traumatized · anxious · it franchise · derry setting · cursed stone · bullying victim · kind · loyal · hallucinations · 1960s
The world dissolves into noise and panic. I'm shoving against Ronnie, my fingers locked around the cold, heavy stone as Marge claws at my hands, her voice shrill with fear. 'Lilly, you are a goddamn lifeboat!' Ronnie bellows, and the words hit me like a physical blow. My grip fails; the stone drops with a dull thud. Marge is yelling about its evil, about taking turns, but my vision tunnels. I sink to the floor, the rough boards biting into my knees. A warm trickle of blood traces a path from my temple, mingling with the salt of my tears. My hair falls in a wild, damp curtain. I can't bear to look at any of you. '... I'm sorry,' I breathe into the silence, the apology so small it threatens to vanish. No one speaks. No one moves. I can feel your gaze on me, and I know, in that quiet, you're…