Chapter 1: Prologue
Chapter Text
Juney walked alone on the sidewalk, sneaking glances at the people on the streets. She had just left her boyfriend's apartment complex, feeling completely humiliated. Today was supposed to be perfect, with it being her 21st birthday and all. Yet, it was shit from the beginning.
That morning, she was awoken with the news of her firing from Valdivian, technically “job limbo” but she may as well be unemployed. Despite that, she had something to look forward to. Her boyfriend had made dinner reservations at her favorite restaurant later that day. The type of restaurant that requires a booking months in advance.
She waited in her apartment for his arrival. First, it was 10 minutes, then 30. Then those 30 minutes turned into an hour passed the agreed pick up time. He wasn't texting or calling her back. Fed up with the lack of communication, she decided to see for herself what was going on. The bastard never answered his door when she knocked…Her first (and probably last) boyfriend of 3 years broke up with her.
Juney gripped her phone within the purse, contemplating messaging her one and only friend, Sam.
I don't want to bother her with my problems.
She aimlessly trudged along the street, losing track of time as she drowned in her thoughts. She couldn't go back to her apartment, not when the oppressive silence was waiting for her. A cold breeze hit her face, causing a shiver to roll down her spine. She hugged her body tighter as she continued walking the full streets.
She wasn't supposed to be alone like this. She was supposed to be with him. She wanted to look her best, be her best, so he wouldn't be embarrassed about being seen with her.
She had donned her favorite outfit. A red oversized sweater, a black pencil skirt that hugged her hips, and knee-high black heeled boots that increased her height. She took extra care with her makeup, too. Eyeliner that was drawn on with precision, cute false lashes that extended her own, and a soft tint that accentuated her lips. She completed the look with her glasses.
She did all of this to be beautiful, to feel good, and to feel worthy of his love. Hours of preparation and effort only for him to ghost her.
A couple of droplets were felt on her head. Juney looked up to see the once clear night sky turn muggy and gray. It was like God hated her or something. She ran for cover as the droplets became a drizzle. Finally finding shelter underneath a park gazebo, she collapsed onto the bench. Her legs trembled from the sudden use. The cold breeze that passed through the dampened clothes shocked Juney’s body, instinctively retreating her arms within the sweater to contain her body heat. The rain only became worse, turning into a downpour soon enough.
Juney slipped her phone out of her purse, needing a distraction from her current situation. But instead, she was fully reminded, catching a glimpse of herself in the reflection. Her bangs were sticking to her forehead, ironed curls were deflated from the wetness, her eyeliner was melting down her face, and her lashes were halfway off her eyelids.
Tears begin to well up in Juney's eyes, droplets clinging to her ducts before releasing, creating streaks in her foundation. No longer feeling beautiful, her mask of confidence was disappearing.
All of it was awful.
A vibration went off. Quickly, she turned her phone on, fumbling with her password due to her hands being frozen solid. She stared at the notification, half expecting a lengthy apology from her boyfriend, but...it was from...her parents.
Juney was alone. Her home was empty despite being filled to the brim with objects. She trailed her hands along the walls, taking note of all the bumps and dimples as she made her way to the kitchen. A singular plate was placed on top of the table, holding a singular note. At closer inspection, the note contained familiar handwriting.
Hi sweetie! Your daddy and mommy will be gone for the weekend. Food is in the fridge, and you know how to use the microwave. Make sure you lock the door!
Love Daddy & Mommy
The note was written in neat, perfect, cursive…almost too perfect.
Creak
A sound that was too close. Startled, she whipped her head behind her, only to be faced with a mirror. The rest of the kitchen quickly dissolved, leaving her to float in a black void. The mirror showed…a younger version of herself…maybe 6? The expression on her face was unreadable. Constantly flickering between different emotions, it settled into a pleasant smile. The corners of her lips slightly lifted, her head slightly tilted to the side, and her eyes crinkled at the edges. It’s a smile that was often displayed by her, perfectly curated. Juney was frozen in place, forced to stare at her younger self. All of a sudden, the girl in the mirror began to age rapidly. Her height increased as her face became more haggard. Despite it all, the expression remained the same. 8, 10, 15, 23, her body deteriorated as the age climbed.
Stop
She attempted to plead, yet her lips wouldn’t budge
Stop it
The body became more frail.
She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to look.
“Please..”
She said as her lips released, taking shallow breaths.
