* 𝖲𝖳𝖨𝖫𝖫. 𝖭𝖮𝖳. 𝖡𝖨𝖳𝖳𝖤𝖭 !

❝  i only want you.  ❞

❝  i don’t need anyone else.  i just…you.  you’re all i need.  ❞

❝  listen,  i’ve lost a lot of people in my life.  i learned how to deal with it but…you’re different.  i can’t take it if it’s you.  ❞

❝  i think about anything happening to you and i— i just.  i fucking lose it.  ❞

❝  you don’t understand.  i need you safe.  not because i don’t think you can handle yourself but because i can’t focus on anything else if there’s even the smallest possibility you’re in danger.  ❞

❝  no one is ever gonna get near you again,  you hear me?  ❞

❝  i won’t let you get hurt.  i promise.  and i don’t make empty promises.  ❞

❝  turn around.  you don’t need to see this part.  ❞

❝  just give the word and i’ll kill every one of them.  ❞

❝  you can’t get all worked up every time something happens to me.  that’s just life.  you’re not always gonna be able to protect me from it.  ❞

❝  no one else understands me.  but you do.  you always do.  ❞

❝  i don’t think i’m the best person for you,  i don’t.  but i do know i’m the one that can keep you safe  ❞

❝  hey—  look at me.  it’s over.  it’s done.  we’re okay.  ❞

❝  who the fuck made you cry i’ll fucking rip their head off.  ❞ 

❝  i know you’ve always got my back.  ❞

❝  please,  let me take care of you this time.  you’re always protecting me but it tears me up inside every time you get hurt because of it.  ❞

❝  can you make everyone else just go away?  i know they mean well but i just want to be alone—  alone with you i mean.  ❞

❝  i know when you’re here,  the real monsters can’t touch me.  ❞

❝   oh,  i am one of the monsters.  but that just means i can keep all the other monsters from ever hurting you again. ❞ 

❝  if you’re gonna keep risking your life for me than you’re also gonna let me patch you up without a single complaint.  ❞

❝  we keep each other safe.  it’s my turn to protect you.  ❞

❝  i killed them for you.  i know you could’ve done it yourself,  but you shouldn’t have to.  ❞

❝   i love you because i know how capable you are.  and i show that love by making sure you don’t have to be the one to always do the hard things.  ❞

❝   i’m gonna make them regret ever even thinking about laying a hand on you.  ❞

❝  tell me what you want me to do.  i’ll do it.  whatever you want.  ❞

❝  i love you just like this.  i love you when you touch me gently like no one else ever has.  and i love you when your hands are bloody and your knuckles are bruised. ❞

❝  please,  just let me protect you.  ❞

❝  are you hurt?  did they hurt you?  ❞

❝  wait,  stop you’re bleeding.  ❞

❝  did you just wince?  where are you hurt?  ❞

❝  i need you in my life.  i’m not used to that—  needing people.  but i do need you.  ❞

❝  you make me feel things i’m not used to feeling.  ❞

❝  why do you let me close when you’re always driving everyone else away?  ❞

❝   you’re mine.  and i protect what’s mine.  ❞

❝  thank you for always being here for me.  ❞

❝  you see things in me that i didn’t even know where there.  ❞

❝  that’s enough.  let’s go home.  ❞

❝  i’m okay now.  i’m safe.  you don’t have to be angry anymore.  ❞

❝  please stop—  this is scaring me. ❞

❝  you don’t have to do this for me.  ❞

❝   hey stop— stop!  look at me.  they’re dead now.  you can stop.  ❞

❝  i have to make an example outta them so no one else tries to hurt you again.  ❞

❝  killing for you is easy.  it’s right.  it feels natural.  ❞

❝  let me do this for you.  ❞

SCENARIOS

[ ONE ]  for sender to take a bullet for receiver. 

[ TWO ]  for receiver to take a bullet for sender. 

[ THREE ]  for sender to protect receiver and then carry them to safety. 

