hello, child
welcome to the void
we're all nothing here
we're all nowhere here
i think...
i think you're gonna like it here
you're one of us, after all
[[You're wrong.]]am i?
hmmm...
we'll see
tell me, child
what is your name?
[[My name is...]]see, now, that wasn't so hard, was it?
welcome, $name
in return, i'll give you my name
you can call me i̸̧̮͍͊̚̕͘͘ṅ̶̘́̕a̶͎̪͌̅͂̐͂n̷̤̓e̶̢͑̎͒̕
you can call //us// i̸̧̮͍͊̚̕͘͘ṅ̶̘́̕a̶͎̪͌̅͂̐͂n̷̤̓e̶̢͑̎͒̕
do you still believe you are not like us?
[[I am different.]]
[[i'm not sure...]](set: $name to (prompt: "who are you?", "your name here"))go on, child
tell me your name
what harm could come of it?
what benefit do you gain from keeping it?
[[My name is $name -> introduction]]so say we all, at first
i understand, child
you must believe yourself different
you fear the void
we all fear the void
tell me. though
why are you different?
[[I'm not like you.]]
[[Sometimes, I'm okay.]]
[[I can rise above this.]]no?
perhaps this won't be so difficult, after all
tell me, $name
is it comforting to know that you might not be alone?
[[I am alone.]]
[[yes...]]
[[no...]]you're right
you're not the same
none of us are the same, $name
we have only one thing in common
we have the void
don't you feel it, $name?
don't you feel the void?
[[i do]]
[[I don't.]]so many of us are okay, sometimes
some of us are okay all of the time
sometimes, the void is further away
sometimes, it's so far away we forget it exists
not all of us live in the void
if we're but tourists of the void, can we claim it as our home?
[[No, we can't.]]
[[we're all touched by the void...]]i believe you, $name
i believe you can rise above this
the void is not absolute
the void is not eternal
at least, not for you
what, then?
will you deny the void?
will you deny your time here?
will you deny us?
[[I'm not like you.]]
[[no, i won't...]]you are not
none of us are
we stand apart, but not alone
though of course, i understand
how easy it is to feel that way
don't we all, sometimes?
aren't we made to feel that way?
i promise you, $name
your story isn't so different
you do not need to believe me, though
would it comfort you, to know you weren't alone?
[[no...]]
[[yes...]]there is solidarity in suffering
the void is not kind
the void is not welcoming
but we
we who know the void
we share in that suffering
we understand
we love
[[i hate this]]
[[at least you understand]]no?
sometimes, i feel the same way
the void is...
the void is many things, and i would not wish those things on anyone
perhaps knowing other people are here
other people have seen the void
perhaps that does not comfort you
[[i hate this]]
[[at least you understand]]of course you do
you wouldn't be here if you didn't
it is good to here you admit it, though
now, we can talk about it
would you like to talk about it, $name?
[[No!]]
[[please...]]you are confident
or you are lying
either way
you are wrong
which is it, $name?
[[I'm fine.]]
[[i'm lying...]]oh, $name
is that truly how you feel?
...of course, i need not ask
such is the venom to be found out there
but that's wrong, $name
you need only to have touched the void to claim it as your own
nobody can take that from you, try as they might
not even us
[[I'm not like you.]]
[[I can rise above this.]]that's right, $name
though it does not always look the same
the void is different for us all, but it is still the void
it is always there
we need only acknowledge it
are you ready to acknowledge it, $name?
will you claim the void?
[[I can't.]]
[[maybe...]]that's good, $name
we welcome you
we will always welcome you
all you need do is acknowledge us
so tell me, $name
are you ready to talk to us?
will you talk about the void?
[[No!]]
[[please...]]lying, then
$name...
it's okay
it's okay to be here
it's okay to be one of us
you know that, don't you?
[[I'm not one of you.]]
[[but, i...]]i know
it's okay, $name
we often lie at first
the truth is painful
we deny
we lie
we prolong the truth for as long as we can
but you don't need to lie anymore, $name
you're safe here
you're one of us
[[I'm not one of you.]]