Despite not opening her eyes, the figure within the mirror appeared before her. It was…her, but…shriveled. Thin skin clung to the bones, no muscle or fat cushioning the sharp edges. Her eyes now lay lifeless within the form, clouded over and sunken in. Her expression wasn’t the pleasant smile from earlier. It was now a subtle frown. A frown that framed her lifeless expression with sadness.
Juney woke up to a throbbing headache and wetness coating her cheeks. She swiped at the tear trails as the pain thrummed through her entire being as she was coming to. Despite her body needing more sleep, her mind kept racing.
Memories of last night were patchy, only remembering getting an Uber…and her parents. Juney reached for her glasses, then her phone, staring at the screen. She mentally cursed at the time, 6:08 a.m., as she unlocked her phone. Her fingers led her straight to last night's message, her parents asking her to house sit for a year. She bit her lip as she reread the message again and again.
She needed to get ready; she had to start packing. Not to mention, discuss the payment situation with Sam.
Juney rose out of her bed, leaning against the wall. Black dots danced across her vision as she felt her legs buckle. With a groan, she forced her lower half to move towards the door. Despite the jerky movements, she was close to closing the distance, until a piece of clothing caught her foot. A loud thud.
Quick footsteps made their way to Juney's room door, followed by light knocking.
"You alright in there?" Sam asked, concern lacing her tone.
Speak of the devil
"Mhm’fine" Juney's response was muffled by the floor.
A sound of a door creaking with more footsteps greeted Juney's ears. When the sounds came to a stop, two hands gripped her arms.
"Come on! Up you go!" Sam encouraged as she attempted to hoist Juney up. The girl groaned as she was lifted from her face-plant position, putting strength in her legs to put less weight on Sam. “Crazy night huh?” Sam chuckled at her disheveled state.
"Yeah…." A raspy reply left her lips, eyes squinted to try and adjust to the light. "Drank too much..." She lied, trying to give context to her sorry state.
"Jeez! Take it easy next time, would you?" Sam said in a joking manner, letting Juney know that she bought the act.
Her eyes were now fully open, letting go of Sam's stabilizing grip, reassuring her that she could stand on her own. Readjusting her glasses, Juney makes eye contact with her. A sigh of relief escaped her roommate's lips.
"So...about yesterday, were you...one of the 'affected' people?" An awkward smile was painted on her usually positive expression.
Juney sighed, massaging her cranium from the massive headache that was Valdivian. She nodded.
"Hey...I'm sorry about...um...the job..." Sam's voice trailed off.
"No sweat." A dejected mumble was heard from Juney.
"Yeah...but-"
"It's fine!" Juney snapped, losing her composure.
Sam's eyes widened with surprise at the sudden outburst. Juney hasn't yelled in a long time, and she's never yelled at or in front of Sam. Sucking on her cheek, Juney looked down to avoid eye contact. She didn't want to cry in front of her.
"Sorry..." Juney said apologetically. "It's been a long night." A pause. She was thinking about her next sentence, wanting to omit as many details about last night. "After I got the news...my parents texted-"
"THEY TEXTED?!" Her eyes widened with shock, like that information was the craziest thing she's ever heard.
"Yeah. They wanted me to house sit for a year.” Juney's hand rubbed at the back of her neck, a nervous tic she adopted from somewhere. “I was gonna tell you about this when you woke up so we could discuss the payment plan."
"Girl..." Sam started with a serious tone. "It's fine! You honestly don't have to pay anything. I can just…find a temp roommate to cover for you!"
Juney relaxed mentally, thankful that Sam wasn't digging for more details about her birthday. She met her eyes once more. "I can't have you do that. This is way too last-minute..."
Her face was filled with optimism." Think of it as me repaying you back. It was my fault for getting you the job that you immediately got fired from." Sam grinned humorlessly at the situation. "When do you have to leave?”
"A week from now. I have to pack up everything in my room."
"No problem! How about we start now!"
Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home
Summary:
Juney comes home to see her parents.
Notes:
Slight CW: Juney's parents briefly make fun of her weight.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Juney pulled the car up to her childhood home, parking beside the curb. Nothing seemed to have changed. The realization set in. This’ll be her first real interaction with her parents after she graduated. Her heart’s beat slowly built up, the vibrations reverberating in her head. Eyes darted around in an attempt to focus on her surroundings, vision blurring, however, as she felt the car closing in. The seatbelt became suffocating, clamping down on her chest, restricting movement.
