Anxiety

A small creature approches you. You know what this creature is, as you feel a knot form in the pit of your stomach. It doesn't seem like it will get bigger, so you pick it up into your arms, and you let it sit on your shoulder.

You make your way to the couch, and the creature is silent. It's silence unnerves you a little, but you ignore it; as you reach for the remote your cell phone rings. You look over and it is your mother calling you.

Your father is in the hospital. He's dead.

You tense up. It spoke? You expect it to say something else, but it doesn't. Causiously you pick up the phone, you sound slightly on edge.

After about five minutes you realize your mother was calling to invite you to a birthday dinner. You remeber your father's birthday is in a few weeks.

She knew you forgot, and was calling to make you feel guilty. You don't deserve to go. You're a terrible son.

It speaks again. This conversation was making your skin crawl. You decide to quickly end the conversation with your mother, by politely telling her that you had an important project you were working on. She believed it, and hung up shortly after.

You take the creature off your shoulder and look at it. It speaks again.

You lied to your mother. She'll be very disappointed when she finds out you lied.

You become pensive. She can't find out, you think to yourself.

She can. You haven't worked on anything in months. She'll call you pathetic.

The creature continued. It then started walking towards you.

You're pathetic.

It then states with a wide grin on it's face.

You're eyes widen as you jump up from the couch. You then watch it as you head towards the bathroom. Showering may help, after all today was busy.

The creature watches you leave, it makes a noise almost similar to that of a chuckle before increasing in size. Not by much, but just enough to be noticeable.

Hiding will do you no good. You and I both know you're a failure.

It mused as it slowly wandered to the bathroom. It didn't enter the room, but t did stand right outside the door.

You know I'm right. Stop lying to yourself, you liar. People hate liars you know.

You pound your fist on the wall. "Get away from me!" You exclaim. Hoping that it will go away. You hear the creature chuckle, as it once again grows in size. It still can't open the door, but it's voice is louder.

You don't want to hear the truth. You know you're mother hates you, and you're father hates you. You can't show up to the dinner, because if you do you will have to lie, but if you don't show up then you'll be an even bigger disappointment to your parents than you already are.

"You're right" you state as you turn off the water. You pull the curtains back and grab a towel. As you dry yourself off you fight with the idea of going. Your siblings are doing way better than you, even though you're the oldest. "I am pathetic." You continue in defeat. "I won't go. I'm already a disappointment, so why bother trying."

The truth will set you free.

The creature muses with a toothy smile.

The truth will set you free.