Down Come Seven (ReWrite 2018)

S A C R I F I C E

We had been walking for a long time, following Smiley Face... who was in a really bad mood.

I could tell, because he wasn't telling me to shut up despite my best efforts to anno- Comfort him.

Smiley Face always tells me to shut up when I'm being an idiot.

That's our thing.

The others kept their distance, walking as a group behind us.

Following because...Despite recent revelations, Smiley Face was still the most qualified to lead us.

Among us, Smiley Face had been the voice of logic. He was calm... when he wasn't losing his temper with me...

Comforting the Celebrity, translating my stupidity, not murdering the Brat...all while providing idea's that made sense. Most importantly, he wasn't-

A) Silent.

B)Emotionally unstable

C)Me.

Somewhere along the line, we had just learned to trust his judgment...

Now, it was like a wall had appeared between us and him.

Having very little sense of self-preservation...or just sense in general really...I trailed along just behind Smiley Face.

The person I saw before me was cold.

Aloof.

He didn't seem to care what we did or thought. Like we were strangers to him. Like the companionship between us had all been an act.

The more I thought about it, the more footsteps started to stall... Until I stop walking completely. Watching Smiley Face as he continued on without even noticing my absence.

Was this who Smiley Face really was?

The further he walked away from me, looking cold and disconnected....the easier it became to see.

The back of a person walking alone.

A small smile crossed my lips.

It suddenly didn't matter if I didn't know what type of person Smiley Face truly was.

A cold person, or a friendly one. Polite or violent. Comforting or catering

I could see with my own eyes, that he was a lonely person.

And that was something I could help with.

I ran to catch up with him, strolling along just behind him.

"....She died you know." I said casually, loud enough for the entire group to hear.

Keeping my steady pace, I looked up at the white sky...maybe because I was too afraid to see how the others would react.

"....My friend. The one I told you about in the Prison...I said that she only got hurt, but the truth is, she died."

I chucked sadly.

"I couldn't even say it out loud. I couldn't say "If I had taken her more seriously, she would probably still be alive today."

Nobody spoke, so I just continued.

"I made a mistake. So I guess I know how it feels... To have to carry something like that for the rest of your life. To want to hide that part of yourself."

To forget.

I glared at his back, determined.

"It's okay if you want to go back to pretending Smiley Face. If you're more comfortable being "normal" that's fine with me. Because I'm going to stick by your side no matter what person you pretend to be."