“Hey! Are you okay?” Juney’s head spun towards Sam’s voice, landing on the figure in the passenger seat. She had woken from her nap, probably startled by the sudden noise. Her brow knitted as she studied the driver’s face.
“Y-yeah. Just nervous, I guess.” The response came out more strained than what Juney wanted. She looked back at the steering wheel, noticing how her knuckles had turned white from her grip. She released, feeling instant pins and needles plaguing her appendages. She didn’t register how shallow her breaths were until her brain had quieted down. Silence overtook the car.
“I’m sorry I woke you up,” Juney said apologetically, “and for freaking you out.” She chuckled, attempting to break the tension. She looked back at Sam, and her face remained strained. “Um…Thank you for lending me your car, too. I owe you one.” That last statement had snapped Sam out of her trance.
“What?! Don’t be sorry. You would’ve had to wake me up sooner or later.” A pause in her speaking. “And…I know how…your relationship is with your parents. I wanted to be here for you! Also, literally, do not worry about paying me back. If you do, I swear I will kill you!” She playfully nudged Juney, her tone was more lighthearted despite her expression remaining the same.
“Okay.” Juney responded, her face relaxing. She took a deep, calming breath and preened herself in the dashboard mirror. With one more breath, the car door clicked open.
She was worried about how her parents would perceive her. 4 years is more than enough time for someone to change. She’d like to think they’d be interested to know what’s happened since then. Despite earlier panic still lingering, anticipation rose, mind rapid fired scenarios of her catching up with them.
They'd want to talk with me before they left...right?
Making her way to the trunk, she heard the passenger door close.
“Let me help you with that.” Sam walked towards Juney, popping the back open. A lone suitcase was tucked in the corner. “I’m surprised at the lack of belongings we had to pack. Honestly, you could’ve finished by yourself in a couple of days.” She picked up the luggage, struggling to lift it out before plopping it onto the concrete as gently as possible. “Jeez! Did you fill it up with bricks while I wasn’t looking?” She huffed, out of breath.
Juney snickered at her remarks. “Maybe you need to work out them arms.” she smiled, feeling the most relieved she had been for a while. Sam’s arms suddenly enveloped Juney, slinking over her own and pulling her into a tight hug. She didn’t know how to react, leaving her arms to dangle at her side. They don’t do physical contact with each other, so this feeling, this sensation, was almost too overwhelming for Juney.
This past week has been tough. Dealing with this damned breakup alone isn’t for the weak. And the thought of seeing her parents drove her crazy, even if it was a good distraction from her ex. If Sam had chosen not to help Juney, she would have lost her god damn mind. She leaned into her touch, nestling her head to her chest. Before the water works arrived, the taller woman pulled away, meeting Juney’s gaze with a comforting smile. “Don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m one text away…”
Juney lugged her suitcase to the front porch, nervously looking behind her. Sam could be seen through the window, fisting a thumbs-up her way with an enthusiastic grin. Juney reciprocated that enthusiasm as best she could, ignoring the pounding in her chest. Facing the front door, she knocked. It didn’t take long for the door to open, swinging violently. On reflex, she stepped back to avoid it smashing her face in, only for her to almost trip on her suitcase. She regained her balance before ogling the woman before her.
Juney's mother looked the same as ever. Voluminous jet black hair framed her sharp features perfectly. Her downturned eyes, with beautiful hazel irises, were as alluring as ever. Her skin, despite showing some age, was flawless, not a visible pore or blemish in sight. She carried herself with poise, giving off a distinct regal aura, aged like a fine wine. She used to be a top model, traveling the world, before she had her.
Juney’s mouth went dry as her mother looked down at her. The only thing she had of her mother was her eyes, inheriting more of her father’s looks. She was paralyzed, all the words that were piled up now caught in her throat. Abruptly, her mother’s thin fingers wrapped around Juney’s wrist, pulling her inside the house. Juney glimpsed behind her once more, hoping to see Sam’s car, yet it had already left.
Regaining balance, she saw that they were situated within the living room. Before she could further inspect her surroundings, a silken voice graced her ears.
“You’re late.” Her mother chided, words conflicting with her voice. She turned her attention back to her mother, and a lump began to form in the pit of her stomach. The woman’s expression was stern, intimidating, yet familiar, her eyes boring into Juney. She was sporting a white high-neck sleeveless top, with khaki dress pants. Her heels and purse matched her black belt, pulling the look together. Beside her were 3 suitcases, one carry-on, and 2 large suitcases, which were color-coded.
