Shrignold stared at the bright phone screen, their eyes stung, probably from what the love cult group chat was saying. Disbelief drained from Shrig's body a while ago only to fill with a strange mixture of sadness and apathy, they expected what they were saying and knew they were like this but it couldn't help but feel like someone pierced the butterfly's heart with a sword.
Transphobic messages bumped around in Shrignold's mind, like a fly that's too blind to see the exit. They didn't notice when tears finally overfilled their eyes but wetness on Shrig's cheeks alerted them. The love cult didn't know and they didn't need to know, they'd be burned at the stake if Shrignold's little secret got out.
They didn't try to stop the tears or wipe them with their sleeve, it's already stained with tears from the moments they dread getting up in the mornings or the loose insults the teachers throw around from time to time. Only one line from their own subconscious bolded itself to Shrignold trying to fill as much space as possible;
Why's do you have to be such a baby? It's pathetic.
The butterfly had passed out due to exhaustion, despite it not feeling like they were tired, and had to go about their day like nothing happened. Shrignold had to stare the people who hated people like them in the eyes and just. not. cry. That task in itself seemed almost impossible but one thing kept them going.
Bat. Shrignold's dearly beloved, secret partner. Just the thought that they could just get the day over with and get back to him slight motivated them, not a lot but you know, any sort of motivation was an improvement to the butterfly.
