Snowcon Forest

Good Enough

They were leaving her.

Again.

The figures in the distance, blurred by the heavy fog that surrounded them, continued to slowly walk away from her, not once looking back.

Her heart ached.

She cried out, reaching for them, but the figures did not respond and kept moving away. Moving away from her. She tried to run after them, tried to pick up her legs, but her limbs felt as though they were stuck and trying to move through thick mud.

No matter how hard she tried she could barely move, and the figures in the distance were getting further away still. She had to stop them somehow!

"I'm sorry I'm not good enough, but please, take me with you!" She shouted, voice cracking in sorrow as she spoke.

"Don't leave me alone again!"

Finally the figures turned around, their features sharpening into focus, oddly similar to her own. She grinned and tried to run towards them, relief flooding her.

"Burden."

The word was whispered but it floated through the silent air and into her ears, stumbling as her body came to a halt. Panic spread through her and her body started quaking.

No she was not. She was no burden she would not hold them back while they explored.

"Burden, burden, burden, burden,"

No they're lying, I'm not a burden! I can take care of myself just please don't leave me here!

"Burden, burden, burden, burden,"

I'm not, I promise I'm not! Don't leave me alone, please!

"Goodbye."

MOM, DAD, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!

xxxxxxxxxx

Hat Kid woke up with a gasp, tears already spilling out of her eyes as she clutched at the red blanket she had "borrowed" from Snatcher. The warm fabric did little to alleviate the sorrow and pain that still threatened to engulf her, but she did her best to ground herself.

She took a deep breath in and let it out, repeating this process several more times until her mind was just a bit more clear, her thoughts a smidge more coherent.

The blanket smelled like books, it smelled like Snatcher.

More tears poured out of her eyes. She wanted Snatcher! She wanted someone to make her feel better and the goofy shadow never failed to do so, even when he tried to be mean!

"Relying on someone else doesn't make you weak."

Snatcher...

It was weird how nervous she felt about bugging him now. Usually she would have no problem bursting into his house tree thing and annoying the life, or death, out of him, but now she was scared he would reject her.

Reject her like her parents had.

"Snatcher told me I could depend on people." Hat Kid muttered, further wrapping the blanket around her. "He also helped me when I was sick and tried to protect me when he thought I was in danger."

The fear of rejection still flourished in her troubled heart, but the child did her best to push it down and slowly get out of bed. She did not bother to change out of her lavender pajamas, a button up shirt and matching pants, and instead threw the blanket over her shoulders.