[ FOUR ]  for receiver to protect sender and then carry them to safety. 

[ FIVE ]  for sender to witness receiver get hurt which sends them into a violent rage.

[ SIX ]  for receiver to witness sender get hurt which sends them into a violent rage. 

[ SEVEN ]  for sender to be hurt trying to protect receiver which makes them bloodthirsty for revenge.

[ EIGHT ]   for receiver to be hurt trying to protect sender which makes them bloodthirsty for revenge.

[ NINE ]  for sender to have violently protected receiver,  so receiver kisses them to calm them down. 

[ TEN ]  for receiver to have violently protected sender,  so sender kisses them to calm them down. 

[ ELEVEN ]  for sender to carefully approach receiver in the aftermath,  gently touching them to try and bring them back to themselves. 

[ TWELVE ]  for receiver to carefully approach sender in the aftermath,  gently touching them to try and bring them back to themselves. 

[ THIRTEEN ]  sender was kidnapped,  receiver shows up to save them.  

[ FOURTEEN ]  receiver was kidnapped,  sender shows up to save them.  

[ FIFTEEN ]  sender executes a third party in front of receiver because that person hurt them. 

[ SIXTEEN ]  receiver executes a third party in front of sender because that person hurt them. 

[ SEVENTEEN ]  sender thinks they’re alone but receiver comes out of nowhere to rescue them from someone who intends to do harm/making them uncomfortable. 

[ EIGHTEEN ]   receiver thinks they’re alone but sender comes out of nowhere to rescue them from someone who intends to do harm/making them uncomfortable. 

[ NINETEEN ]  sender has been devastated by something.  receiver holds them until they calm down so they don’t do anything drastic. 

[ TWENTY ]  receiver has been devastated by something.  sender holds them until they calm down so they don’t do anything drastic. 

[ TWENTY-ONE ]  sender thought receiver died so they set out to get revenge.  receiver shows up in time to stand in front of them before they go too far.  

[ TWENTY-TWO ]  receiver thought sender died so they set out to get revenge.  sender shows up in time to stand in front of them before they go too far. 

[ TWENTY-THREE ]  sender is in a vengeful rage because of something that happened to receiver.  receiver gently approaches to calm them down saying this isn’t what they want. 

[ TWENTY-FOUR ]  receiver is in a vengeful rage because of something that happened to sender.  sender gently approaches to calm them down saying this isn’t what they want. 

[ TWENTY-FIVE ]  for sender to have receiver stand by somewhere safe where they can watch sender kill on their behalf. 

❝  what does ‘happy’ feel like?  ❞

❝  i think the real ‘monsters’ are the ones who create the monstrous things.  ❞

❝  broken things aren’t always ruined.  ❞

❝  healing isn’t always about putting yourself back together the way you were.  it’s about making something new out of the pieces that are left.  ❞

❝  they stole my voice.  this is me taking it back.  ❞

❝  dying isn’t so bad…it’s the leaving.  going away when you haven’t really even gotten to do anything yet.  ❞

❝  quiet.  the ghosts are talking.  ❞

❝  i think sometimes,  some people are just meant to carry pain.  ❞

❝  i’m not sure what love is supposed to feel like.  i’ve never really had it before…but i know i feel good with you.  warm.  like home.  ❞

❝  there are some things worse than death.  would you like to see them?  ❞

❝  you can get used to any pain.  but loneliness,   that’s what makes you break.  ❞

❝  the only thing that saved me was me.  ❞

❝  i didn’t survive…i just didn’t die.  there’s a difference.  ❞

❝  please stop lying i’m trying to think.  ❞

❝  i’ve always been at home among the haunted things.  ❞

❝  the world is too big.  and i don’t know how to be in it anymore.  ❞

❝  i’ve seen what ‘bad’ looks like.  you’re one of the good ones,  trust me.  ❞

❝  i think i’m afraid to heal,  because that means i can be broken again.  ❞

❝  there is good in the world.  i know there is.  i just don’t think i get to have it in my life.  ❞

