Work Text:
Tommy felt icky. He had just dragged himself home from a long and shitty day at college only for him to be sick. A cold! His head hurt, his eyes hurt, his feet hurt, his whole fucking body hurt, his throat was dry forever and his nose was stuffy.
Then he tried to stream. It was not a good plan, but he did it anyway, before collapsing in bed and falling into a restless sleep. He was then violently woken up by his mother to go get groceries. Then he had to put them away.
Finally, after chores and eating, and more chores, he managed to curl up in bed, phone in both of his hands, his pillow pet (Star, named after the stars on her back and the sparkly horn on her head.) in his arms, and tears slowly building.
He was lonely. He wanted someone to take care of him, to comfort him as he had another coughing fit, to tell him he was so strong and good and a little boy like him doesn’t need to worry about anything. Instead he had no messages and the hatred of asking for help. He didn’t want to burden anyone, Wilbur was probably busy, Phil was streaming, Techno was taking a (much needed) mental break and didn’t want to be bothered. In short, his whole support system seemed to collapse underneath him whenever he needed it.
His eyes hurt to move, and sobbing only hurt his already sore throat, but he couldn’t help the pain seeping through his eyes and mouth. It hurt, really, to know no one cared nearly as much as he did. He took a deep breath and decided to reach out to at least someone. So, he opened discord and texted one of his friends. Only for it to end on him being left on read. In exact words it was this.
T:How are you?
M:I’m good
T:That’s good
Nobody ever asked how he was.
He never got the chance to finally tell someone how he was. He was so tired of being ignored, or taken advantage of, and he felt so lonely. Like that bone deep loneliness that doesn’t leave, and the second you aren’t distracted, bam, it hits you like a damn train. The loneliness that you make sure your friends don’t experience but you couldn’t in a million years say they do the same.
He curled further into the bed and let his tears fall into Star, wishing in such a big world he had someone.