[[but, i...]]why do you deny it, $name?
are you ashamed?
do you truly believe yourself to be different, somehow?
are you above us?
are you above the truth?
no, $name
you are one of us
it will be okay
all you have to do is to say the words
[[i have seen the void... ->i'm lying...]]
[[I won't play this game.]]you're safe here, $name
you won't come to harm
you won't be judged
here, we are all the same
even when we're not
do you want to talk about it, $name?
are you ready to open up to us?
[[No!]]
[[please...]]perhaps that is too much to ask
you do not owe me anything, $name
you do not have to speak, if you do not want to
but sometimes, that is all we have
if you do not wish to speak, would you care to listen?
[[i'll speak]]
[[i'll listen]]i am relieved to hear you say that, $name
we will find solidarity through suffering
we will find strength through solidarity
we will find relief
we will find catharsis
if nothing else, we will find love
and understanding
will you talk to me, $name?
will you listen?
[[i'll speak]]
[[i'll listen]]no?
truly, you wish to remain in denial?
we offer our love to you, $name
you don't have to be alone
we know the void
we know you
won't you accept us?
[[Stop it.]]
[[i...]]as you wish, $name
just know that you are always welcome here
you may return, whenever you like
we will always be here
and you will always be one of us
nothing you say will ever change that
[[...]]it's okay, $name
truly, it is
there is no shame
there is no harm
we embrace you
we're here for you
[[Stop it.]]
[[but, i...]]goodbye
for nowcan't you?
is that really how you feel?
here we stand
with open arms
won't you join us?
won't you embrace us?
[[I'm not one of you.]]
[[but, i...]]i understand your hesitation, $name
truly i do
but you know, don't you?
you already realise you're one of us
and that's okay
you're okay here
do you want to talk about it?
[[No!]]
[[please...]]of course you do, $name
we all do, from time to time
it hurts
it costs us dearly
it takes us away from all that is not the void
it scars and never heals
would you like to talk about it, $name?
would you like to talk about the void?
[[No!]]
[[please...]]understanding is all we have
i cannot take the void from you
i cannot take you from the void
i cannot fix you, just as you cannot fix me
that is not the point
the point is i am here
and i, too, have seen the void
won't you talk to me, $name?
won't you talk to me about the void?
[[No!]]
[[please...]]the void is vast
and complicated
sometimes, it defies explanation
or labels
we all do our best
so tell me
if you can
what brings you to the void, $name?
[[i don't know why i'm here]]
[[i hate myself]]
[[i can't control these feelings]]do you know how i first came to the void, $name?
of course not
truth be told, i do not know myself
when i first came here, i did not realise where i was
it was unfamiliar
and do you know what i did, when i was first told i had found the void?
i denied it
do you hate me for that, $name?
[[of course not]]
[[a little...]]i'm glad you understand
it was difficult, back then
it is difficult now, in different ways
i thought i was alone
sometimes, i still feel like i am alone
have you felt that way, $name?
[[all the time]]
[[sometimes]]
[[never]]i understand
i do too, a little
i should not be so hard on myself, but...
it was difficult, back then
it is difficult now, in different ways
i thought i was alone
sometimes, i still feel like i am alone
have you felt that way, $name?
[[all the time]]
[[sometimes]]
[[never]]i'm sorry, $name
that feeling...
it's awful, isn't it?
i know
i know i am surrounded by love
and warmth
i know i am not alone
so why do i feel as though i am?
why can nothing make it through?
[[the heart and mind are different]]
[[the void is powerful]]
[[maybe you are alone]]i wonder if we all feel that way, sometimes
maybe that's okay?
it doesn't feel okay, though
i know
i know i am surrounded by love
and warmth
i know i am not alone
so why do i feel as though i am?
why can nothing make it through?
