There's Only One...

Chapter Two: Me

The next morning, Anne awakens to the worst headache she has ever gotten. Well that, and Polly bouncing up and down on her bed, apparently choosing now to finally act like the five year old she is.

"Get up Anne! We're going to Amphibia!" Anne looks up, and Polly is looming over her, and she barely manages not to panic and throw Polly off the bed.

Instead, she shrinks backward, and Sprig, having heard Polly, rushes in. Taking Polly off of Anne, he sends her out of the room, being careful not to touch Anne as he slowly draws back the covers.

"Hey, Anne? Is it okay if I take off these covers? You're sweating." Anne hesitates, but nods. And it feels lile her clothes are being stripped off all over again.

One by one...

Until there's nothing there and-

And they-

And they're going to-

But she lets it happen.

She isn't going to be a burden anymore.

"Hey," Sprig says, "Pretty soon? Your going to see Sasha and Marcy again. Keep going for them."

He smiles at her, before going to her dresser and pulling out a sweatshirt and sweatpants, saying, "Do you want something tight like leggings, or loose like sweatpants?"
"What you pulled out is fine."
"Okay."

He helps her out of bed, before leaving her to get changed. And she stares again, seeing now that the blood was wiped off that the blood was coming from somewhere else too:

They had cut lines between her legs and down her thighs. Those sick people had cut them all throughout her body.

She nearly screams.

She doesn't however.

"Oh god..." She says instead, breathing heavily. She still had underwear underneath, and she very well could ask for Sprig's help, he had seen her in worse states after all, but there was just something about anyone, even Sprig, seeing her even partially undressed right now that made her want to cry.

After a moment or two however, she's able to get up and walk over to her dresser.

Loose would feel like being naked, and she most certainly did not want anything of that nature. Tight? It would feel constricting, impossible to escape from. But it also might feel safe, like a big hug from Marcy and Sasha.

Yeah, it was just a hug.

She puts her head through her oversized crew neck sweatshirt

Just a neck wide hug.

She puts her arms through and pulls it down.

Just a warm hug.

She puts her legs through the leggings.

Just a hug.

She pulls them up.

Just a...

Just...

Just a hug.

Just an oddly positioned hug.

Just a tight hug.

Just a comforting hug.

Just-

"Anne come on!" Polly shouts from outside her door, and Anne can hear the excitement and raw enjoyment in her voice.

And she wants her's back.

It had only been one night! But... But it both felt like she had aged a lifetime and...