"So, how's the D&D going?" Anon's mom asked.
"It's going good, mom. We have lots of interesting quests and the Dungeon Master, Aidan, is really good."
"That's great to hear honey. And are you still working at that gas station?"
"Yeah mom," Anon lied. "I actually got a promotion last week, before, you know, the incident. Apparently I was doing a really good job."
"Wow! Sounds like my handsome boy is finally making a living for himself! I hope you get well soon, Anon. I know the hospital bills can look really scary, but trust me, we can get through this together!"
"I love your optimistic spirit, mom."
"Awww! I love you too, honey. By the way, Christmas is coming up. You can expect a little special something from me in the mail, if you know what I mean, wink wink."
She literally said the word "wink".
Anon was disgusted.
"Yeah mom, cool. Bye."
"You have to go?"
"Mom, I have physical therapy."
"Well, I guess you better get going then. Have a good day!"
"You too, mom."
Anon hung up.
That "special something" that his mom was talking about was a $50 bill. She sent him one every Christmas, as though it were some massive gift.
Anon hated her.
He had physical therapy today, but he wasn't going. In their first meeting, the physical therapist said that he was going to give Anon "assignments" to help him recover faster. Anon hated that word, "assignment". He hadn't heard it since high school, and it instantly sent a shot of bile up his throat.
Instead of going to physical therapy, Anon decided to just lie in bed, sulking. He had started to feel bad about what he had said to Aidan, and the more he thought about it, the worse he felt. He hadn't talked to Aidan since, or any of his other friends, and just the thought of doing so made him sick to his stomach.
He knew that he would have to talk to them eventually, though, so he decided to get it over with.
"Hey Aidan," he texted. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry."
Aidan responded almost immediately. "It's ok man, I've already moved on."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You've been kicked out of the D&D group, and I hope to never see you again. Have a nice life, cunt!"
Anon's entire face went white.
"Dude, I'm so sorry! I'll do anything to make it up to you! I'll be better, I promise! Please, dude! I love you! I love Max! I love all of you guys! I just want to play D&D with you guys!"
The message didn't go through. "This user has blocked you," the phone screen read.
Anon read Aidan's final message over and over, still in a state of shock.
For years, D&D had been the only reason he was even alive. It was the one thing that he could genuinely enjoy. It was everything to him.
And now it was gone.
To be continued...
