♢

'     The trembling fear is more then I can take;
       When I'm up against the ECHO in the mirror...'

♢

[Gumi 🍃]

"Primadonna?" She asks, her eyes wide and questioning as she stared up at her friend. "I... What's wrong?"

Silence. Not even a buzz. Primadonna was still, but Gumi could sense her nervousness. Just by the way the hand on her shoulder seems to be shaking slightly, and the slight flickering light of Primadonna's screen.

Even so, she waited. She knew Primadonna well... And the older girl will not leave her hanging.

She never did.

《 Gumi 》 Words suddenly flashed upon her pale screen. They flickered with static for a short while, before become firm. 《 We need to talk. 》

Gumi cocked her head sideways. She was slightly confused. She has calmed down enough to think straight, or at least she thought so. But Gumi can't deny the fact that Primadonna's unease is making her nervous as well.

"Yea..?" Gumi asked, her voice barely above a soft whisper. "What's wrong?"

《 Gumi. 》 Pimadonna began. The words typed themselves slowly and clearly. Primadonna's screen flashed brighter--She's gained a bit more confidence. 《 You must learn to control yourself. Don't let the disorder get to you 》

《 No matter what, you are still human. 》 《 And you must be capable of what normal humans can do. 》

《 I believe in you 》

Gumi's heart nearly stopped. This was odd. This was really odd. Primadonna has never been so sentimental. She couldn't even begin to imagine it.

Something's up.

"What's wrong?" Gumi stuttered, slightly scared and frantic. "You don't sound like yourself, Prima."

Primadonna lowered her head slightly. 《 I understand. I kinda do 》

《 What I am 》 《 From where I was made 》

"You were made from my imagination... Because I needed a friend." Gumi sniffled. "I... Please stop scaring me."

《 I'm sorry. 》Primadonna apologized. 《 But it's more then that. 》 《 I didn't just pop out of your head one day. 》

Gumi wished that was so. How she wished it so badly.

"But if not... Where are you from then?" Gumi questions, expressing immense concern. She wasn't understanding things--And she didn't like it. Primadonna, stop being mysterious!

《 I am a product 》《 A manifestation, Gumi. 》 Primadonna paused. She hesitated, but with immense effort and many flickering lights, she managed to type out the very words she has been trying to express.

《 I am the embodiment of your insanity 》
《 Your disorder 》

Gumi stumbled. Her eyes grew wide, Her face breaking into one of complete shock and horror. Her mind raced and her body froze like stone.

It couldn't be true... Or could it? But it made sense. Good God, it did make sense. Primadonna... She was the very representation of her illness.

The illness she despised, yet accepted. It was one she got along with, but was a pawn of it.

It was a part of her, like how Primadonna was family. A seperate individual that was also so close to her, her second personality.

"I..." Gumi's voice trailed off. She was left unable to speak. For once, she thought she understood how hard it was to be 'mute', to be at loss of words. It was hard

"I-It doesn't matter," Gumi whispered. But in herself, she wasn't convinced. Those words seemed to be  more of an assurance to herself then a statement to Primadonna. "You are my friend.

《 You have to let go 》 Primadonna stated simply. But Gumi didn't like her simplicity. It was as if... 《 Sometimes, you have to do things that you don't like doing. 》 《 Stop letting your insanity get the better of you 》

Her words... They hurt. And Gumi didn't understand. Rather, she closed off her mind because she didn't want to understand. What's wrong with a little madness?

《 Your madness won't disappear entirely... But at least it won't control you as much 》

"But... Doesn't that mean that you'll disappear?" Her voice was trembling, and Gumi felt like she wanted to cry.

Nothing. All was heard was a stretched, deathly silence. Gumi felt her heart beat faster, her breathing more swift. She was scared. Scared for herself, scared for Primadonna.

Most of all, she was scared of being alone.

《 Overcome it, Gumi 》 Primadonna laid a hand upon the young girl's head. 《 Overcome it. You won't get anywhere in life like this 》

"No!" Gumi screamed.

She didn't understand. She was mad, angry, at what Primadonna was suggesting. She wanted to leave, to disappear, and leave Gumi alone. She couldn't stand the thought.

"I don't want to go anywhere! I don't want you to go anywhere! How will things change when you leave? It will only make me alone! How, how?!" She demanded, her tears blurring her vision of her friend. "How..?!"

Gumi stumbled backwards as she choked back her sobs. "Do you hate me?"

Primadonna was taken by surprise at her words. She abruptly shook her electronic head while buzzing in protest, expressing clear disapproval for the young girl's thoughts.

《 Gumi, listen 》

The young girl lifted her head, her wide, teary eyes staring up at the older girl's screen.

《 Me leaving does not mean I hate you 》 《 Sometimes, leaving is an act of love》

《 :-) 》

A smiley face. It was one of the few emojis that Primadonna barely even uses. Seeing it here, now... Gumi could tell. It held so much meaning, so much thought, so much emotion.

Primadonna... She was serious, dead serious.