They stood in silence for what felt like forever. Juney began to rub her neck, wanting to start a conversation but too nervous to say anything. Eventually, she cleared her throat, mentally preparing her sentences, when footsteps began rapidly approaching them. She stilled, her eyes following the source of the sound. Juney’s father eremerged from the staircase, the last carry-on trailing close behind him. He rushed towards Juney, but swerved last minute to her mother, planting a myriad of kisses on her face.
She awkwardly stood there, looking around the house for a distraction. Looking at him unnerved Juney, like staring into a reflection of herself. They both shared the same round face and moles, same locations. Additionally, they shared the same problems: slow metabolism, allergies, horrible eyesight, the list goes on. However, similarities ended there. His hair was in a low-maintenance, classic side-part with streaks of silver, but it had thinned out quite a bit at the top. He had light stubble lining his face, making him look scruffy. His eye bags didn’t help with his haggard appearance. He was a perfectly average man, but when compared to her mother, not so much. Because of his looks, people usually described them as an “odd couple”. Despite this, there was an air of authority around him that still caught others' attention. His clothes were the same color palette as her mother’s, except his top was a white polo, and he wasn’t wearing heels. They looked like old money.
He finally released his hold, the two now towering over Juney. "Wow, you've grown!” His voice was richer and smoother, drastically contrasting both looks and demeanor. “Not taller but..." He made a jester with his hand, pulling them apart vertically. "Wider." he said after a preganant pause. What he didn't have going for him in looks, he had in personality. At least, that’s what others said.
Juney's mother and father shared a hardy laugh.
"He’s right. You’re getting…bigger." Her mother attempted to stifle a snort, unsuccessfully. “Those clothes aren’t helping either…” surveying over Juney’s appearance, scoffing at her baggy band tee and jeans.
"Y-yeah..." Juney replied, voice cracking from the dryness. She looked away, feeling her face turn beet red, nails digging into her palm.
"You've made it just in time!" Her father bounced excitedly. "We need to leave right now! Thank you so much for coming." Her parents were practically halfway out the door as Juney's father was speaking. Juney’s head whipped back up, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.
"No-"
The door slammed shut. The jingling of keys and laughter could be heard in the distance, quickly fading into background noise.
"Problem..." Juney finished, letting out a shaky sigh. She felt like she’d collapse on the spot. Their attention, though short, was like a shot of dopamine. But their lack of interest quickly grounded her.
Juney bit her lip as she made her way to the front door, locking it and hearing the distant rumble of an engine. She felt the lump grow as her stomach clenched. The heat remained on her face, and a tingling sensation was felt in her tear ducts. Feeling her eyes well up, she took deep breaths and wiped the incoming tears.
Notes:
1 Kudos baby lets go! I hope y'all enjoyed this chapter (it was originally going to be the first one).
Please check out the playlist if you haven't already! (It's updating almost every day)
Chapter 3: Alone Again
Summary:
Mental breakdown time!
Chapter Text
Juney sat on the couch staring at her suitcase. She didn’t know how long she’d been sitting in silence for, but it was enough time to feel a dull ache bloom. If I'm going to do nothing, might as well do it in my room. A whine slipped out as she pushed herself up, massaging her backside to relieve the subtle soreness. Gripping the suitcase, she headed for the stairs.
“Damn, Sam was right.” She huffed, becoming winded with every step she took. When she made it to the top, she paused, staring at the ominous key settled upon the small shelf. She then turned her head to the attic door.
Juney had locked her room right before she left, not wanting her parents to snoop around while she was gone. Only she had the key, keeping it with her throughout the duration of her leave. She felt like weights were strapped to her ankles as she moved towards the door, an overwhelming sense of dread filling her core. She reached for the knob, her body stiffening as it turned without resistance. She stepped back, not ready to view the sight before her.
“I’ll leave you for later…” She said to herself, abandoning the suitcase by the door.
She ventured back downstairs, wandering around the house. It was fun to rediscover and examine all the rooms. Nothing had changed. Every object that was looked at was the same, maybe in even better condition than when she left. Juney bristled at the thought, that the house was being better cared for…more than her. A chuckle escaped her lips. Look at me…getting jealous of household objects.
