A Four Sided Story

A Useless Bear For a Useless Side?

"Maybe... Maybe he's right.." Virgil thought to himself as he managed to slip into his room without a sound, pulling his hands out of his pockets only to open and close the door shakily, before then stuffing them away again so they could tremble out of sight; put away so he didn't have to focus on the overwhelming amount of fear that had started to grasp him in a heavy fist.

"Maybe.. I am useless... I'm never making anything better... Thomas is always so off when I'm around..."

His thoughts jabbed at his heart and Virgil collapsed onto his couch, staring up at the ceiling and biting his lip to keep it from quivering; he pulled his hands out of his pockets and let his arms go loose beside him.

"I never should've been allowed to come out... Deceit never should have let me go.." (Again referencing to the unclear power Deceit has with keeping sides from Thomas's view or knowledge)

Virgil bit back tears as he thought, staring angrily at the ceiling at his own misfortune and only becoming more upset as he thought more and more about Deceits words.

"He's right. You are useless! You can never do anything right!"

Sitting up now, Virgils fingers grasped for a pillow until they took hold- then it was flying across the room before it hit a wall and dropped to the floor; he yelled out in frustration and pulled at his hoodies strings.

"I should just leave like I did before..." Virgil muttered, his words trailing; he stared at the couch cushions.

"But last time I did that... They all came looking for me... As if they cared..." Virgil resituated himself on the couch so that his feet were planted on the floor and his hands positioned beside his thighs on the couch; he continued to stare down.

"There are ways I can work on that, Anxiety..! But I'd rather work on it with you than without you at all!"

The words seemed to echo in his head and Virgil sighed.

"Ducking out isn't the solution..." He mumbled. "It would just get everyone worried for no reason... There's no use, they care too much."

"Or do they?" The anxious side almost choked on his own doubts and he let out a shaky breath, shaking his head.

"Do they still care enough to come looking again? And again? Only to come back to your useless pity party? Do they still care?"

"Of course they do..!" Virgils eyes grew wide at his own uncertainty and his heart rate increased as he began to panic- he pulled at the end of his sleeves nervously, his brain racking away at his endless stream of thoughts.

"Sure we've had our differences over the past few days... But- not everyone can get along perfectly- they care.. I know- they do.." Virgil got up and started to worriedly pace, his doubts only becoming more evident.

"If I ducked out- if I left- would they even come looking for me..?" Virgil expressed his worry to the empty room, looking around as if someone else was there to give him their opinion; to help him.

"What am I even thinking?!" The anxious side finally groaned, his hands covering his face as he was unsure of anything anymore.

"I can't even think straight." He mumbled. "Deceits right.." Virgil glanced away to his door.

"I am useless.." He frowned, becoming angry at his own statement.

"I'm useless!" He yelled, his chest heaving as a few tears came to the corners of his eyes. Virgil sniffed and wiped them away, trying to compose himself; he turned to the couch, taking a few blurry steps towards it before something caught his attention.

Virgil blinked and cleared his teary gaze to see a faded bear with light brown fur, a red shirt, and blue shorts, sitting on the couch; it was almost transparent and could've easily been missed. He took a step closer to it, looking at it in confusion; where had it come from?

Virgil hesitantly reached out a hand and lightly took it, looking into the bears plastic and lifeless eyes; they were almost comforting and a bit... familiar....

————

"I don't know... Who are they going to cast us as even...? What if it's the main character?! I don't know if I could take that..!" A young boy exclaimed, his hands hiding away in two long sleeved shirts he wore.

"Calm down Fear, I'm sure it'll be fine! And if we get casted as the main character, I'm sure Responsibility will be sure to remember our lines, and Adventure will be more than happy to act!" A second boy reasoned with the first, his bracelets moving up and down his wrist as he spoke, trying to calm his friend.

"I don't know compassion... I don't know if I can do this... I don't even know if we should do this anymore! What if we embarrass ourselves?! What if we forget a line?? And with that big test coming up in math..! How can we study for both of these things?!"

Compassion sighed and put his hands on Fears shoulders.

"Your "what if's" are merely speculations, you don't know for sure if they'll happen." He stated calmly. "We can do this, and you can too."

Fear looked away his gaze fleeting nervously.

"I don't know..." He whispered and Compassion looked away, his brain racking.

"Here." He stated, as a stuffed bear appeared in his arms, Fear looked at him in confusion.

"He can be your buddy, when you're scared you can hug him for comfort, and when you're feeling uncertain you can talk to him." Compassion handed over the stuffed animal and Fear took it lightly, his eyes wide as he stared at it.

"He's very brave and will always be by your side."

"You're always so quick to help Compassion.. Thank you," Fear said quietly, hugging the bear.

Compassion smiled.

"Anything for a friend." And he put his arm around his companions shoulders.

- - - - - -

Virgil blinked rapidly as the vision whisked away from sight and he found himself back in his room, standing in front of the couch and holding the bear as tears streamed down his cheeks; looking down at the stuffed animal with wonder, the side realized some of the color had come back to the faded object.

Thoughts whirling, Virgil hugged it to his chest, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

"Alright.." He thought calmly before sitting down on the couch and laying down. Thinking only to himself, Virgil peeked out at the stuffed bear and smiled at its brown glossy eyes before closing his own and allowing sleep to bring his mind to a close for the night. 

- - - - -

Hey! Thank you so much for reading! I'm sure you've heard this from a lot of creators but- I may be taking a small hiatus..??

School is starting back up for me soon and I'll be entering my second year of high school..!! Yay...!

So I'll be a bit busy..!! Let me get used to my schedule before I start updating again- I may miss next week >~< sorry if thats the case..!

I love all of you so much- thank you for so many readers- and thank you so much for sticking with this story!!

We've still got a little while to go before this book comes to an end so I hope you'll stay tuned!!

Thanks!

-Rix