it's too crowded

<img src="images/untitled.png" /> it's too crowded. [[leave?]]

<img src="images/untitled2.png" /> [[>|leave2]]

<img src="images/untitled3.png" /> [[>|leave3]]

<img src="images/untitled4.png" /> [[>|leave4]]

<img src="images/noise.png" /> when you step outside you’re confronted by a (text-color:"purple") [hole in the middle of your vision.] your eyes bounce off of it, there’s a void. your mind tries to fill it with [[background noise]].

<img src="images/void.png"> next to this (text-color:"purple")[void], holding hands with this (text-color:"purple")[void], is the spouse of the (text-color:"purple")[witch you offended] and you realize it’s her. the (text-color:"purple")[witch you’re no longer allowed to perceive] is here before you for the first time since she’s laid this spell. at least the first time you noticed. how many times by now have your eyes [[bounced off of her]], blissfully unaware?

<img src="images/void 1.png"> looking from the (text-color:"purple")[void], to the spouse, all you can muster is an empty “hello”. is the witch mortified, you wonder, that she accidentally walked right into the center of your [[field of vision]]?

<img src="images/void 2.png"> she probably wasn’t expecting to see you here, after the spell that [[destroyed you]].

<img src="images/void 4.png"> you had hoped to mend yourself more for the next time she saw you. impress her, even. but progress is incremental. and to keep making progress the next step is to go out in the world, meet the witches, dolls, moths, angels that could give you relief. help mend this huge crack in your heart. there’s only so much a half-doll can do (link-reveal: "on its own.")[= [[where she left you|on its own]].

<img src="images/void 5.png"> like a good doll, you stare at your toes and hold the door open for the (text-color:"purple")[void] and its spouse. they hesitate and you peek up. the spouse stares, like you’re some ghost. the (text-color:"purple")[void] you can only imagine. it probably looks (text-color:"purple")[beautiful.] [[resplendent.]]

<img src="images/small.png"> you are so (link-reveal: "small and miserable.")[= why did you (link-reveal: "come")[= your friend is inside, (link-reveal: "in the crowd.")[= why did you (link-reveal: "leave them.")[= (link-reveal: "you can’t be alone.")[= but now the (link-reveal: "void and its spouse have gone inside")[= (link-reveal: "so")[= if you want to find your friend (link-reveal: "you’ll have to")[= [[follow them back in]].

<img src="images/small.png"> you collect yourself outside for a few moments, giving them time to find a place to (text-color:"purple")[loom], and then venture back into the [[party]].

<img src="images/back inside.png"> and somehow, you have a nice time.