Whumptober 2023

Doubles - Day 24

Peter Parker was a conscientious and dedicated individual, always pushing himself to the limit to fulfill his responsibilities as Spider-Man and as a student. He never shied away from the challenges that came his way, but he also never realized the toll it was taking on him.As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, Peter found himself overwhelmed with a never-ending stream of obligations. He barely slept, surviving on caffeine and sheer willpower. His schedule became a blur of crime-fighting, juggling schoolwork, and maintaining his personal relationships.But unbeknownst to him, the mounting pressure was quietly eroding his mental and physical wellbeing. Exhaustion settled deep within him like an unwelcome guest, draining him of his energy and clouding his thoughts. He began to lose track of time and reality, finding it harder to differentiate between what was real and what was merely a trick of his exhausted mind.It started subtly at first - fleeting glimpses of someone who looked exactly like him, in places he knew he couldn't possibly be. Peter dismissed it as fatigue-induced hallucinations, chalking it up to the stresses of his exhausting double life. But as the days wore on, the doubles became more frequent and more vivid.His doubles seemed to mock him, appearing during crucial moments when he was needed the most. They would taunt him with their identical appearance, their presence reminding him of his inability to be in two places at once. The weight of responsibility that Peter had carried so willingly now bore down upon him with an unbearable intensity.With each passing day, Peter's sense of self became fragmented. He couldn't trust his own senses anymore; everything felt like an elaborate illusion. The laughter of multiple voices echoed in his head, driving him to the edge of despair. The line between reality and his overworked mind became increasingly blurred.Peter desperately yearned for respite, to embrace the solitude that had eluded him for so long. His body and mind screamed for a break, but duty called relentlessly. The weight of expectations, both self-imposed and external, pressed upon him mercilessly until he could bear it no longer.