chapter 9: fractures in the mind
ren sat against the cold stone wall, the little girl still beside him. her presence was both comforting and unsettling. he wasn't used to relying on anyone. pride told him to be alone, to be the strongest without help. but the fragments inside him whispered otherwise.
"why do you stay?" one fragment hissed, its voice full of contempt. "you don't need her. she's a weakness."
another fragment replied softly, "maybe she's what he needs. even pride can be lonely."
ren clenched his fists, trying to drown the voices. *they don't understand. i'm pride. i can't show weakness. i can't let anyone stand above me.*
"you think pride means being alone?" ren muttered aloud, surprising himself with the question. "maybe it's about knowing who i am… even if that means breaking."
the girl looked up at him, eyes steady and kind. "you don't have to break alone, ren. we all have cracks. the question is how we heal."
ren's fractured selves erupted in a chaotic chorus.
"heal? fools. strength is domination, not mercy."
"he's scared. scared of losing control."
"but maybe… maybe control isn't everything," ren whispered, staring at the floor. "maybe strength is accepting the chaos inside."
the girl smiled faintly. "you're not just pride. you're every piece of yourself. and all those pieces matter."
ren's mind spun as he struggled to hold himself together. pride told him to reject them all. but a small voice inside whispered that maybe surrender wasn't weakness — maybe it was the greatest strength of all.
"the sins…" ren said quietly, his eyes darkening. "they're coming. and i have to face them… with all of me."
the girl nodded. "and i'll be here. no matter what."
for the first time in a long while, ren felt the fractures inside him settle — not because they were silenced, but because they were listened to.
he wasn't whole yet. but maybe, just maybe, he was ready to try.