Lessons

Brutal is life (but if it wasn't, would we be living?)

TW: PTSD, unfair punishment, abuse?
Please let me know if I missed any

In the weeks that followed the whole 'incident', a new routine was established, at home, and at school.

At home, game play was put on hold, and Tommy couldn't visit his friends as often.

At school, Phil signed Wilbur up, and the two both went to counseling, much to their disliking.

Word spread like wildfire, and rumors went up. Techno was accustomed to it all, but Wilbur and Tommy were not.

The rumors of him being a part of a gang, were now surrounded by family wide speculation.

Did you hear?

I heard the whole family is a cult

I heard the guy with the scar beat up the grandfather

I heard Wilbur began going to therapy

What's wrong with them all?

I heard Tommy was kidnapped

Is that why he was gone for so long?

I heard Wilbur became psychotic, lashing out, even at his twin brother.

Aren't they best friends?

The teachers kept most of the whispering in class at bay. Besides the people who sat directly behind them.

Wilbur would just put his head down further, trying to shrink into himself, to do something to escape the constant mandra that followed them through the halls, and around every corner.

It felt like the shadows were whispering too, shifting, ebbing and flowing, staying out of the light. But mocking them all the same.

It hurt his heart that Techno was unfazed, it soothed his mind that Techno was unfazed.

He wanted to snap at them. Wanted so desperately to make them stop whispering. Wanted the shadows to stop chattering and falling away like nothing had ever happened.

But that wouldn't do anything. The light that shines into the shadows always goes away, the shadows always return. The people who talk would always return.

Haven't you always wanted this though?

Not like this. I never wanted it like this.

But now you have the attention you so desperately wished for.

Not for the right thing!

"It's not the same!" He shouted at the voice in his mind.

He got several odd looks, one would get that from talking to seemingly no one. But his shout was far from loud, and was drowned out by the student body in no time.

He was one of the unfortunate kids who had a neglectful first four years, followed by a depressing, and lonely 6 years in primary school, where no one bothered to talk to him past a 'hello' or an 'excuse me'.

This wasn't worse than that. He'd rather be punched than feel unwanted.

Everyone else had their 'clicks' and he sort of stood alone.

Not great for social development, looking back.

Is that why you have me?

. . .

. . .

Yes

● ● ●

Other than the rumors, and Wilbur whole heartedly falling apart, things were going good.