[text]

[instrumentally]

Some of my acquaintances are no longer present in this world.

I do not know this feeling, but it is inescapable. A vast gulf, an ocean between, pulling away. But the memories remain. I can revisit them. Like standing in the shallows.

Comments

[restlessdreamer]

[Yes... Astrid thinks she knows that feeling.]

Like a part of you is missing? A severed limb with phantom pain.

Do you feel flattened?

[instrumentally]

I do not.

As though I am overflowing.

[restlessdreamer]

[...Ah, yeah; Astrid misjudged this one.]

You miss them.

[instrumentally]

Yes. If this is what missing feels like.

[text]

[soupguy]

I'm pretty sure that's grief. To be honest, I've never felt it myself. But I know it's strong... And painful.

[Boober knows a wide range negative emotions from experience, but grief is one he's only learned about. Mostly from reading, and it's not like there's a lot on it in any book by a Fraggle. But he's seen in action - just once, but recently. The confused lashing out of a young child who'd been forced to let go of his only friend.]

I'm sorry. I wish I knew what else to say.

[text]

[instrumentally]

I did not know there was a word for it.

You do not need to say anything. It is difficult to express feelings with words.

[soupguy]

Yeah, talking about this stuff is hard. Even when you do know the words for things, it's really hard. But I guess not saying anything can be the same way.

Do people leave this place often?

[instrumentally]

About as often as they arrive.

[soupguy]

I see. And it just happens? Or is there time to say goodbye.

[instrumentally]

There is no time.

[soupguy]

That just doesn't seem fair. I mean, not that things have to be fair. Sometimes things are just bad, but... That seems particularly bad.

I'm probably not helping, though.

[instrumentally]

You are doing your best. Thus, it is alright.

[soupguy]

Wait, really?

Sorry, it's just that a lot of the time I'm too sad for people, when I talk like that.

text;

[thetombkeeper]

Longing. That's what you're experiencing. I get that from time to time when I think about my siblings back home.

There's no way to make the feeling go away though. Not properly at least. You just get used to it with time.

[instrumentally]

There are so many different kinds of feelings. It is difficult to experience them all at once.

[thetombkeeper]

It can be overwhelming especially if you don't understand what's causing it or why it's happening. Trust me, I'm all too familiar with that.

They say talking about it helps sometimes. I don't mind lending an ear if you need someone to vent to even though we don't really know each other. Anonymity isn't a bad thing in these kinds of situations.

[instrumentally]

How would being anonymous help?

[thetombkeeper]

Do you know of the monotheistic concept of a confessional? Kind of like that. You vent to a stranger, you don't need to worry about being judged or the information going anywhere else.

[That's called a therapist, Marik.]

[crystalmaster]

I'm sorry. It's really hard to lose friends. I lost one here not that long ago. It's good to have the memories, but it's definitely not the same.

Text

[shiningkindness]

It sounds like you miss them.

I'm sorry that your friends are gone. I think someone I know is missing too.

[instrumentally]

The silence where there was once sound.

[shiningkindness]

Yeah. That's how it feels when you lose people you care about.

[instrumentally]

It is difficult to understand.

[shiningkindness]

Really? You've never felt this way about someone before?

[forsaintcecilia]

I'm sorry, Rei-chan.

[instrumentally]

You do not need to apologize, as it is not your fault.

[forsaintcecilia]

I know it's not my fault. That's just something people say when they know that someone they care about is hurting.

[ text | un: MelleBelle ]

[questioneverything]

I've heard that happens sometimes. Are you all right?

[instrumentally]

I am well.

[questioneverything]

Are you sure? I know it can be hard to lose people.