[[the heart and mind are different]]
[[the void is powerful]]
[[maybe you are alone]]never?
i must confess, $name
i am a little envious
i know
i know i am surrounded by love
and warmth
i know i am not alone
so why do i feel as though i am?
why can nothing make it through?
[[the heart and mind are different]]
[[the void is powerful]]
[[maybe you are alone]]that is true
but what do i do with that knowledge?
my mind may know i am not alone
but how do i tell my heart?
how do i feel like i am not alone?
what do i do, $name?
[[i don't know]]
[[reach out]]
[[survive]]it is, isn't it?
it seems into you, sapping the warmth
it whispers in your ear
it drains the colour from your sight
and it makes you believe
so how do i fight against that, $name?
how do i feel like i am not alone?
what do i do, $name?
[[i don't know]]
[[reach out]]
[[survive]]maybe i am...
and yet, i cannot allow myself to believe that
that...
that feels like giving up
do you understand, $name?
i must fight this, because if i don't...
i will fight
but how?
how do i feel like i am not alone?
what do i do, $name?
[[i don't know]]
[[reach out]]
[[survive]]i suppose the answers will never be easy
maybe there isn't an answer
maybe we cannot escape these feelings
maybe we don't need to
these feelings are a part of us, after all
but what do we do with them?
[[use them]]
[[fight them]]
[[accept them]]if only it were that easy
but, no
i know you understand
it isn't easy
that doesn't mean we shouldn't try
if those who love us don't know we're suffering
how can they ever help?
that's all they can ever do though
help
they cannot take these feelings from us
these feelings are a part of us, after all
but what do we do with them?
[[use them]]
[[fight them]]
[[accept them]]yes, i think you might be right
i might be alone
i might not be
the feeling is there either way
what's important is that i survive
we survive
we cannot remove these feelings, but we do not need to let them control us
but what do we do with them?
[[use them]]
[[fight them]]
[[accept them]]use them?
use them how?
is that what you do, $name?
they say the best art comes from suffering
perhaps there is some truth in that
or perhaps that's not what you meant?
perhaps you simply meant,
we should use them to connect
just as we are doing now
there is value in that, isn't there?
[[we're all doing our best]]and so we do
day after day
we fight
we resist
because if we don't
we do nothing
or worse
but is that enough?
when fighting is all we have
when fighting is all we do
is that enough?
[[we're all doing our best]]...just like that?
i see
if they cannot be changed
instead
we accept them
they are a part of us, but they are not us
we are not them
is that what you mean, $name?
[[we're all doing our best]]i suppose, at the end of the day
we are, aren't we?
doing our best?
it's hard to remember that
it's hard to believe that
it's easy to look around us, and believe we should be doing more
believe we //could// be doing more
it's easy to look at ourselves, and believe it's not enough
but it will never be enough, will it?
[[it's enough]]
[[it's not enough]]thank you, $name
it's funny, isn't it?
how just being told that makes a difference?
maybe because we're not told that enough
maybe because we can never shout louder than the void on our own
but doesn't that seem cruel, $name?
how sometimes, all we can do is resist the void?
and all around us, we see those who do not know the void
they are not restrained
they are not kept back
isn't that unfair?
[[it's bullshit]]
[[it's okay]]i suppose it will never feel like enough
that's how the void works, after all
if we could believe
i mean, truly believe
that we were doing enough
the void wouldn't be the void
it would just be...
...
but doesn't that seem cruel, $name?
how sometimes, all we can do is resist the void?
and all around us, we see those who do not know the void
they are not restrained
they are not kept back
isn't that unfair?
[[it's bullshit]]
[[it's okay]]it is, isn't it?
work hard, they say
achieve, they say
you are what you do
what you produce
what do you have to show for your efforts?
but we climb a mountain while they walk a paved street
and the expectations are the same
how do you deal with that, $name?
[[i don't]]
[[i live my own life]]
[[i work harder]]i...
i never really considered that
it seems so simple, doesn't it?
we don't need to be the same as them
all we need to be
is us
whatever that looks like
whatever that makes us
and that's okay
but even then, even when we accept that
it's still their world
how do you deal with that, $name?
