After I got sewn up and was resting on the cot in my office, I was almost ready to genuinely recuperate. My uncle had helped me with that and with working through my current bout of paranoia. He'd even promised to take care of the shop again until I felt better, on reduced hours of course. He has other responsibilities too, but those are mostly in the evenings. Tech work for tabletop roleplaying live streams, he said.

I'd barely laid down when Nik crawled out of my bag, I had forgotten he was there! I've never been good with pets, but at least he didn't eat or breathe. Also, being a reflection of part of my subconscious, I could trust him if anyone; which is good considering what happened next.

I was laying on my back and fluttered up to land on the bottom of my ribcage and stared deep into my eyes. I was worried that he'd be angry with me, but he wasn't. He said, in that way I understand even with only a few words, that I wasn't being true to myself. I was trying too hard to be who I wished I was and not embracing my strengths. He explained that I was talented in making connections, not just with people, and also in easing pains of all sorts.

Then he laid down, his head between my breasts, and closed his eyes. I reached down to half hold and half hug him, and felt a relieved sigh as the breath of life left him and he began to fade into a shadow of himself and then nothing at all. Then I heard two last words from nowhere and everywhere. Au revoir.

Until I see you again, little Nikola, I know you're always with me.

Applying what he told me over the next week I've healed myself, both the wounds themselves and the numbness and limp they caused. My leg is strong again, and I'm confident that I won't be too scared to trust others very soon, before I'm truly needed again I'm sure.