here goes nothing

Spider is trembling now, both with the shock of the afternoon’s events and their dismay at Strai’s words. they’ve seen him angry, of course, but never like this. never so determined and stubborn and scared. that’s what this is: fear. turns out Strai did get scared after all, only it wasn’t about the usual things, like the dark or big predators or sharp knives. “p-please,” Spider begs, tears spilling from their eyes. their bottom lip trembles, and a terrible pain is stabbing at their heart, impossibly worst than the throbbing in their hip. “it’s o-okay that you care, it’s okay that you got scared! i care too! we can…we work through this together!”

they take a trembling step forward, eyes wide and beseeching. begging, pleading for Strai to just stay, to just talk to them. “i’ve never had anyone like you, Strai. please don’t do this…” their voice dissolves into sobs that wrack their chest and make their shoulders tremble. “please, just…stay.” oh stars, why didn’t anyone stay?