❝  you have to hold on to the little joys when you find them.  ❞

❝  everything in nature is about balance.  i think the spiritual world is like that too.  maybe,  if my life is so filled with darkness and hurt,  someone else out there is getting nothing but light and warmth.  someone who deserves it.  ❞

❝  i don’t want to hide anymore.  ❞

❝  sometimes it’s easier to believe there’s something wrong with me.  it’s easier than if i didn’t deserve all those things and people knew that and chose to hurt me anyway.  that just seems worse somehow.  ❞

❝  you have a very messy brain.  ❞

❝  do you think the moon gets lonely?  ❞

❝  when i was little i used to believe fairies made it rain.  i think i just wanted the world to feel magical.  ❞

❝  people always go away.  even if they don’t mean to.  no one stays.  ❞

❝  anything can be a cage.  ❞

❝  at least,  no one can touch my soul.  that’s mine.  that will always be mine.  ❞

❝  time doesn’t speak to me.  ❞

❝  embrace your chaos…hug your demons.  ❞

❝  there are things you can never forget once you know them.  ❞

❝  don’t go poking around this stuff…it pokes back.  ❞

❝  i just live in each second as it comes.  that’s all i have.  ❞

❝  the only thing we can really control is ourselves.  but there’s a power in that.  only you get to decide what kind of person all the hard things turn you into.  ❞

❝  i feel like i don’t know much of anything anymore.  ❞

❝  a body is just something you’re stuck inside.  it’s not really you.  just a place to stay for a little while.  ❞

❝  i don’t know why people like to hurt me.  they just do.  ❞

❝  i killed him but,  now there’s a mess.  ❞

❝  i want to help.  please?  i just want to do something good.  ❞

❝  i’m not very brave.  or strong.  i broke.  they broke me…but i’m still here.  ❞

❝  i got blood on my dress.  i really like that dress.  ❞

❝  there are so many secrets in my head i never asked for.  ❞

❝  i’m in here.  i’m inside this body.  there’s still a person in here and it’s mine.   it’s my body.  i’m tired of so many people acting like it isn’t.  ❞

❝  i don’t really sleep much anymore.  but it’s okay,  someone has to keep the moon company.  ❞

❝  i’m so angry.  it’s always there.  but if i let it out i’m afraid i’ll never stop.  ❞

❝  i didn’t think i’d still be alive by now.  i’m not really sure what to do now that i am.  ❞

❝  everyone’s a little bit broken.  but it’s okay.  broken things can be pretty too.  that’s how mosaics are made.  ❞

❝  i don’t want anyone to hurt the way i’ve hurt.  no one deserves that kind of pain.  ❞

❝  i’ll be gentle with your heart.  ❞

❝  i like your soul.  it’s beautiful.  ❞

❝  you have a pretty brain.  ❞

❝  the pain gets better.  it won’t go away completely but.  you get used to it.  it will get easier to breathe,  bit by bit until you don’t really notice it anymore.  ❞

❝  let me make it better.  please?  ❞

❝  you’re hurting.  i can tell.  you don’t have to hide it.  ❞

❝  you can’t hurt me in a way i haven’t already survived.  ❞

❝  the thing about being broken,  is it’s already done.  you know you can get through anything after that.  ❞

❝  people are kind of like art.  everyone is going to see something different when they look at you.  ❞

❝  i choose to help people because no one helped me.  i want to be that person for others that i needed.  ❞

❝  fucking dumbasshole.  ❞

          One of the people in the group, Tripp, had recognized her name upon introduction and confirmed that Clementine was, in fact, inside Richmond’s walls. Sarah had needed to steady herself, to take deep breaths and save her emotions for when she saw her sister again. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before David’s brother and son had entered, and the opportunity to search arose when Ava opted to bring her along with the three of them to retrieve weapons, as well as medical supplies for Kate’s gunshot wound. Being Dr. Lingard’s student, Sarah was normally allowed access to these supplies, but she needed to run it by him. 

