Never Easy

Never Easy

1/6

>Over at Anne's place Marcy and her ever so energetic friend were enjoying some chill time just playing games. It was their weekend after some rough time in school still trying to readjust to being on Earth again. They were waiting for Sasha to join them so to burn time they got some snacks and agreed on some movies to pick from later. But Sasha is always late and Marcy had already been there since she stayed the night. So after getting things ready they planned to sit down to play some Smash bros together.

>However Marcy was glued to her Switch again, laying on the couch using the chair arm as a pillow. Rather quiet too considering she would normally let out excited phrases when she won a fight or something. This was the old norm for Marcy, emphasis on the old part. Anne knew better and she did not hesitate to ask some questions.

>"Something happen Marcy?" Anne rested her weight on the back of the couch with her arms crossed. She had a concerned look on her face as she watched the Switches screen.

>The menus remained still and Marcy's hands lowered the Switch. "Before you worry, please don't." Brushing her hair aside she looked up to Anne with a melancholy look. "I'm fine just a little nervous."

>Anne raised an eyebrow. "Nervous about what?"

>"uh..." Marcy wasn't sure how to start at all so she just went for it, in spite of her fear. It really helped that Anne was the one asking too. "So some things were bothering me and I had a hard time sleeping. This was uh when I was over at Sasha's by the way and..." Marcy looked at her game and fiddled with the buttons on the controller, even though it was in sleep mode.

>The expression one Anne's face was gold, thankfully Marcy didn't see or she would have realized how the things she said and did could bring about laughter.

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2/6

>"I really made Sasha worry about me when I shouldn't have. So I had to tell her finally about my injury, from when Andrias attacked me." Marcy clenched her hands together and held them to her mouth in surprise and anxiety.

>Anne's effort to hold back laughter wasn't necessary anymore. But she wasn't upset, instead relieved that her rather nervous friend got this far. She was also a bit surprised that Marcy managed to tell Sasha anything about it first. Sasha wasn't the most level headed friend there ever was, that's for sure.

>"Oh my Frog Marcy that's great! I'm sure talking about it will help." Anne was half way to springing over the back of the couch and landing on her friend. Her joy leading Marcy to settle her back on her feet before she did tumble over the couch. Surprisingly forgetting about her Switch as it got half stuck in the couch.

>"Yeah things are better now, though it was rough to talk about." Marcy curled up to face away from the back of the couch. "I want to be sure you don't needlessly worry before I say anything about it though."

>'Marcy is clearly more than just nervous over talking about this.' Anne tilted her head and rested it on her palm. She wasn't sure what went down with her two friends, but it did seem Sasha was more quiet the last few days.

>Trying to put a positive spin to it Anne considered the possibilities. 'Now Marcy wants to talk things through, it couldn't have been all bad.' Anne peered over the couch and pulled Marcy's game out to hand it back.

>"I can't not worry about my friends completely. But I'll give it my best try to not worry too much, so tell me all you can." Something that did worry Anne a bit though was when she held the Switch out for her. Marcy took a while to notice it and take it.

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3/6

>"Thanks Anne, I promise I'm fine so no need to worry." Having taken the Switch Marcy just hugged it close to her, almost like she forgot it was a game at this point.

>Anne considered just jumping over the back of the couch but now Marcy seemed easy to spook so she just went around. "Marmar want a hug?"

>"Yeah." Marcy almost sprang up dropping her Switch to the ground, she fumbled it in her hand catching it before the ground did. Then tossed it behind her on the couch.

>"Wow, Marcy I'm not going anywhere haha." Anne warmly smiled as she sat with her friend and hugged her tight.

>"So I guess to start with what's important...and like I told Sasha. Everything inside is fine, it's all one for one there." Marcy broke the hug before her shudder was felt by Anne.

>Anne could still tell it was scary for her friend to even think about it. Why wouldn't it be, she was good as dead for a bit. After that wasn't sunshine and chocopedes either. But she was doing well and this kept a smile on Anne's face, though it was a noticeably sad one.

>"Dude that's amazing, your health should be fine then!" Anne took Marcy's hands into hers before she could nervously fiddle them. "Knowing that for sure is awesome news. Even with how much you goof around I worried a bit." Anne could feel a shadow of fear still in herself but kept smiling.

>'Anne's feelings were always clear, so honest. How can someone always be so positive? But she's still worrying about me too. Not for my physical health but...' Marcy was torn, she wanted to stop here but she knew it wasn't good enough. She had to finish at least this for Anne to not worry needlessly.

>'Don't think about what happened, just state the facts. Anne is here so I'll be fine. Even if I break down again Anne will understand so everything will be okay!' Still with Anne it wasn't easy for her, in the back of Marcy's mind she thought it would never be easy.

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4/6

>"Again not to worry you Anne, but I do have a pretty bad scar." Marcy tried to say it without hesitation but she still trailed off at the end.