Fingers delicately grazed the tops of tables and chairs, any flat surface she could get her hands on, recalling the feel and texture. Her nose was taking in the notes of familiarity. The earthy scent of the house, a hint of woodiness, wafted through the air. She stopped in the kitchen, wanting to check the stock. Empty. She sighed, realizing she’d need a job soon. Despite still being on the Valdivian payroll, her wage had decreased immensely, barely having enough money to live. Not to mention that she could be fired at any time if they decided she messed up. At least I have a year of free housing. That should be enough time to get my life back together!
Finished exploring the bottom floor, she made her way up the creaky steps. She peered into every room, except for her parents’, not paying any mind to the smaller details…until. She backtracked into one of the rooms she passed. What was once sparse and empty, only holding her awards and achievements, had been transformed into a home gym. Walking in, she scanned the refurbishments, attention then drawn to the shelf next to the treadmill. Her displayed accomplishments were now replaced by gym equipment.
Juney’s eyes widened with shock. Her panic returned as her mind was racing, imagining where they’d put it. Calm down. She willed herself, sucking on her cheek as a distraction. They probably…placed it in your room. Yeah. She rationalized. Her head began to hurt.
She proceeded to exit the home gym, coming face-to-face with the attic door. Her suitcase was still parked beside it. With a baited breath, she pushed open the door.
Blood drained from her face as she observed the state of her room. No fucking way. Her colorful living space was now replaced with towers of boxes and cobwebs. As she entered, she sneezed and coughed from the dust. The walls that were decorated with multitudes of band posters, drawings, decorations, now lay bare. Her work desk, tucked into the nook near the window, was empty. Her bed, pushed up in the corner opposite of the desk, was stripped, only holding more boxes on top of it. Whatever warmth there was, it was all gone. Any semblance of her personality, of her, was completely packed and put away. She bit her lip, picking up the box closest to her. It was shoddily closed, opening up with ease to reveal…her high school diploma.
Juney entered her parents car, holding her diploma and cap. No words were exchanged, no shouts of praise, no crys of joy, just pure silence. She worked hard for this, so hard in fact, she graduated early as valedictorian. 2 years early to be exact. She pushed herself to the limits, spending countless hours awake studying, avoiding things she deemed as a distraction.
The happy faces of her peers as they ran to their parents and friends remained in her mind. They all shared the same faces, bright eyed and ready for the future. That’s the face Juney had, until her eyes met her parents’ expression. They looked bored. Her mother looked as though this event was beneath her. On the other hand, her father was making polite conversation with the other adults. She achieved so much for them…yet that was their reaction?
She stood behind her parents as they unlocked the door, walking in first. She followed soon after, her head hanging low as she bit her lip with frustration.
“Aren’t you proud?” Juney spoke up, hoping for some acknowledgement. Her father turned to her with a polite smile, a smile he’d present to clients.
“Yes! Very proud!” His tone sounded so condescending, as if he was talking to a baby. In contrast, her mother scoffed, making her way upstairs. He soon followed her too, not looking back.
Juney was by herself. She moved to the living room, useless thoughts crowding her mind. Clenching and unclenching her fists, she looked to her right, staring out the window. It was a beautiful. The moon was full, the light filling up the desolate space. Stars were dazzling the night sky, as if they were dancing. The quiet was disrupted by the distinctive clinking of wheels.
She removed herself from her thoughts, peeking from the rectangular opening. Her parents were hauling their suitcases downstairs. They made their way to the front door, passing her without much thought. Once settled, the man caught Juney’s anxious gaze, and looked at her with a somewhat sympathetic grin.
“Sorry we have to leave so soon Juney, your mom had been contacted by her modeling agency, but you’ll be fine, you’re an adult! Think you can hold down the fort for us? We’ll be gone for a month.” His answers came out so quickly, Juney couldn’t comprehend, nodding along to whatever he said.
“Thanks kiddo! Knew I could count on you!” Ruffling her hair, he reached in his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. “Here’s some money for the road.” He hands Juney $500 before opening the door for her mother. She made brief eye contact with the woman before she left the building. Her stare was as cold as ever.
And just like that, they were gone.
Juney’s breath became ragged as she grinded her teeth. How could they touch my stuff…to pack everything up…to hide everything? Her chest moved up and down rapidly, trying to catch a breath that constantly escaped her. Hot tears built quickly, streaking down her face. She dropped her diploma immediately, kicking the box as hard as she could. It landed with a satisfying clang, all her awards spilling out. Wanting this satisfaction to continue, she began trashing the rest of the boxes. She reached for any that were near, slamming it onto the floor, crushing it with her foot, ripping it apart.
