree to this? – Benny asked, putting the tablet with documents aside. The poor girl was completely confused by her thoughts, whose eyes were feverishly jumping from object to object. After a few seconds, she finally managed to calm down, she lowered her eyelids and took a deep breath, mentally listing all the pros and cons. And no matter what cons she found, they couldn't outweigh the huge plus that stood across all the other thoughts.     – I agree. And yes, I will have one request. A rather... unusual request.

"And this is her request? How interesting. It's strange that among all her thoughts I can't find an answer to this question – why does she need this? Am I weakening? No, nonsense. I'm just playing with her, nothing more. Okay, Luan, let's wait. Sooner or later, you will crack. And then it will become clear... where did such a reverent attitude towards your hair come from?"