[[i don't]]
[[i live my own life]]
[[i work harder]]hah
your honesty is...
refreshing
thank you, $name
i think i needed to hear that
because so often, i feel the same
i'm not coping
i'm not succeeding
i'm just...
is it wrong of me to want more, $name?
[[you should want more]]
[[just be happy as you are]]you make it sound so easy...
you're right, of course
we can't live their lives
we can only live our own
we can define our own successes
we can set our own goals
we can find our own happiness
but even still...
i find myself wanting more
is it wrong of me to want more, $name?
[[you should want more]]
[[just be happy as you are]]i suppose we have to, don't we?
survival isn't free, after all
we can reject their game, but we can't stop playing
so all that's left is to work harder
we work as hard as we can, and hope that it's enough
even though we know
it might never be enough
and if i'm being honest...
it's not enough
is it wrong of me to want more, $name?
[[you should want more]]
[[just be happy as you are]]do you really believe that?
...no, you're right
i am limited, but i do not deserve less
we didn't choose this
we didn't come to the void because we wanted to be here
why should we settle for less?
why is this all we get?
thank you, $name
but...
how do we do that, $name?
how do we get what they have?
how do we feel satisfied?
[[by changing the rules]]
[[with help]]
[[sheer force of will]]that does seem like the right answer, doesn't it?
if we accept what we have
if we're happy with what we have
doesn't that mean we win?
isn't that how we find happiness?
that's our happiness
not the one they try to sell us
...i wish i could believe that, $name
and i think you're right
we do need to find our own happiness
we do need to look for happiness we can get ourselves
but there will always be more of us
and i don't want them to feel how i feel
how do we change that, $name?
[[by changing the rules]]
[[with help]]
[[sheer force of will]]i like your ambition, $name
and i think...
maybe you're right?
that's the only way anything really changes
the game isn't fair
the game isn't balanced
the only way to fix that
is to fix the game itself
to make it fair for //everyone//
otherwise
this will just keep happening
the void will keep growing
but, $name...
what if i can't?
what if i can't do anything more than survive?
[[try]]
[[that's okay]]that's the only way, isn't it?
none of us can do this alone
none of us can change anything alone
but we're not alone
we have each other
we have communities, and families, and friends
we do not stand alone
so why do we suffer alone?
together, maybe we can make a difference
together, maybe we can help
but, $name...
what if i can't?
what if i can't do anything more than survive?
[[try]]
[[that's okay]]that's what got us this far, isn't it?
maybe it's all we have
maybe it's the only thing we can rely on
maybe it's not
but sometimes, we're fighting an uphill battle
and force of will
is all we have
but, $name...
what if i can't?
what if i can't do anything more than survive?
[[try]]
[[that's okay]]...
try?
even when i said i can't?
i...
oh
oh, of course
i understand
"try" does not mean "succeed"
it just means "try"
try is all we can do
any of us
and if enough of us try...
thank you, $name.
i appreciate you listening
[[of course]]it is, isn't it?
it's not up to us to do more than that
that responsibility isn't ours
unless we want it
like you said, we're all doing our best
by definitition, that's all we //can// do
and that's okay
that's okay
thank you, $name.
i appreciate you listening
[[of course]](set: $listen to true)it means a lot, knowing someone will listen
(if: $talk is true)[just like i listened to you
we're still here
in the void
but it's nice to know
we're not alone
will you come again, $name?
will you join me in the future?
will you share with me once more?
[[i will]]
[[maybe]]](else:)[now, it's my turn to listen to you
tell me, $name
tell me about the void
[[okay... ->i'll speak]]]thank you, $name
i know this has been... odd
i do not know if you got anything out of this
but i did
and i...
thank you
thank youi do not expect any committment from you, $name
i know this has been... odd
i do not know if you got anything out of this
but i did
and i...
thank you
thank youa familiar feeling
i'm sorry, $name
i know how hard that is
i know there's nothing
that anyone can say
i know that toxic swirl of venom
without beginning
without end
so loud
omnipresent
or not?
maybe it's different for you
tell me, $name
why do you hate yourself?
