He looked to the left.
And he looked to the right.
The boy with crimson hair sat neatly on his bed, a very plain and spare thing, acting out as neatly and orderly as he could possibly imagine.
He could hear footsteps down the halls. He knew something was coming. Someone would be here. It would all come for him slowly, watching... watching... watching...-
His eyes flashed to the bronze doorknob turning and he shrieked, diving safely under the covers. He shivered and shook and started to babble, in fact, inconprehensible things that made no sense to even himself.
"Goyjo?" came a small word from the door, barely cracked open.
The child peered out from under the covers as if some terrified mole going into hibernation.
The door twisted, it turned, the wavered and he felt himself being sucked in with it.
"Hey, it's just me. Is that you under the covers, Chren?" the woman at the door gave a flicker of a smile, not ready to fully step in until the boy said it was okay.
"Y-ye-ye-yeeees it's m-me, you scared me... I th-thought you were Macawn coming for me again."
And as if nothing had ever happened, the boy sat up from his hiding hole, wrapping the sheet from his bed around him.
"Macawn's been bothering you again, hasn't he?" the woman said softly, stepping in with a slow stride. She gently closed the door behind her, but dared not move forward until the boy signalled it would be alright.
"Y-yes.. he always b-bugs me. The b-b-big b-bully that he is. He n-never leaves me alone."
With a slight smile, the woman slowly inched forward until she could grasp a chair to sit down on, scooting a little next to the child.
"I'm sorry Chren, I know you don't like him. Do you want a hug?"
As her arms opened wide the boy flinched, cringing with fear and uncertainty.
"N-no, but Goyjo wa-w-wanted one a little while ago."
"May I please speak to Gojyou then?" she said softly, firmly.
"I'll s-see if he's h-ho-home."
Then there was silence for many moments.
Taking this opportunity to think a little, the woman (most commonly known as 'Niru to her child), mused over his shortcomings. MPD, a rare but serious disorder, was very vivid in his movements.
There were three personalities she knew of so far. There could be many more she had yet not experienced, and truthfully she didn't want to find out.
Macawn was the mean one. Spiteful, angry, full of hatred and malice. He was a sadistic little bundle of masochism that scared the living daylights out of her. He relished in the crimson colour of his hair, he many a time cut himself to taste his own blood- it was very frightening.
Chren was the timid, stumbling one. He was very passive- too passive, in fact, that if the woman made any wrong movements around Chren, then surely Macawn would come out and fly off the handle.
Goyjo was the last, and the most fun to be around. He was a happy child, very forlorn sometimes, very lonely- but he just about like any other kid his age. Loves to play, loves to paint especially- but more than anything he loves the sunshine that comes through his window near midday.
The woman sighed, waiting. It wouldn't be long before Chren came back and said: 'Nope, he's n-not there n-now. But he wishes he was.'
It was the same response he gave everytime she asked.
"Nope, he's n-not there n-now. But he wishes he was."
She motioned to fold her arms underneath her chin, but though better of it when the boy visible moved backward.
"Okay Chren. Tell him I love him, and miss him just as much as I love and miss you and Macawn. But I have to go for now, I have an appointment with one of my clients."
"F-for your j-job?"
"Yes. May I go?"
The boy though about that one for a few moments, before slowly agreeing.
"I'll be back, don't worry." 'Niru quickly got up, but then slowly moved out the door, closing it with a gentle tug.