          There had been no sign of Clem on the way to the hospital building, much to Sarah’s dismay. It was more than a little difficult to keep the dejected expression from her face, no way to hide the pain and disappointment in her eyes. When they’d stopped in front of the room the group were sure that Dr. Lingard would be in, Ava advised her to be careful and promised that she’d give her a holler if she saw Clementine herself. Sarah nodded, hesitated for just a moment, and opened the door. 

          When she recognized the baseball cap, when she realized just who was crouched down in front of the cupboards, she froze in place. For a few moments too long she stood there in pure shock. It was at that moment when she realized that Ava didn’t need to give her a holler. It was at that moment that she knew that she was no longer alone. 

          It was at that moment when Sarah, after six long, insufferable, grueling months, had her sister back.

          She stepped forward, unable to stop the lump that formed in her throat. Her body began to tremble as her shattered heart pieced itself back together bit by tiny bit. When she found her voice, she emitted what could have been considered a half-laugh and half-sob. “Clementine…?”

           she had such a terrible headache that she didn’t even notice the door opening behind her. clementine went about her way to do her own thing as soon as she stepped foot in richmond, almost. not that she didn’t like javi and wasn’t interested in helping him, if she could, but she had better things to do. more important things. 

          if she was being true to herself, clementine expected to find her sister in the hospital, but instead found a passed out lingard --- much to the anger that boiled inside of her --- and decided she wouldn’t waste the trip. she had a terrible headache for a few days now and maybe there was something lying around that she could take. what would they do --- exile her twice?

          once she heard sarah’s voice, she turned, startled, but relaxing once she noticed that sarah was alone.  ❝ sarah! ❞ without wasting a beat, clem rushed towards her and put her arms around her slender frame. sarah had always been taller than clementine, but had she grown even more? maybe she was imagining it.  ❝ i missed you so much! i’m so glad you’re okay. ❞

          losing sarah would be the last drop to finally break her. clementine couldn’t even think about it.  ❝ i came to look for you as soon as i could. i’m--- how are you? ❞ she stepped back a little just to look at her face and noticed a new scar. immediately, clementine tensed with anger. ❝ who did this to you? who did this to you? ❞

❝  i only want you.  ❞

❝  i don’t need anyone else.  i just…you.  you’re all i need.  ❞

❝  listen,  i’ve lost a lot of people in my life.  i learned how to deal with it but…you’re different.  i can’t take it if it’s you.  ❞

❝  i think about anything happening to you and i— i just.  i fucking lose it.  ❞

❝  you don’t understand.  i need you safe.  not because i don’t think you can handle yourself but because i can’t focus on anything else if there’s even the smallest possibility you’re in danger.  ❞

❝  no one is ever gonna get near you again,  you hear me?  ❞

❝  i won’t let you get hurt.  i promise.  and i don’t make empty promises.  ❞

❝  turn around.  you don’t need to see this part.  ❞

❝  just give the word and i’ll kill every one of them.  ❞

❝  you can’t get all worked up every time something happens to me.  that’s just life.  you’re not always gonna be able to protect me from it.  ❞

❝  no one else understands me.  but you do.  you always do.  ❞

❝  i don’t think i’m the best person for you,  i don’t.  but i do know i’m the one that can keep you safe  ❞

❝  hey—  look at me.  it’s over.  it’s done.  we’re okay.  ❞

❝  who the fuck made you cry i’ll fucking rip their head off.  ❞ 

❝  i know you’ve always got my back.  ❞

❝  please,  let me take care of you this time.  you’re always protecting me but it tears me up inside every time you get hurt because of it.  ❞

❝  can you make everyone else just go away?  i know they mean well but i just want to be alone—  alone with you i mean.  ❞

