"Hanako, are you sure you want to do this?" I inquire, facing the general direction of her voice.

Silence reigns supreme for the slightest of seconds. Hanako tightens her grip on my arm, then as quickly as she did, and relaxes again. She lets go of my arm and I hear a small click behind me. I'm guessing it was the door lock. Extending my cane, I tap around for the edge of her bed. A soft thunk confirms that it isn't too far away. I lower myself onto the bed, sitting on top of the blanket.

The soft, hushed tone of her voice breaks the silence abruptly.

"Y-yes. Lilly, I'm ready to let y-you now."

"As long as you are sure, Hanako. I don't want you doing this if you aren't ready." A warm smile spreads across my face.

I hear tiny footsteps heading towards my direction, increasingly louder with every step. Hanako must be right in front of me. She takes my hand tightly for a brief moment before retracting her grasp.

"I-I want to do this. Even if... I-I'm scared. I want you to see the rest of m-me. No matter how sc-scarred and ugly I am."

I tense up at those last few words. Even if I've heard them many times before, every time hurts as much as the last one.

"Hanako, you are a beautiful person, don't ever think otherwise."

The sound of rustling cloth reaches my ears, and I feel a slight weight lower onto the bed next to me.

I outstretch my hand for her. She softly grips it in hers and acts as my guide.

"T-This is me. M-My other half of my b-body."

My fingers brush against her as I feel a rough, leather-like texture.

Oh my.

My heart sinks and I feel my throat start to tighten.

I never knew she was burned this badly. I can only imagine the pain.

I swallow back my emotions as she continues.

I brush across her delicate form, my dear Hanako. She guides me to her shoulder, the same rough, scarred texture as before. I trace down her back as she lets me, now knowing almost exactly where she is, guide myself.

Her pain, her memories, her scars.

Her isolation from her peers, the name calling, the loneliness.

Her parent's love as they shielded her from the blaze.

I place my hand on the right side of her face, for the first time. Mismatched lines and scars all brush under my hand as I take it in.

All of this is her.

My best friend.

I retract my hand, and smile at her.

I can finally see her now. I can finally know what she looks like in my mind.

I motion to my eyes, and then motion back to hers.

"I can see you now."

My smile widens.

"I can finally fully see this beautiful person."

I hug her tighter than usual, and she returns the favour, slightly startled.

"Thank you, Hanako."

After a brief farewell, I exit her room and quickly hasten into my dorm room.

The first thing I feel as I reach my bed is the warm, wet feeling of tears running down my face.
Even though things in the past cannot be changed, I cry, clinging to a hope that every single day I'm by her side I make it better for her.

I'm so sorry.

I cry for my best friend, more aware than ever of what happened to cause a thing like this.

I cry and cry until the cool embrace of sleep takes me away.