5 ∅ [Anonymous Text]

[callbacks]

[You'd think Dave would have learned his lesson about anonymity, but maybe learning doesn't stick so well at ass in the morning when he can't sleep. At least it doesn't seem like he's really trying to mask his identity, here. It's just...a plausible deniability thing, maybe. Probably, given the content of his message.]

what was growing up like for you
like
how was your childhood
were you happy

Comments

[Anon Text for all!]

[wing_attack]

It was pretty bad, actually.

I mean... no one wanted me.

[callbacks]

[Ow. Ow. That one slides home like a knife right through the heart. It takes a while for Dave to answer.]

how did you know

[wing_attack]

They told me.

I was 'a burden that she left behind' and 'no wonder your father ran off'.

[There's a moment before he responds again.]

They didn't even know my father. They couldn't have, but still. They didn't even tell me she was still alive.

They didn't care about me. They didn't want me. Legally they had to take care of me, but I was glad when I got the chance to leave.

[callbacks]

even if youd have to be alone
and take care of yourself on your own?

[wing_attack]

I took eating roadkill over being with them.

[... He's realizing he's not very good at being anonymous, but whatever.]

[callbacks]

uh

[wing_attack]

... I'm not good at being anonymous. I should probably mention that one of the reasons I got to leave home was because I got stuck as a bird.

But still. Roadkill over staying there. Not really a hard choice.

[callbacks]

i
wow
thats rough buddy

i dont know if i could have done that
i mean im not sure im biologically equipped to eat roadkill even if ive downed some questionable substances in my time
but
my room at least was ok
and
if i couldnt have talked to my friends online i wouldve had literally nothing
period
so what would have even been the point

[wing_attack]

Yeah I had... well they weren't friends at first but then they got to that point pretty quickly? I didn't really do friends growing up. I got moved between the coasts too often and no one wanted to be friends with the skinny nerd anyway.

But... yeah. Growing up, I... wasn't really happy. At all.

[callbacks]

did it ever get better

[wing_attack]

Well I mean... we were fighting a war against aliens, so no. But I did make friends so that's a plus. And it's not like there weren't fun moments, too.

[callbacks]

was
it worth it
do you think

[wing_attack]

I think so.

I mean not my aunt and uncle being horrible. But the rest of it, yeah.

[callbacks]

because of your friends?

[wing_attack]

Yeah. It could have been a lot worse with different people.

[callbacks]

i understand that
im glad you found them
and that you got out of where you were being treated bad

[wing_attack]

What about you? What happened?

If you want to talk about it, I mean.

[callbacks]

i dont
really want to get into it
suffice to say it sounds like our situations were kind of similar

minus the roadkill

[wing_attack]

That sucks. No one deserves that.

What about now, though? Are you happy?

[callbacks]

its better


but no

[wing_attack]

At least it's a step up.

Do you know what's making you not happy?

[callbacks]

in some sense yeah
its kind of obvious
in another no because ive got no frame of reference for what being happys even supposed to be like so how could i know whats keeping me from getting there

[wing_attack]

Honestly? I kind of understand that. Do you have at least moments where you're happy, even if happy's not like a baseline thing for you?

[callbacks]

sure
i have friends
and hobbies
christ do i have hobbies

[wing_attack]

At least you have something. It's better than being in it alone.

All I can say is keep moving forward. I mean, we don't really have any other option, right?