❝  i know when you’re here,  the real monsters can’t touch me.  ❞

❝   oh,  i am one of the monsters.  but that just means i can keep all the other monsters from ever hurting you again. ❞ 

❝  if you’re gonna keep risking your life for me than you’re also gonna let me patch you up without a single complaint.  ❞

❝  we keep each other safe.  it’s my turn to protect you.  ❞

❝  i killed them for you.  i know you could’ve done it yourself,  but you shouldn’t have to.  ❞

❝   i love you because i know how capable you are.  and i show that love by making sure you don’t have to be the one to always do the hard things.  ❞

❝   i’m gonna make them regret ever even thinking about laying a hand on you.  ❞

❝  tell me what you want me to do.  i’ll do it.  whatever you want.  ❞

❝  i love you just like this.  i love you when you touch me gently like no one else ever has.  and i love you when your hands are bloody and your knuckles are bruised. ❞

❝  please,  just let me protect you.  ❞

❝  are you hurt?  did they hurt you?  ❞

❝  wait,  stop you’re bleeding.  ❞

❝  did you just wince?  where are you hurt?  ❞

❝  i need you in my life.  i’m not used to that—  needing people.  but i do need you.  ❞

❝  you make me feel things i’m not used to feeling.  ❞

❝  why do you let me close when you’re always driving everyone else away?  ❞

❝   you’re mine.  and i protect what’s mine.  ❞

❝  thank you for always being here for me.  ❞

❝  you see things in me that i didn’t even know where there.  ❞

❝  that’s enough.  let’s go home.  ❞

❝  i’m okay now.  i’m safe.  you don’t have to be angry anymore.  ❞

❝  please stop—  this is scaring me. ❞

❝  you don’t have to do this for me.  ❞

❝   hey stop— stop!  look at me.  they’re dead now.  you can stop.  ❞

❝  i have to make an example outta them so no one else tries to hurt you again.  ❞

❝  killing for you is easy.  it’s right.  it feels natural.  ❞

❝  let me do this for you.  ❞

SCENARIOS

[ ONE ]  for sender to take a bullet for receiver. 

[ TWO ]  for receiver to take a bullet for sender. 

[ THREE ]  for sender to protect receiver and then carry them to safety. 

[ FOUR ]  for receiver to protect sender and then carry them to safety. 

[ FIVE ]  for sender to witness receiver get hurt which sends them into a violent rage.

[ SIX ]  for receiver to witness sender get hurt which sends them into a violent rage. 

[ SEVEN ]  for sender to be hurt trying to protect receiver which makes them bloodthirsty for revenge.

[ EIGHT ]   for receiver to be hurt trying to protect sender which makes them bloodthirsty for revenge.

[ NINE ]  for sender to have violently protected receiver,  so receiver kisses them to calm them down. 

[ TEN ]  for receiver to have violently protected sender,  so sender kisses them to calm them down. 

[ ELEVEN ]  for sender to carefully approach receiver in the aftermath,  gently touching them to try and bring them back to themselves. 

[ TWELVE ]  for receiver to carefully approach sender in the aftermath,  gently touching them to try and bring them back to themselves. 

[ THIRTEEN ]  sender was kidnapped,  receiver shows up to save them.  

[ FOURTEEN ]  receiver was kidnapped,  sender shows up to save them.  

[ FIFTEEN ]  sender executes a third party in front of receiver because that person hurt them. 

[ SIXTEEN ]  receiver executes a third party in front of sender because that person hurt them. 

[ SEVENTEEN ]  sender thinks they’re alone but receiver comes out of nowhere to rescue them from someone who intends to do harm/making them uncomfortable. 

[ EIGHTEEN ]   receiver thinks they’re alone but sender comes out of nowhere to rescue them from someone who intends to do harm/making them uncomfortable. 

[ NINETEEN ]  sender has been devastated by something.  receiver holds them until they calm down so they don’t do anything drastic. 

[ TWENTY ]  receiver has been devastated by something.  sender holds them until they calm down so they don’t do anything drastic. 

