Take Pride In Who You Are / Renfield

Chapter 4

One Night, The Support Group's Building

"How is my life? My life is like a...never-ending hallway of fun house mirrors, but...all the clowns are me." Carol said to the group then Renfield and Sebastian walks into the building. "Uh, hey, everyone. I need your help." Renfield said to them. "Are you okay?" Mark asks him. "No. I need to get out of a toxic relationship." Renfield said to them. "Okay. Well, well, well, well, take a seat and let her rip." Mark said to him making Renfield sit down while Sebastian leans on the wall. "Why don't you start by telling us what brought you here in the first place." Mark said to Renfield. "I was on the job. Uh, for my boss. Uh, well, and I was actually following Bob, because I thought that Bob would make a very good, um, uh..." Renfield said trying to think of the word. "Friend?" Bob said to him. "Yes. Thank you, Bob." Renfield said to him. "Thank you, Renfield." Bob said to him with a smile as Sebastian and Renfield look at each other. "And then, you know, I started to hear all of your stories and...I mean, they were all so sad." Renfield said to everyone making the group laugh. "And, you know, for the first time in years, I felt like I wasn't alone." Renfield said to them making Sebastian look away form the group. "You realized you're a codependent." Mark said to him. "I need to change. I can see that I-I need to change, and, uh, I want to, but my boss, he's pretty delusional, I think. Uh, he thinks he can take over the world." Renfield said to them making Sebastian has a light laugh. "He's a narcissist, Renfield. We all know exactly how you feel." Mark said to them making the group nod agreeing with him. "No, he's different." Renfield said to them. "You can't get him out of your head." A lady said to him.  "No." Renfield said to her making Sebastian look at Renfield feeling bad for him. "Ooh, and you feel like he could kill you with the snap of his fingers." Other said to Renfield. "Yes. Wouldn't even need to snap." Renfield said to him. "Oh." The guy said back. "He controls rats with his mind." Other guy said to him. "Uh..." Renfield said not knowing what to say. "It's okay, it's okay. He's on medication." Mark said to them as he walks over to Renfield. "Renfield, this is codependency 101. A narcissist will take full advantage of a codependent's low self-esteem, but you're the one with the real power. And all you got to do is take it back." Mark said to him. "How do I do that?" Renfield asks Mark. "Focus on your needs." Mark said to him. "I mean, I just haven't thought about any of my needs in years." Renfield said to himself. "But if you were to stop focusing on his needs, what would happen?" Mark asks him. "If I don't..." Renfield said to himself. "Yeah, what would happen? Stop focusing on his needs. What would happen?" Mark asks him again. "He won't grow to full power." Renfield said making Sebastian think about it, it may work. "Exactly. He won't grow to full power. What? That's so weird. Why would you phrase it like that? But yes, he's right. He's absolutely right. He won't grow to full power. You can take all that energy you've spent on him and put it toward yourself. And then you will be the one who grows to full power." Mark said to him. "Me grow...I-I'm gonna grow to full power?" Renfield said to himself. "I want to hear you say it. Say, I'm gonna grow to full power." Mark said to him. "I-I-I'm gonna grow to full power." Renfield said to him. "I heard you say it, but I didn't believe you." Mark said to him. "Nope." Other guy said to him. "Let me hear you say it again." Mark said to him. "I'm gonna grow to full power." Renfield said again while believing in himself. "Yes!" The group said at the same time. "I see a smile there because you like it. Now, say it like the world needs to hear it." Mark said to him. "I'm gonna grow to full power." Mark said to him. "There you go!" Mark yelled as encouraging chatter and applauses. "That guy who walks in here every single week, say goodbye to him. This is the person you are now." Mark said to him. 

"Let's give him some ideas." Mark said to everyone. "Do you know what a brush is?" One of the members asks him. "Yes..." Renfield said to her. "Oh, and clean them nasty fingernails." Other one said to him. "Spa day. I'll go with you." Other said to him. "Get your chakras balanced, homes." Bob said to him. "Ooh, and update that wardrobe to this century." Other guy said to Renfield. After a few minutes the meets ends, Mark walks over to Renfield and he gives Renfield a book. "Here you go. The power is in your hands. That book is your armor. It's your weapon. It's your Bible." Mark said to him making Renfield nod.