𝘽𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙨 | 𝙀. 𝙅𝙚𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙧

𝗙𝗼𝗠𝗢

𝗙𝗼𝗠𝗢: Fear of missing out (FoMO) is a unique term introduced in 2004 to describe a phenomenon observed on social networking sites. FoMO includes two processes; firstly, perception of missing out, followed up with a compulsive behavior to maintain these social connections. (National Institute of Health)

Y/n had been crying all night, curled up in her sheets and hugging a stuffed animal she had owned since she was 5. She tried her best to hide her sobs with her hand to not be heard by Annie. The comfort she was craving for that puppet wasn't enough, and that feeling of emptiness and loneliness was eating her from the inside. Her chest was hurting from the suffocated sobs, and catching air seemed almost impossible. The salty droplets reached her lips and drenched the sheets and the pillow.

Then she stopped. She suddenly just stopped crying, wiping away the tears and sitting on the bed. It felt therapeutic and extremely draining; her face was on fire, and her eyes were burning. Instinctively, her hands touched her cheeks and forehead to feel relief since her hands were always cold. She got up only to wash her face, but she avoided looking at her reflection in the mirror.

If she had to remember why she started crying, she couldn't remember it: it could have been a call with her mother, a video of a tiny little adorable cat, or a sweet text from Eren, or one of those couple-thing videos on TikTok, her weight... maybe it was a combination of everything.

Returning to her room, she grabbed her phone to check the time; it was 3:24 a.m. Y/n knew that if she texted or even called Eren, he would answer. But she didn't want to worry him, especially for nothing, but she really needed to hear his voice. She didn't know why, but hearing his voice or feeling his presence during the last weeks made her feel protected and relaxed.

«Twitch... » She whispered, wondering if he was online, but when she looked for his name, he was not streaming. Oh well, now she wanted to cry again.

It was a good thing that Eren had that horrible habit of sending voice messages. She began to listen to all the last audio he had sent her.

«So, I went shopping with Mimi, and I got something that made me think of you, and I can't wait to give it to you! I was like: "Oh, Y/n will absolutely love this!". » It was the last message he sent her, and it made her smile. She still had no idea what he had got her, but it made her smile at how happy and excited he sounded, and she could tell he was smiling while speaking. Laying on her bed, she kept listening to Eren's ramblings about anything possible, hugging her plushie again till she fell asleep.

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«Good morning, Y/n. Can I come in? »

«Yeah... » Y/n rubbed her eyes almost violently, feeling her face so swollen.

«Mio dio, che schifo. » She let out, hearing the door open, and Annie let a small laugh. «Hi, Annie. »

«Good morning, again. We have guests this morning. »

«What? Who? Why didn't you tell me... »

«Come and see. »

Y/n sighed. She was too tired to deal with herself, just imagine with other people.

«Coming... but I'm washing my face first. And comb my hair. » Getting up, she grabbed a black robe, put on her slippers, and followed Annie into the kitchen after making herself presentable, even if she knew her eyes were puffy. Sitting at their small table, filled with coffee and fragrant pastries, there were Mikasa and Eren. A bright smile was born when she looked at Eren, but Mikasa caught her attention.