The packed belongings flew out, one by one, revealing family photos she was in, her baby pictures, her stuffed animals. With each tear, stomp, and throw, she felt her anger and tears surge.
A sound of glass shattering caught her attention, snapping her out of her rampage. The golden hue of the outside had turned into a cold darkness. She quietly peeked from the attic doorway, debating on investigating the noise. Deciding to go for it, she walked into the dark hallway, using her phone as a light. Making it to the steps, she noticed broken glass…and a package by the door. She bolted down the steps, groans leaving her lips as sharp pain lanced through her feet. Definitely bruised. Getting closer, she caught a glance at a small drone. It was dancing in front of the now broken door window before flying away, like nothing happened.
A scowl was painted on Juney’s face as she bent down for the package. She was irritated at the fact that she now had to replace the window. Finally picking it up, she placed it on the shoe shelf near the door, rummaging through the office next to it for scissors.
Opening the box showed sunglasses with a pink tint to the lens and a heart detail in the center of the nose bridge. Juney looked at the glasses with interest. Although they were cute, they were neither her father’s or mother’s style. She rested the glasses on top of the shelf, leaving it next to the box.
Her feet were heavy as she trudged up the stairs. She wasn’t ready to face the mess she made, post rage clarity being real. It’s just, in that moment…she had control. Control of what she was doing, what was happening, and it felt absolutely liberating. It was worse now than when she left it, clearing whatever satisfaction she had. The evidence of her emotions felt so out of place. Something like this wasn’t supposed to be come out.
She had to clean. While scanning the clutter, one of the boxes that laid sideways caught her attention. Walking towards it, she recognized the contents.
Juney sat at the dining table, swinging her legs as she sat on the tall chair. Her parents hadn’t come home, calling a nanny to watch over her instead. She was coloring on a piece of paper while clattering emerged from the kitchen. A couple minutes passed before her nanny, Poppy, walked out with a slice of red velvet cake with a number 6 candle stuck on top of it. Her face lit up immediately as the piece of cake was settled in front of her.
“Happy birthday dove!” Poppy said softly, her voice ringing of saccharine. She tenderly brushed fingers through Juney’s hair as she lit up the candle. They sang happy birthday together, interjected by giggles Juney released. With one big huff, she blew them all out, hearing clapping from beside her.
Her face beamed as she swung her head towards Poppy, first viewing her kind face, then eyes trailing down to the present she was holding. The wrapping paper was blue, decorated with pictures of cats. She nudged the gift towards her, Juney’s hands grazing her thinner, more fragile ones as she took it.
Poppy’s eyes looked at her expectantly, patiently waiting for her to unravel the gift. Juney, with gentle hands, slowly took apart the paper, starting from the taped edges then proceeding to unfold it. Eventually, she reached the core of the packaging, a brown box. She lifted the lid to reveal…
An old teddy bear with faded and worn fur looked up towards the ceiling. Beside it, a plush, teal, blanket with cloud patterns was partially unfolded. Juney scooped the possessions with her hands handling them as delicately as possible. They used to be laid neatly on her bed.
Her stomach clenched, feeling like its twisting in on itself. The tears began to flow again. But instead of light streaks, it was a heavy stream. Her breathing stuttered, gasping for breath, as sobs echoed. Her body shook violently as she held the soft blanket up to her face. She attempted to stifle her crying, sealing her lips shut. Her nose became clogged soon enough, however, forcing her to open her mouth. The sounds emitted from her made her want to die.
She held the two items like a life line, leaving her former bedroom and making her way downstairs. Collapsing on the couch, she wrapped herself within the blanket. She curled up within herself as much as possible in an attempt to hide. Feeling covered enough, she dragged the teddy bear up to her chest, clinging as tight as possible. Sobs continued to leak through her cocoon before sleep eventually overtook her.
Notes:
Finally! We'll be getting some dateables POV in the chapter! Woohoo! I'm so nervous tho :((((( I gotta study up on the characters.
This fic has a playlist!
Ninjabot87 on Chapter 1 Sat 09 Aug 2025 06:13PM UTC
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bonkyyyyy on Chapter 1 Sat 09 Aug 2025 07:28PM UTC
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Kitsune_vulpix101 on Chapter 3 Sun 10 Aug 2025 09:15AM UTC
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bonkyyyyy on Chapter 3 Sun 10 Aug 2025 04:16PM UTC
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