章 9: Make a friend.
One year and ten months had passed since Tuesday was reincarnated.
Soon, Wednesday would be two years old.
In the beginning, their lives were full of threats and dangers.
Tuesday had to stay constantly vigilant to protect them from harm.
But as time passed, things became more peaceful—at least physically.
When Wednesday was a baby, her curiosity about the mansion was unmanageable, but over time, she grew more introverted and quiet.
It was a gradual change, but day by day he felt Wednesday becoming more and more reserved with people around her.
Tuesday looked at the book in their hands melancholically.
As always, Wednesday was in control of the body, reading a book.
Since the day he cried, she never spoke about exploring the mansion again, instead, she would immerse herself in her reading.
The content of those books grew creepier by the day, and Tuesday knew he couldn't control her impulses much longer.
His original intent was to prevent Wednesday from developing a distorted sense of normalcy like the rest of her family and to give her a proper childhood.
He wanted Wednesday to be like any other child.
He wished she could enjoy playing in the dirt, playing tag with friends, and watching cartoons.
But from the beginning, this was fated to fail.
The mansion was isolated from any semblance of civilization.
Their food was hunted directly by Uncle Fester, and the mansion was magically self-sufficient.
Wednesday didn't have any friends to play with or have normal interactions.
The only people she had were a family of sociopaths and the spirit of a man who claimed to treat her like a father and watched her every move.
She would never be like any normal child, and maybe... that was for the best.
No ordinary child could endure the lifestyle of the Addams family.
In her lessons with Grandmama, she was filled with all kinds of disturbing knowledge.
Afterward, she practiced swordplay with Uncle Fester, and every day she interacted with her eccentric parents.
Tuesday lived in her head, but even being by her side every hour of the day wasn't enough.
For almost two years, he had tried to be the best parental figure he could.
And he had failed.
Tuesday was completely lost in his decisions regarding Wednesday and how he should treat her from now on.
His spirit was being consumed, watching Wednesday being corrupted by her family day after day.
That's why he impulsively asked her a question.
'Don't you feel lonely?'
"Lonely?"
Wednesday replied to his question with confusion, her reading interrupted by Tuesday.
Seeing her puzzled expression, he continued.
'Aren't you curious about how people live outside? What do they like, what do they do?"
Silence filled the room after his words. Wednesday was pondering his words carefully.
"I'm not," she said with a frown as if she had been asked a stupid question. "There is no time to feel lonely."
Wednesday never felt lonely.
The main reason was that she was never alone.
Since the first day she could remember, Tuesday had been by her side.
When she felt bad or frustrated, he would sing her a song. Even when she was reading or training, he was always quietly there.
If her training was intense, he would tell her to rest.
If she read excessively, he would tell her to take a break.
There was no way she could feel lonely, having such an overprotective sister.
Listening to her words, Tuesday instinctively felt that she was telling the truth.
But even so, his worries couldn't vanish.
'Don't you want a friend?'
"Why would I need a friend?"
'You could play, talk about fun things, and experience different things. You would have someone who understands you and who you can rely on for your worries.'
In his past life, Tuesday hadn't had many friends, but he still had a few people he could rely on, like his girlfriend.
Without her, he never would have endured the hard life of an idol.
That's why he wanted Wednesday to have someone like that too—someone who could understand her and lead her in the right direction.
Because even though he lived in her mind and shared the same body, he instinctively felt that he wasn't enough.
"And why should I share my thoughts and time with a stranger?"
But of course, Wednesday didn't share his perspective.
She didn't like the thought of someone else invading her private world.
It would be a lie if she said she wasn't interested in what was outside.
Her parents always avoided talking about common people.
But her interest was limited to curiosity.
Instead of wanting to make friends, she was more curious about why Tuesday was asking these sudden questions.
"Why do you want me to have friends?"
'Because I can't be by your side.'
"What do you mean by that? Aren't you here?"
'It's different. I mean physically. Someone you can hold hands with, laugh with, and hug when you're feeling down.'
Tuesday's words were full of complex emotions.
These were the feelings he had kept buried inside.
There wasn't a single day he didn't feel helpless and useless.
He secretly wished someone could take Wednesday out of this environment and become a real support to her.
She was so young; it would be a shame if her perspective on friendship disappeared so quickly.
In the future, Tuesday hoped those friends could give her a little more common sense.
Because there were clear limits to his influence in the present.
"I don't need it."
Even so, Wednesday held her point stoically.
'Why can't you give it a try? Everyone needs at least one friend.'
"Everything I need is right here."
'I also like reading books, but—'
"I'm not talking about books."
With her words, the book she held was abruptly closed, making a loud sound in the previously quiet room.
A cold feeling began to invade his mind; these were Wednesday's emotions.
"Is it because I'm always in control?"
Wednesday's words were filled with a faint sadness and worry.
Tuesday didn't know how his words about making friends had led to this.
'I'm not talking about that! This is your body, and I'm not upset about that.'
"My body?"
'Of course, it's your right. You should live the way you want.'
"..."
Silence filled the room once again.
Tuesday had said these words to reassure her, but a tight sensation grew more deeply in his chest.
Guilt, sadness, and shame.
All emotions that didn't belong to him, but to Wednesday.
Suddenly Tuesday felt a strong force pulling him out of his comfortable place.
The feelings in his hands and body had become more clear.
Wednesday had switched her control to Tuesday.
Tuesday immediately tried to change the control back to her, but he felt as if a wall had blocked his way.
"What are you doing...?"
'You said this body was mine, right? In that case, I don't want to use it anymore.'
"What?" Tuesday felt his face becoming pale in real-time. "You can't do it!"
'I can. You said the body was mine.'
"If it's yours use it yourself!"
'I don't want.'
"Y-You...!"
Tuesday tried again to take back control, but it was futile. Wednesday's will was stronger than his.
"I'm sorry, Wednesday. This body belongs to us, now turn back."
Being in the lead of the body meant dealing directly with the Addams.
Just having this thought made his heart race desperately.
His breath became irregular and his legs weakened, but unlike usual, Wednesday still didn't turn back.
'I can turn back...'
Her words felt like water in the desert, but a bad feeling still haunted his soul.
"What do you want?"
'I'll turn back if you make a friend.'
"I don't need one!"
The only possible "friends" were the Addams.
There was no way he could get along with them.
'Then I won't turn back.'
"..."
Suddenly the roles reversed before he could do anything.
Once Wednesday made up her mind, nothing could change it.
If he didn't make a friend, he would have to live in this body entirely.
He felt his fingers grow cold with anxiety.
He had dug his own grave.
*
Author note
I'll release the next chapter tomorrow. I gave up on the idea of writing it monthly, this was killing my motivation. I practiced writing with some private stories, and I successfully reduced the long 4-6 hours for a draft to 2 hours, Now I can write a chapter a day without burnout.
I'll release a chapter of both my stories on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 2 PM (GMT-4). I'm sorry for the quality of those chapters, I'm still getting used to the techniques. I'll save the chapters as a stock.
If I can't handle it the schedule might change.
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