F I L L I P
noun [fil-uhp]

Anything that tends to rouse, excite, or revive; a stimulus.

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You walked down the hall with a smile creeping on your face. Even though this place isn't one with such a cheery and inviting atmosphere, you couldn't wait to meet your friend.

"Here you are [y/n]. He's been waiting for you anxiously," Paul told and you nodded your head.

"Thanks Paul, I'll see you later then," You said and walked into the day room, spotting your friend sitting at a table and stacking dominos in a line to topple over.

You approached him and sat opposite, placing your hands together and grinning. "Maybe if you move them closer to each other, it would work better," You suggested and he looked upon you.

"Hi [y/n]!" He smiled widely, "Y-You're here so soon!"

"I thought you were looking forward to meeting me all this time," You raised an eyebrow and he bit his lip.

"Well I was and now you're here and I'm so so happy about it! You know they gave me this disgusting medicine and it tasted like unwashed socks that were soaked in garage water!" He grinned with mischief and you shook your head with a chuckle.

"Alright Hedwig, I don't want to feel sick," You said and he shrugged his shoulders. He pressed his lips together and looked around, feeling out of place and awkward.

"So... do you want to play a game, watch a cartoon, draw a picture, etcetera?" Hedwig questioned and you smiled slightly. He suddenly got up and rushed towards the room exit. When he saw that you weren't keen on getting up, he grabbed your hand and laughed.

"Come on [y/n]! I want to show you somehting cool," He said and pulled you out of your seat.

"Hedwig, I think you're supposed to stay here," You told but he ignores you, "Hedwig, are you listening-"

"Come on, you're being no fun today!" He furrowed his eyebrows and crossed his arms, "I thought ideas going to be happy and excited and... and... happy to see you but you're being no fun!"

You sighed then took a deep breath, "Alright Hedwig I'm sorry but I don't want you getting into trouble again."

He frowned then rolled his eyes, "I know that he's older than me but it was all Mr. Dennis' fault! He made me do that and I didn't want to and he was being a bully, etcetera!"

You glanced around, finding a few of the people in the room looking at Hedwig with strange expressions.

"Alright Hewie, forget about it right?" You said and smiled nervously after holding his arms, "Now show me what you wanted to."

*****

You were only close to the 9-year old boy living inside the mind of a grown up man named Kevin. Even though you knew the rest of the alters' names, a little about them and especially of their existence, you were really only good friend with Hedwig. You supported him and visited him at least once a week at the helping home he's staying at now. It's a hybrid between a mental hospital and a home for the elderly.

Hedwig likes it here. They give him most of whatever he wants. He can still draw and paint, still listen to some of his music and even play with new games they have in the dayroom.

But from time to time he questions you with topics that are hard to answer, lile why does he have to be a young boy for the rest of his life and wondering how it would feel to be an older person.

Sometimes you teach him things, give him tasks to do and he's become very intelligent. You've got used to the difference between his older looks and younger mentality, though at first it was odd for you.

"You're taking too long [y/n], hurry up!" Hedwig called out and opened the door to his room. A nurse looked at you questionably but you nodded your head, telling her that you're keeping an eye on him.

"I got this really cool thingy a few days ago and I can't wait to show it to you!" He said happily then shut the door after you entered the room.

You gazed upon the crayon and coloured pencil drawings stuck on the wall and scattered across the table while on the other side of the room there was complete order and perfection. That's probably the part that Dennis is responsible for.

You took a seat on a chair then watched Hedwig search the room, messing it up on the way. "I told him not to touch my stuff, no one listens to me!" He exclaimed then crossed his arms and frowned. He paused for a moment, before running to his bed and lifting the mattress.

"Hewie, what are you doing?" You asked, ready to stop him from messing the room, and he looked back to you with a toothy grin.

"TA DA!" He grabbed an object from under and held it out to you, waving it around. You tilted your head to comprehend what he was holding in his hands.

"It's awesome right?!" He questioned and jumped onto his bed and crossed his legs, then opened the device.

"Wh-What is that?"

Hedwig laughed, "It's a gameboy silly!"

You gulped, "Where did you get it from?"

He looked up to you and smirked, "From a garage sale."

You shook your head with confusion, "What garage sale? Where?"

"When Mr. Dennis went out for some work, I stopped by a garage sale in the neighbourhood on the way and took it!" He explained proudly, "Isn't it cool, etcetera?"

"Hedwig..." You looked at him with shock, "You stole that? Stealing is bad, it's probably a crime! You need to give it back-"

You tried to grab the gameboy from his hands but he gripped it tightly. "Hedwig, g-give it to ME!" You said forcefully but he didn't show any sign of giving up.

"N-NO, LET GO [y/n]-"

His fingers slipped off and he fell back onto his bed, banging his head a little on the metal frame. You gasped a little and rushed to his side.

He held his head then curled into a ball, crying loudly. "Go h-home [y/n], I don't want to p-play with you anym-more!" He shouted and you bent down to your knees, against the bed.

"Hedwig I'm sorry, is your head okay?" You asked and tried to check on him but he shifted away, "Oh Hewie, I didn't want you to get hurt. I'm your friend, I don't want you being in pain."

He sat up slowly, head hung low, wiping his tear stained cheeks and sniffing his nose. You rubbed the side of his head slowly and smiled softly, "Hedwig's a strong young man, nothing can hurt him huh?"

He laughed a bit and you kissed his forehead. You sighed then crossed your legs after sitting on the floor. "But you know that you shouldn't steal things Hedwig. You need to buy what you want, unless someone gives you a present," You informed.

He frowned with guilt, "I'm sorry [y/n] but... He didn't even know that I stole it. Pretty cool, right? I was so sneaky, like a spy!"

You laughed as he squinted his eyes and looked around suspiciously. "Hewie... promise me you won't steal again?" You asked and he nodded his head quickly.

"I cross my heart [y/n/n]," He said and did the appropriate gesture, "Now... do you want to see me beat my highscore?"

You sat beside him then smirked with an eyebrow raised, "Sure but... I'm sure I can beat you Hedwig!"