Branches of Time.

be yourself, bloom.

(july 29th, 8:45pm)

Staring up at their wooden ceiling, Monkey Hat sighed as she turned to her left hand side, facing away from a window. She clutched a blanket tighter as tears welled up in her eyes, silently freeing them from their spherical prisons.

I just don't get it... why do I feel so disconnected from everyone else? Why do I feel like I have to act in a certain way, that I have to get everything right...? Do I do anything right...? Would anyone else understand how this all feels, or am I truly alone?

Is there something wrong with me?

Pulling the blanket now to her eyes, they muffled their cries with it, in hopes of not worrying anyone around her... but they were always observant on any noise whatsoever.

"Hey Monkey Hat, do you-" they began, sitting back up in their bed, before looking over to see Monkey Hat there, and hearing her soft sobs. "H-Hey-! What's wrong...?"

Monkey Hat looked up at her, wiping away their own tears. She fidgeted with her hands, as she began to try and get something that was remotely coherrent out.

"Nothing Foliage, I just- I've never felt... connected... to anyone... like there was always going to be something that they just wouldn't understand about me..." she confessed, holding their head in their arms. "I-I'm too much for anyone to handle... I'm unlovable-"

"N-No, you're not!" Foliage cried out, grabbing onto her shoulders. "Monkey Hat, you may not realize it, but... you've done amazing things, you're completely lovable! So don't say that... it's not true in the slightest!"

"...name one good thing I did..."

"Easy... you saved me." Foliage giggled slightly, pulling Monkey Hat closer. "You were the one to bring me out of that dungeon, and even when I was there... you gave me the company I craved for so long. Doesn't that make you lovable?"

"You... think so?"

"Of course I do... because I love you." they softly replied, hugging her. "You're kind, you're smart, you're funny, you're... you're perfect."

Monkey Hat stayed silent for a while, before bursting into tears again, hugging as tightly as they could. Foliage smiled, whispering that it was okay - they weren't going to run off anywhere.

After a short while, Monkey Hat had calmed down, pulling away to look up at them.

"So... now should we go to sleep?" they asked, slowly pulling the blanket back over them both. "Sorry... it was just late-night thoughts getting to me..."

"It's alright, I get those too sometimes... and yeah, we should. Today's been a long day... also, have you noticed anything strange about Vermillion lately?"

"No... what do you mean?" Monkey Hat asked, laying on her right-hand side - but only to see Foliage as they laid underneath the blanket too... and also an extra cover, she got cold easily... yes, it was summer.

"Well... she's seemed a lot more reclusive, even Strawberry's convinced something's up..."

"Oh, think I've realized that too..."

"And... I think she's uncomfortable around us... for some reason..." Foliage quietly added, holding the cover over her closer as she looked away. "Did... did I do something wrong? I-I'm sorry-"

Monkey Hat silently wrapped an arm around them, snapping her out of those thoughts.

"Hey... I'm sure Vermillion doesn't hate us... she might just be going through something, and that's making her distance herself from us. We haven't done anything..."