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1 year.
1 year since the carnage in the order. About 70 percent of those in attendance that fateful day were crumbled. So many were devoted to the point they showed a blind eye, thinking that being eaten by the avatar of destiny was the one true thing to do.
1 year since the rift opened for them, as it was already in Parfediea. 1 year since Seltzer Cookie started as a nurse to care for those injured. 1 year ago from this day, the beginning of the most brutal war for cookiekind began.
Most celebrate an anniversary proud and happy after a year, but for them? No. Both extrenally endured a normal day with a heavy burden on them.
Seltzer Cookie and Menthol Cookie lived together, as neither wanted to live alone until they were fully stable. Recovery takes 2 waves: and they needed normalcy. They lived in a small 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. They functioned as roommates, just trying to get their lives in check.
Seltzer was still head over heels for Menthol Cookie. As for Menthol, he was still completely clueless. He saw them as close friends and roommates; not so much as lovers. Not that he wasn’t willing to date Seltzer Cookie, as thoughts arose…but he just didn’t feel as if they were more than close friends.
The day felt heavy and gloomy. After Menthol Cookie got home from teaching, he would need to grade papers on the Creme Kingdom war. Seltzer Cookie would work later than him: she arrived around when he made dinner.
Menthol Cookie continued to grade papers, the gravity and thoughts from the incident to his mind. He was a cool headed and logical person…he tried to convince himself what he did made the most sense in the moment. Nothing worked.
———
Seltzer Cookie sat down next to Menthol cookie on their shared couch in the living room. They both shared a gloomy expression on remembering the events of 1 year ago from today. Seltzer Cookie leaned her head on Menthol Cookie’s for emotional support.
“I really wish I could have done something, anything to save those who died…” Seltzer Cookie whispered as if she were to begin crying.
“It’s alright, Seltzer Cookie. There’s really nothing we can change currently, nothing we could have done. There was no stopping them, they acted on their own decisions and mind.” Menthol Cookie reassured, noticing that her head was placed on his shoulder. He didn’t care, he enjoyed her company.
They sat in silence, reflecting on the moment. Menthol Cookie felt unsettled, putting an arm around Seltzer Cookie to comfort both of them.
“I wish I did something…I could have saved so many people…” Seltzer Cookie whispered, her tone hinting she was at verge of tears.
“So many were so devoted and logic driven that you couldn’t convince them…what happened had to happen, we all find our truth in different ways.” Menthol cooked assured.
“Then why did you hold me back if I could have saved them from knowing the truth?” Seltzer Cookie asked, leaning towards Menthol Cookie to be held by him. Suprisingly, he gladly accepted her in his arms, placing one hand around her torso and runbing her back, and placing the other hand on the back of her head.
“I didn’t want you to get consumed as well..Even when some escaped, there could have been fire in the position next to where you were.” He knew she wasn’t upset at him, but more of questioning her own choices. The crying turned into sobs at this point.
Seltzer Cookie continued to sob into his shoulder. Menthol Cookie cared less about her sobbing. He felt okay with holding her…it infact even calmed himself.
“Seltzer Cookie, you couldn’t understand everyone. No two cookies had identical thoughts in the moment, some choose fear, some choose to follow, some escaped.”
“But some chose to…” Seltzer Cookie choked in between a sob. Menthol Cookie comforted her as best as he could, reassuring her that it was the best the could do.
“And…they…it…it was all a lie..and we don’t know the truth.” Seltzer Cookie gasped out, lifting her head from Menthol Cookie’s shoulders. He didn’t know how to help her. Instead, he continued to listen to her thoughts.
“But…why isn’t it…truth..” She was crying so hard that nothing got out anymore. Not many words could be heard or understood.
Menthol Cookie’s tone softened. “It’s alright…I’m here. It took a pretty long amount of time for us to figure out what’s right. We be unaware now, but things will get better in the future. In some way, we’ve always contradicted ourselves in the future when our options arn’t optimal. We recovered from the incident. We’re alive. I understand the challenges and change which is not optimal, and I’m here with you.”
