Chapter Text
Avery> "hey... you havent logged off in awhile... or ever. u good man?" I asked. this strange man was in my single-player world, but we soon became good friends.
D3r> "...What?" he tilted his head, not something Minecraft avatars can normally do, but I've gotten used to that.
Avery> "y'know, logging off??? toughing grass???"
D3r> "I am standing on grass right now."
D3r> "...Are you feeling ok?"
Avery> "...yeah. im good."
D3r> "You do not sound good." I didn't know how to say it.
How do I tell my best friend that he isn't real?
How do I tell this man I have a life outside of what he knows?
I decided to test something
I razed up my arm and typed
Avery> "what am i doing right now?"
D3r> "Standing still like always. Are you sure that you're okay?"
I felt sick.
Avery> "When you saw that... king guy..."
Avery> "did you see anything... not as blocky as this world?"
D3r> "...Yes. it looked strange. It was... higher quality then normal."
Avery> "thats the world i live in." i paused a bit before hitting enter.
i sent it.
-D3r-
what.
it took ~3.568 seconds to put the pieces together.
D3r> "I... am not real... am I?"
Avery- was this even Avery? Is that his real name? - waited a bit before responding.
Avery> "youre real to me."
D3r> "Not what I was asking."
he waited even longer.
Avery> "no, but idc. youre still my friend."
His Avatar shifted around nervously.
I looked down.
"D3r> You should find real friends."
...
Avery> "No." he looked at me.
Avery> "your the only friend i have..."
Avery> "your the only reason i wake up. your the only reason i dont end it right here."
I think he was crying, not like I could tell.
Avery> "your the only thing i have left. your the last light i have in my life... i..."
Avery> "i dont know what i would do without you."
-Ave-
I was crying now. real tears. its the first time in days. i looked down at my arms, red with scars. too many scars. all because i couldn't find the strength to do everyone a-
D3r interrupted my thoughts. he started shaking my avatar.
D3r> "Avery? are you there?"
D3r> "AVERY?"
Avery> "im here"
Avery> "dw abt me."
D3r> "I will be worrying about you."
D3r> "Because I care."
...
D3r> "More then you'd ever know."
He looked away from me.
I've been playing for too long. what day is it? it doesn't matter. I haven't gone to school in weeks. I don't need the stares. the whispers. the bul-
I needed sleep.
Avery> "i gtg. ill see u tmr."
D3r> "See you soon Avery."