Always Chasing Stars

-18-

  Hello all!! This is a chapter that you must pay attention to! I hope it all makes sense. But also, here's the official headshot of Sandy:

  Anyways!! Here's a chapter!!!

Virgil POV

  ~Flashback to before Accepting Anxiety videos~

  I looked up at the lightbulb that hung above me. For the millionth time, I swayed my hand through the surrounding darkness. Like a black cloud. But, how do I know what a cloud is? I've never seen one. There's always been then idea of knowing it, but never knowing how to get to it.

  I stood up and began walking, the lightbulb remained frozen above my head. It was the only source of light within this place. I had no idea why it stayed there, only that it followed me wherever I walked. To my understanding, I am nowhere, but somewhere. Somewhere I can't escape.

  I stopped and sat down. Thomas! That name was glued into my mind. But I had never, ever, left this place or met a Thomas here before. So why was it the ame that kept coming to my mind? I got flashes of a boy. He had brown hair and kind brown eyes. He seemed nice, almost... approachable. Every time I thought the name, I saw him. So, naturally, I assumed I was seeing this boy named Thomas.

  This time, I thought the name Thomas. But instead of seeing him. I felt the floor drop from beneath me. I watched as the lightbulb got further and further away, until it dropped into a nothing but darkness.

  I landed hard into a small room with soft light coming from a window to my left. I was sitting on a comfortable white couch with pillows shaped like sunflowers. The room was painted a pastel pink color and the walls were lined with words that I assumed were motivational quotes.

  I don't know what motivational quotes are.

  "Thomas? Honey, can you hear me? Thomas? Is something the matter?"

  My head turned quickly towards a woman with light brown hair and soft hazel eyes. She wore a white women's dress-suite. A little sunflower tucked into the left breast pocket of her jacket. She sat at a white desk that held a monitor, a couple of picture frames that were faced away from me, a potted lavender plant, and an office phone. She was holding a notepad and pen. Which, at that moment, she scribbled down something and leaned toward me.

  "Thomas, are you alright?" Her perfume even smelled like sunflowers.

  Suddenly, I was speaking. But it wasn't me that was using my mouth.

  "Yes. Sorry. I was just thinking." My hands folded on my lap.

  "Mm-hm. I see," she gave me a quizzical look. "Do you often drift off like that? And also, have you been feeling very... let's say... unmotivated?"

  "Yes! That's exactly how I would describe it. I haven't been able to find the right words, or how to tell anyone. It's just been... I haven't... what's wrong with me?" I began squeezing my hands more tightly. "Why do I feel like this?"

  "Well, Thomas. I assure you that it's nothing too awful. Although, depression can be a very serious mental disorder and a difficult thing to comprehend, I'm sure you can get through this. From how long we've been meeting, it is my strong understanding, and my opinion, that you are a very strong young man and I am positive that you are going to be alright."

  The second she stopped talking, the couch beneath me fell away and I was falling again. I watched Thomas's body get farther and farther until I landed hard on a white floor.

   I stood up quickly, hardly understanding what was happening. 

  I looked back up from where I had fell but saw nothing but a grey sky with a distant sun. I took in my surroundings as quickly as possible. It felt different here. It was warm. There was light. Where am I?

  My eyes landed on this house. It was painted a dark grey and had a black roof. There was a small garden but all the plants had died and the grass had turned a miserable shade of yellowish-grey.

  I was barely a foot away from the front door. I walked up to it and knocked. I stood for a few seconds... waiting... waiting... nothing. I turned away from the door, dissappointed no one answered, and turned to start exploring this light filled place.

  My back was to the door when it opened. I quickly turned to look at who had answered. A kid, about Thomas's age, stood half-hiding behind the door, only the right side of his face visible.

  "What do you want," the stranger asked.

  "I... could you help me? I am really confused. One minute I was in this void. The next I was thrown into Thomas's head, which has never happened.  Then I landed here."

  The boy seemed almost amused. Then he opened the door wider to reveal his entire face. I almost fainted. The other half of his face was covered in yellow scales. His eye on this side was a bright yellow with a black slit of a pupil. I felt my knees give out and suddenly I was sitting on the ground, confused and intrigued and scared all at once.

  He walked toward me and held out a hand. I took it and he helped me up with surprising strength. This boy looked like Thomas, but half snake. It was very odd.

  "Who are you?" I asked, angry with how much my voice trembled.

  He smiled. "You can call me... Deceit."

    The next question slipped from my mouth without me thinking. "Why do you look like Thomas?"

  He held up a yellow gloved had and smirked at where his nails would be. "We all look like Thomas. Even you, pretty boy."

  It hit me at full force.

  First, the realization that I have never seen myself. Second, I looked like Thomas? Third, pretty boy? And fourth... we?

  "Really?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly.

  Deceit chuckled. "Yes. Yes you do."

  He flicked his wrist and a little hand-held mirror flew from his cape. I looked at it to see a reverse Thomas.  But with black eyeshadow and brown hair that faded into black at the tips. This is me. But, as soon as I saw myself, I felt a surge of melancholy come over me. I was suddenly unsurprised.

  "Hmm," Deceit hummed. "I think I'll call you Depression. That's what I feel radiating from you."

  I sighed. That makes sense. I am depression. I guess that's cool.

  "Deceit. Did you say there were more of us?" He nodded in response, then stepped aside for me to walk into the house.

  "Welcome to the Dark Sides, Depression." With that, I found the nearest couch and sat to wait to meet the other 'Dark Sides'.

  Hi! So, I'm sorry if the therapy session seemed weird. I've never been to a therapy session, sadly. Because I feel like it would be a healthy and responsible decision to make. I think it would be nice. But anyways, sorry if it seems weird.

  Feel free to correct me, but if you do, I hope you correct me with the intent to teach me, not tell me I'm ignorant for being incorrect. I hope I represented it correctly. But anyways. I can't wait to write more.

  Thanks guys, gals, and nonbinary pals for sticking around for so long!

  Peace out!!!!
💜🏳️‍🌈💜