Pandora's Aquarium: Hiding - Pandora's Aquarium

SHHH… Be quiet.

Don't make a single sound.
Control your breathing so they can't hear that either.
Become part of the furniture.
Be a shadow.
Cover your body.
Hide perfectly, I know you can.
Become part of the ditch.
Avoid headlights.
Hide in the trees.
Silent steps, be a ghost.
Heartbeat thudding… quiet that too.
They're going to hear your heartbeat!
Control your breathing.
They know you're here.
They can smell you.
Feel you.
Sense your fear.
Don't move a muscle.
Resist the urge to clear your throat or swallow.
Stay out of the light.
They'll eventually leave.
You hate being alone.
But being alone means safety.
Don't question it.
Compromise… compensate for the loneliness.
Become part of the wall.
You see the hands searching.
Don't let them touch you.
Shield yourself with things.
Let them grab everything else.
There's so much under that bed.
Give them a toy.
Or two.
They'll eventually give up.
Go outside searching for you.
Let them panic.
Let them wonder.
They don't actually care.
That's why you need to hide.
They're searching for YOU.
To find YOU.
So they can what?
Hurt YOU.
A child.
That's all you are.
Children hide, playing games.
Children are innocent.
They don't think like adults do.
Usually.
They aren't supposed to.
They shouldn't have to.
But they gave you no choice.
You were seven.
At night you dreamt of leaving.
And day?
Hide or avoid at all costs.
You didn't know.
All those things they did.
You hid it from us.
When it wasn't happening you didn't know.
Neither did I.
But I know now.
And I can help you.
I know you want to hide.
But I'm here now.
And I'm stronger.
Stronger than THEM.
By a lot.
So you're safe now.
You don't have to hide from me.
I'm not going to hurt you.
I'm not going to ignore you.
We know now.
It's starting to make sense.
Dad was evil.
But mom was worse.
Brother didn't know either.
But you have me now.
You don't need them anymore.
You have me.