She layed her head back on his shoulder, continuing to cry. Menthol Cookie continued to hold her, even letting her lean on him fully. He continued to rub her back, making sure she felt both supported and comfortable physically. He could feel Seltzer Cookie’s breathing increasing exponentially. Once again, she lifed her head from his shoulder, looking panicked.
“Seltzer Cookie…” He noticed, observing her current state. Her bubbles popped like crazy, she was turning a shade of blue, and sobbing to the point of not being able to breathe. He knew she needed to cry whatever these feelings were out…but at the same time, hyperventilating was not healthy. He assumed she may be suffering from a panic attack or a flashback.
“Seltzer Cookie. Are you experiencing any sort of flashback to the day currently?”
She shook her head. Menthol Cookie decided that questions with a simple “yes or no” answer would suffice. Though, that was good. It was sudden and without warning, pointing to a panic attack, possibly triggered by the breakdown just before.
“That’s good…You’re safe.” He reassured. “I hypothsize that the earlier breakdown triggered your bodies flight of fight response, leading to now. You’re a thousand percent safe…” He reassured, as Seltzer Cookie continued to hyperventilate. His voice remained calm, which ultimately helped Seltzer Cookie. To add on, Menthol Cookie kept the house freezing, so the cold acted as a small relief.
“Look around, we’re in our living room…it’s 9:39 PM.” He told her slowly. Seltzer Cookie began to calm down, but slowly.
“Just keep breathing slowly…you’ve got it..” Menthol Cookie repeated, noticing Seltzer Cookie was aware and actively trying to fix what was going on.
Typically, Menthol Cookie was focused on logical thinking ways, and not the best with emotion. He knew to repeat where she was, what was going on, and that she was completely safe to calm her down.
It took about 15 minutes for Seltzer Cookie to calm down completely. Menthol Cookie sat with her every step of the way, providing further reassurance and safety.
Menthol Cookie noticed that she was calmer now. “I’m not leaving, I’m just going right here to get some water.” He told her, getting up and walking to the kitchen to retrieve the glass of water.
He filled up a glass of water and sat back down next to Seltzer Cookie, giving it to her. He placed a hand on her back, gently rubbing it. “Drink this. It’s just water, but it should assist in calming you down.”
Seltzer Cookie drank some of the water. It definitely dried up her tears. However, she was still visibly shaken. Menthol Cookie could feel her shaking still as he rubbed her back. “I feel better…thank you…Menthol Cookie..” She mumbled.
He nodded. “I can see, that’s good. You look visibly shaken still: would it help if you slept with me tonight so if something happens, you would be near me?”
She nodded. “Give me a few minutes.” Menthol Cookie noticed she was extremely tired as well.
———
Menthol Cookie lied down next to Seltzer Cookie. He took off his glasses, putting them on his nightstand. The sniffing Seltzer shifted so she could lay on Menthol Cookie’s chest. He wrapped an arm around her torso putting her in a hug, and Seltzer wrapped one of her arms around Menthol Cookie’s waist.
Menthol Cookie asked softly, “Would you prefer to talk about what triggered the panic attack?”
Seltzer Cookie took a deep breath. “I was crying…due to feeling heavy…and the gravity of the situation hit me in full force…I felt like I would die…I guess talking about truth tensed up a reflex.”
“It’s alright. It’s an extreme nightmare, and if you’re to have one tonight…I’m here. Rest well.”
As she heard his heartbeat, Seltzer Cookie felt as if she were starting to fall asleep. They mutually agreed silently that this was time to solely be in eachother’s presence. They both rested, knowing that they were safe in eachothers arms away from any cult.
It was all a repeat of before: Menthol Cookie fell asleep holding Seltzer Cookie, which was what happened the night after the incident. Both were tramatized and needed eachother. Both only had eachother to understand the gravity.
Even though he was unsure of his faith in most things, he was sure of Seltzer Cookie’s compassion, understanding, and loyalty. As he began to drift of holding a soundly sleeping Seltzer Cookie to listening to his heart beat, he realized that she was the only one who could ever understand him at all. He admired the amount of guilt she had, which showed her selflessness. He loved how bubbly she was, which made him less forced to talk. He could listen to her on any subject.
And as he drifted off…he finally realized he loved Seltzer Cookie. Both slept the most peacefully they had in a year.