#i think that's enough tags. i keep rambling a lot recently bjbjb (also this will appear in atwfd but with another wording. why bc i can 🤪)

[saintchaser]

"hey," marlene sighed, sitting down on the plastic chair next to sirius. "how is he?"

"he hasn't woken up yet." his voice was unusually empty, drained of all emotion and, taking a look at him, she noticed his eyes were red, and his eyeliner was smudged. "pomfrey says he's got a concussion, and that it'd be better for him to rest for now."

"mcgonagall said that she's not going to give me detention." she smiled, trying to defuse the tension. "she told me to keep her updated on how james is feeling."

they sat in silence for a while. they weren't like that; neither sirius, nor marlene were cried over people. they felt all emotions so deeply, coursing through their veins as easily as blood did. they burnt them away, until they were just ash. but they never hurt and mourned people.

maybe that'd be the start.

james would be okay. marlene knew he would, because he was the sun, and the sun always sets and rises. it's the circle of life, it's the very obvious, and nothing can change that. the sun would be their light for so many more years, and if, between herself and him, marlene had to choose someone to die, she would have chosen herself. because james potter was the sun, and people needed him more than they would ever need her.

the bitter reality sunk in the bit of her belly, deep and heavy.

"i can't lose him," sirius said, barely above a whisper.

"sorry?" she looked at him.

"he's the only family i've got left. i can't afford to lose him too." his voice was strained with emotion, and marlene felt the need to hug him; she had, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder.

"he's going to be fine. the sun will rise no matter what, remember?" she asked, smiling, but felt tears welling up in her eyes. "he's going to be okay. he'll be okay."

he has to. the sun always rises again, until it doesn't anymore, and marlene hoped that that moment wouldn't be her last sunny day.