[[i'm weak]]
[[i'm broken]]
[[i'm a failure]]none of us can
even when it looks like it
the trick is
even when we can't control the feelings
we don't let them control us
...that's what they say, isn't it?
truth be told, that never helps
that's what people say when they don't understand
when they don't know the void
they don't know its voice
they don't know how //loud// it can be
tell me, $name
what does the void say to you?
[[i'm weak]]
[[i'm broken]]
[[i'm a failure]]nobody does, at first
and it's so hard to know
there's so little we understand
but the voices are so loud
the void is so loud
maybe there isn't a reason
maybe you're just here
because you're here
but if you could
if you had a word
what would that be?
[[i'm weak]]
[[i'm broken]]
[[i'm a failure]]so am i
i feel it all the time
i mean, how could i not?
i can't make the void go away
i can't do what everyone else can do
and when i can...
it costs so much more
maybe that's how you feel
maybe it isn't
i will say this much
i'm not going to tell you that you're not weak
i'm going to tell you
your value is not tied to your strength
i wish i could do more
[[i'm broken]]
[[i'm a failure]]
[[i want to believe you]]there are so many ways to be broken
i won't ask you how you came to be so
i won't ask what broke you
and i won't tell you that you're not
it doesn't matter
but i'll tell you this
broken does not mean worthless
you are what you are
and that's all you need to be
and i wish
i wish that was enough
[[i'm weak]]
[[i'm a failure]]
[[i want to believe you]]are you?
by what measure?
there are so many ways to fail
but do you want to know a secret?
you will always fail
by someone's measure
because success and failure look different
depending on where you're standing
are you failing someone else's standards
or your own?
it doesn't matter
no matter how much you fail
now matter how little you succeed
you are still deserving of love
you still have worth
and i wish that was enough
[[i'm weak]]
[[i'm broken]]
[[i want to believe you]]so do i
some days, i do
sometimes, it's harder
you don't need to believe me, $name
i just want you to know
you are heard
you are not alone
you are loved
i love you, $name
[[you don't even know me]]
[[no you don't]]
[[i love you too]]i don't
you're right
does that matter?
i know that you're here, in the void
i know that like me, you exist
that alone makes you deserving of love
i may never meet you out side of here
i may never truly know you
but, $name, i mean it when i say this
i love you
i am glad you exist
i understand if you choose to leave
it doesn't matter if you believe me
[[why?]]i can't convince you
i don't want to convince you
i just need you to see those words
i'll say it again
i love you
i am glad you exist
i understand if you choose to leave
it doesn't matter if you believe me
[[why?]]...thank you
really, sincerely
thank you
sometimes
sometimes, love is all we have
love is all we can give
but we can give it freely
and so, that's what i choose to do
we all deserve love
even you
especially you
i love you
i am glad you exist
i understand if you choose to leave
it doesn't matter if you believe me
[[why?]]does the why matter?
love doesn't need a why
love doesn't need anything
it just is
and it's all i have left
but, $name
it's something i will never run out of
and so, it's yours
whoever you are
wherever you are
whatever you do
you are loved
[[that doesn't mean anything to me]]
[[thanks, i guess]]i wouldn't expect it to
it doesn't need to
it's true just the same
i love you, $name
and i wonder...
[[yes?]]i suppose it's hard to find meaning in that
i cannot tell you face to face
i cannot make you feel the truth of those words
all i have is this
and so, one more time
i love you, $name
and i wonder...
[[yes?]](set: $talk to true)(if: $listen is true)[we're still here
in the void
but it's nice to know
we're not alone
will you come again, $name?
will you join me in the future?
will you share with me once more?
[[i will]]
[[maybe]]](else:)[would you...
would you listen, now?
would you let me talk?
can you do that for me, $name?
[[of course->i'll listen]]
[[it's only fair->i'll listen]]]