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1. What if the monster was just my own reflection? by Stay_safe_eat_cake

   Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

   • Mature
   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence
   • M/M
   • Work in Progress

   25 Jan 2026

   Tags

   • Graphic Depictions Of Violence
   • Will Byers/Mike Wheeler
   • Will Byers & Eleven | Jane Hopper
   • Will Byers & Henry Creel | One | Vecna
   • Will Byers & The Party
   • Jonathan Byers & Joyce Byers & Will Byers & Eleven | Jane Hopper
   • Will Byers
   • Mike Wheeler
   • Eleven | Jane Hopper
   • Henry Creel | One | Vecna
   • Joyce Byers
   • Jonathan Byers
   • The Party (Stranger Things)
   • Lonnie Byers
   • (ick)
   • Angst
   • Suicidal Thoughts
   • Implied/Referenced Suicide
   • Self-Harm
   • Implied/Referenced Self-Harm
   • Implied/Referenced Child Abuse
   • Will Byers Has PTSD
   • Internalized Homophobia
   • Dissociation
   • Reality is a struggle
   • Siblings Will Byers & Eleven | Jane Hopper
   • Will Byers Needs a Hug
   • Will Byers-centric obvi
   • vaguely canon compliant
   • Manipulative Henry Creel | One | Vecna
   • Soft Henry Creel | One | Vecna
   • Mike Wheeler is Bad at Feelings
   • Protective Mike Wheeler
   • Mike Wheeler Has Issues
   • Eleven | Jane Hopper is a Sweetheart
   • Autistic Eleven | Jane Hopper
   • her name is Jane
   • Period-Typical Homophobia
   • Period Typical Ableism
   • Depressed Will Byers
   • angst with no ending decided yet
   • this may be fix it this may be tragic cope idk yet

   Summary

   Nothing was ever okay anymore. Not when it came to Will. Everyone knew that. Everyone tried so hard to keep him afloat, but it just made it hurt so much more. The broken looks, the cold whispers, the careful words, it drove him insane. Every time he breathed a little too short, someone was worrying about him, but he couldn't ground himself in that; it just made him feel like an even bigger burden. If he were dead, no one would have to worry anymore.

   If he were dead, the fading in and out of memories and aches and cold and pain and blood and rot would all go away.

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   7,015

   Chapters:

   4/?

   Comments:

   1

   Kudos:

   29

   Bookmarks:

   5

   Hits:

   473