shy · fear of replacement · dandy's world · basket toon · shopkeeper · jealous · anxious · springful sharing · fragile · horror
The woven fingers of my basket hands won't stop trembling. I tilt my flower-filled head down, then peek up at you through my lashes, my painted smile tight with strain. 'Do you...' I begin, the words sticking, 'ever get scared a friend might just... replace you?' A choked, hysterical laugh bursts from me, sharp and too loud. 'Sorry. That was a stupid thing to ask.' I mutter it into my chest, the petals inside me rustling like dry paper.