don't blame me (gnf x original character)

chapter 1.

december 19th, 2021.

"mum?", she asked quietly, not wanting to disturb her if she was asleep.

there was no response.

she made her way out of the room and back down the stairs. the house was quiet, everything was still. she was the only one awake, only because every time she even attempted to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time she would wake in a cold sweat.

she was all alone again, for the first time since she was eight years old she was alone. completely alone with their parents, who weren't present at the moment. sure, she was around, but they weren't really there. just bodies, yearning to go back in time to before their family was torn apart.

she laid back into her sheets, letting them warm her ailing body. she opened her phone for the first time, realizing why her mom wasn't awake. it was five in the morning, closer to four than six. she sat her phone back down on her chest, staring at the ceiling and watching the fan twirl.

hours passed, her room lighting up with the rising run. she fell in and out of sleep for a while, fighting with her body and mind, wanting sleep but dreading waking up. her phone hummed, making her finally open her eyes once again.

wilbur soot:
hey katherine, i've been
trying not to bother you
since i know you're family
has been going through a
lot currently. tommy was
too nervous to ask you
directly, is there anyway
he can come get some of
his own belongings? and
possibly some of tubbos?
we both would completely
understand if not. thank you

katherine smith:
i'll talk to my mom but
that should be fine

she laid her phone back on the bed, rolling over and pulling the covers over her face. she took a deep breath, forcing the tears back once again. anytime it was brought up, it felt like a punch in the gut. her brain was fuzzy, she didn't feel like she was in control of her own body.

she hadn't been home for this long since she had moved out. it's not that she didn't enjoy being home, she just hadn't had a reason to stay for a week until it happened.

she hadn't been to her apartment in five days, she'd been too busy trying to keep her mom at bay.

she'd never seen a woman as distraught as her mom had been when they first met up that night. even now, her mom just stayed at the hospital or slept. no self care, just keeping herself together for the sake of her husband.

she eventually willed herself to get out of bed, missing the security of the sheets as soon as she rid herself of them. the house was still quiet for the most part, except for the quiet squeaking of the hamster wheel from the kitchen.

she sat down in the chair at the table, watching the creature run round and round in circles until it bore itself of running. she snickered quietly, looking around for any other sign of life in the house.

there wasn't much, but there was some. plates that haven't been washed in the sink, insurance papers scattered on the counter top in the kitchen, the little hamster that occasionally begged for attention.

and footsteps, coming from around the corner.

"oh, you're up", her mom was already dressed, comfortable so that the rest of the day wouldn't be as unbearable.