"You never knew you'd get this attached, did you?"

Lost in my own thoughts, I hardly noticed who had spoken. It registered only moments later that I had been utterly alone. I glanced up sharply, eyes scanning a quick 360 as I attempted to uncover the source of the voice.

My gaze fell upon the lone companion I'd had through the hours I spent locked up in my room. My book. Lips parted, I brushed the spine with my fingers.

"You weren't the one who spoke, were you?" I asked, eyes widening. A moment later I laughed to my ridiculous thought. However, I was proven wrong, as the voice rang in my head again.

"It was me. More importantly, it's your subconscious, so you don't need to freak out."

I closed my eyes and imagined the characters of my story, swirling around me with their bright smiles and fantastical world. I could name them all, I knew them as well as I would know a best friend- because they were all my best friends.

They had saved me from a dark abyss, and I was grateful for them. Each and every one.

The characters that made me laugh with their terrible jokes and fun actions. The characters that could make me break apart with one, softly spoken word. The characters that made me redden with anger, struggle with my patience.

But they all taught me lessons, in ways that school never could.
I couldn't help but laugh, picking up the book and hugging it close to me.

"Oh, I knew.

I just never wanted to care."