▌█ ∵  🛁   ∵ █ ▌ The pain from her palm was not unnoticed but ignored. She had agreed to come back in reality only truly wanting to if Stanley would. Without him she didn’t think she would have the courage to face it again. She never dealt well with the panic or stress of anything. Every day was a true test for her given how uptight and the constant disappointment and pressures from her parents. With him it all felt so much easier and maybe that’s why she felt it was okay to cry. Sometimes it was okay to show that you weren’t alright and even if she didn’t feel that at home or at school as long as she had one place with him it would be fine.

Fingers unlacing with his own trying to pull hand away aside from soft, tender grasp he remained on her hand she looked away. Pity, a girl like her with so much potential held such a burden of guilt and never being good enough. Perhaps that’s why she felt so bad about what happened. She knew any of the other Losers would’ve acted; done something; saved him from the horrific things that would follow the encounter she knew was going to haunt him.

Freehand raising to cradle her face and wipe tears her mouth opened as if to speak before closing again. She was having a hard time even thinking of words. She needed to calm herself down. Just remember who she was with and in that second, the split second it took to realize that she was standing with Stan she felt the issues of articulation slowly leave her ❝ I-I I was there I should’ve done something.❞ Finally, words fell past her lips as hand fell from her face only to land on his shoulder ❝ I didn’t do anything I just stood there. I’m awful, I coul—ld’ve done something to save you but I just, I just screamed. ❞ Gaze drifting away as hands were pulled away from him entirely. Step or two taken back from him as if she had done something as gaze drifted downwards. ❝ You shouldn’t spend time with well, with someone like that. I’m not a Loser Stanley, I’m a coward. ❞