>"Om...how bad? N-not to push you into saying anything you don't want to yet." Clear but controlled concern echoed from Anne's voice to her hands. Her grip was ever so slightly stronger now, going from merely holding up Marcy's hands to holding onto them with intent.

>"It's not too bad off." Marcy tried to walk things back to no avail. "Uh...I mean it's just a scar. Surface level scar tissue, so the worst part of it really is how it looks." She half concentrated on Anne as she returned her comforting hold.

>"Scar tissue is just less sensitive to touch and a bit less flexible so functionally speaking it's close enough to before."

>"Really it's not even much of an issue due to location either. Because sunlight won't reach it much if ever."

>"Oh yeah scar tissue is more susceptible to sunburn, but I don't go out much and it's hidden away mostly so that doesn't matter really."

>Anne knew when Marcy was able to explain things to this level she was calm and collected enough. However Anne did feel herself impacted by what she heard. When she hugged her friend like many other times, she felt a bit of what the scar was like. As the two thoughts mixed in her mind she cringed, the shadow only grew stronger.

>"Marcy does it ever hurt? Because there was-" Anne stopped for a second.
>'I don't want to make her feel bad but she should have told me before.' Anne looked Marcy right in the eye with a hint of doubt.

>"All I want to know is if I hugged you too hard or something since you never told me anything till now. I don't want to accidently hurt you but you haven't said anything. So this whole time it really has been eating at the back of my mind."

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5/6

>Marcy ran her hand over her head brushing all her hair back while wide eyed. "I promise just a hug won't hurt a bit Anne." She couldn't keep eye contact now so instead she just looked at Anne's two hands now holding tight on her own free hand. "I'm sorry I worried you but like I said before when you tackled me that one time, it's fine."

>Anne let out a sigh and her grip weakened. "Okay..."

>"So you know for sure, the only way you could make it hurt is if you just hit it directly pretty hard. It's nothing to worry about." Marcy met Anne's eyes again and the reaction she saw surprised her.

>The fluffy haired girl had an obviously frustrated almost pouting expression. "I wish you told me sooner."

>"S-sorry Anne."

>"Stop with the apologies" Anne bear hugged her friend.

>"It's nice that you want to apologize but the most important part is doing better. I don't want to pressure you into saying anything but I'm really happy you finally told me this much." Anne broke the hug with her hands on Marcy's shoulders.

>"You don't need to beat yourself up over it, you went though some rough stuff. Even Sasha doesn't want to talk about it. You really are doing great, though I'm a little sad I missed out on some dope hugs. We can make up for those hugs now hahaha." A light smile reached Anne as she finally felt reassured her friend was fine for now.

>"I'll admit the two of the things that worried me the most are settled now. If you want to call it quits for today it's alright." Anne's smile faded as Marcy failed to keep eye contact again. 'Did this all bother her more than it seemed? I hope she doesn't end up crying.'

>"Marcy?" The quiet bothered Anne, she underestimated her fears.

>"Anne...I'm a pretty anxious person after what happened but you can bet I will ask for help before things get too bad." Marcy watery eyed took back to eye contact with Anne. "I won't hurt myself or anything in emotional distress. I have you and Sasha to talk to so I'll be fine."

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6/6

>Anne's shoulders dropped as she realized what Marcy meant. 'No way.'

>'Just have to tell her this last thing.' Marcy covered her eyes with her arm and turned away clearing her throat and brushing away her tears. "I know you are more worried about my mental state at this point." She pulls her arms in to tightly cross them while still looking away.

>The absence of Marcy's hand leaves Anne with a cold void as she fully processes what her friend is trying to convey. 'It just can't be that bad!'

>"Sasha already told me she would make me regret doing anything stupid." Marcy smiled at the bittersweet memory. "I'll be fine though because I have you."

>"Marcy have you ever-" It was fear, the crushing weight of fear hit Anne. She reached hesitant towards what felt like a living breathing leviathan of horror.

>"I thought about it."

>Just the matter of fact way Marcy said it shocked Anne. She could feel the shadow reaching towards her too. 'Please no.'

>"But it would solve nothing and would only make things worse." She uncrossed her arms and pulled up her sleeves.

>"I promise I won't do anything like that."

>Sure enough not even a single odd line. With that the shadow of fear that only seemed to grow retreated. Before Anne could even think of the natural question in response her friend gave her a hug.

>"I never did and never will. It's not so bad, because I have two amazing friends looking out for me."

>Anne was still stunned. But the monster that seemed to creep on the edge of her mind relented. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

>"If I'm not I'll tell you."

>"Promise me Marcy." A rather stern tone ran with her words a new thing since last time on Earth.

>"I promise." Marcy hugged Anne as tight as she could, but her strength was nothing like her friends, Anne's bear hugs earned their name. Marcy missed them.