[ TWENTY-ONE ]  sender thought receiver died so they set out to get revenge.  receiver shows up in time to stand in front of them before they go too far.  

[ TWENTY-TWO ]  receiver thought sender died so they set out to get revenge.  sender shows up in time to stand in front of them before they go too far. 

[ TWENTY-THREE ]  sender is in a vengeful rage because of something that happened to receiver.  receiver gently approaches to calm them down saying this isn’t what they want. 

[ TWENTY-FOUR ]  receiver is in a vengeful rage because of something that happened to sender.  sender gently approaches to calm them down saying this isn’t what they want. 

[ TWENTY-FIVE ]  for sender to have receiver stand by somewhere safe where they can watch sender kill on their behalf. 

the burdened:

“  being alive is exhausting.  ”

“  i ruin everything i touch.  ”

“  no one ever helped me when i needed it.  so,  i just.  try to do my best to keep others from feeling that kind of loneliness.  ”

“  i feel like the pain is all i am anymore. ”

“  i wish i remembered anything other than loneliness.  ”

“  i’m not a particularly good person.  but sometimes i wish someone would think i am.  ”

“  i’m just always the one who gets left behind.  ”

“  i never seem to belong anywhere.  or to anyone.  ”  

“  i’m alone.  and it’s my own fault.  but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.  ”

“  i don’t know how to just live.  i constantly feel like i’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.  ”

“  i always expect people to hurt me.  because they usually do. ”

“  i don’t know how to let go of my trauma.  i don’t know what i am without it.   ”

“  it’s better if i’m alone.  i can’t hurt anyone if there’s no one close enough to get hit by the debris of my fuck ups.  ”

“  there are just too many people depending on me.  i can’t rest.  i can’t let them down.  ”

“  i don’t have anything or anyone left anymore.  ”

“  i’m not strong.  or brave.  i survive ‘cause there’s not really any other choice. ”

“  i tried to give up before.  but the universe just didn’t let me.  ”

“  i just want to be done.  i’m tired.  i’m so,  so fucking tired.  ”

“  i know it’s selfish.  but i wish someone would just take care of me.  ”

“  every time i start to feel like things are getting quieter and i can feel safe,  something bad always happens.  ”

“  i tend to love people more than they love me.  and it’s okay.  i don’t mind but…it can be lonely.  ”

“  i just don’t feel like my life makes any difference to anyone.  i’m just here.  ”

the comforter: 

“  hey,  look at me.  i’m listening.  you can tell me anything. ”

“   how can i help you feel less alone?  ”

“  i’m here and i’m not leaving or letting you change the subject.  now talk to me. ”

“  i know you feel like you’re alone and i’m not going to invalidate that.  but i can tell you that i’m here.  and i know there are people who want to care and help if you’ll let them.  ”

“  whatever it is you’re struggling with,  i want to help and it’s not going to make me look at you any different.  ”

“   i like having you around.  and not because of what you can do for me or give to me—  i like you.  i value you as a person.  ”

“   i just need you to know that you’ve never been ‘nobody’ to me.  you’ve never been nothing.  ”

“   you’re important to me.   you hear me?  you’re important.  and that’s never gonna change.   ”

“  i’m not going anywhere until you get some sleep.  ”

“  i want to take care of you.  please,  let me.  ”

“  no one is meant to be all alone.  that’s not how humans are built.  you don’t need to do all this on your own.   ”

“  you don’t deserve the bad things that happen to you.  you never did.  ”

“  i can’t promise you aren’t going to have any more hardship.  but i can promise i’m gonna be right here to get your through it. ”

“  you make a difference in my life.  i’m not just saying that.  it wouldn’t be the same without you here and i don’t want to find out what it’d be like to not have you around. ”

“  next time it gets this bad,  you call me okay?  now you just sit there and i’m gonna make you some tea and soup and we’re gonna talk this out. ”

“   is it getting bad again?  ”