*sigh* Yes, you can put the chair away now......
......
It several minutes before Emily knew what was happening. Even then, she was not sure of what was happening and what wasn't. It was to dark to be sure of anything. She shuddered. At least, for the moment, she was alone in the darkness. No voices, no noises. Nothing. She was alone. Or was she? Her friends were there, weren't they? Of course they were, but they couldn't tell what she was going through. Cold. It was cold. Would it ever leave her alone? Would her life ever be normal again? But then, what was a normal life? Surely she had never led one. She was alone, in the dark and the cold, pondering things that had been plaguing her for a very long time. Then, she heard it. A faint whisper at first, but getting louder and louder all of the time. The voice again, whispering to her that she was worthless, meaningless. She fought back the impulse to believe it. "No!" she cried. "I'm not worthless! I must have a meaning!"
"But what is that meaning, if you have one?" came the taunting reply.
"I don't know, but I'm going to find out!"
The wicked cruel laugh cut deep into her. "You'll never find it, because you have no meaning! You have no purpose, and you are worthless!!"
"No!" she cried. "That's not true!"
The laugh again. "Yes, it is true. Face the facts! You are a worthless wretched creature who has been nothing but a burden since day one!"
Emily cowered. Was it true? The cold gripped her tighter. She screamed and fought against it. But it was no use. She was doomed.