Mauer

Sometimes being alone isn’t as bad as it might seem. For example; you don’t really have to worry about hurt feelings anymore, and peer pressure isn’t a thing because there’s nobody around to pressure you. And since people don’t really talk to you, you don’t have to worry about what they’re thinking. I guess the only downside is how lonely it can be. There’s not really anyone who you can share your thoughts and ideas with, and your emotions can become one huge, loud and static mess. I’m a bit lucky though, because I’ve got my friend Yuri with me!
Yuri has been with me for as long as I can remember. I’ve never really done anything without him. From going on walks to the store or going swimming in cold lakes, he’s always been there. Yuri doesn’t really talk a whole lot, which I guess it’s fine. He prefers to stay quiet and listen to others talking. Sometimes he does give a response, but it’s never a very long one, maybe just a “yes” or a “no” or, my least favorite, “Mel’, stop talking to Mauer.” So what if I ask Mauer for his secrets? He knows something I don’t and I need to know what it is!
The other day I was asking Mauer if he knew where any hidden doors were, he was ignoring me again. After a long session of questioning him I decided to sit in front of him in silence, hoping that eventually, he would answer. He didn’t answer. He never does. Yuri walked into the room after a while to ask me if I was okay, I lied and told him yes. I didn’t want to worry him. I told him another lie - Mauer had revealed a secret location and we had to find it. Yuri didn’t respond for awhile, I think I may have scared him a bit when I had said that.
It took a few moments but eventually, Yuri asked when we were going to leave to find the secret location. I felt kinda bad, He didn’t know that I had lied to him. I had to think quickly of something to do. I stood up and grabbed Yuri’s hand and led him outside, we walked down the road for a bit while I decided where we should go. Eventually, I found an abandoned store. Parts of its roof had caved in and it’s walls were overgrown with ivy, some of which looked like they were dying. I hesitated a moment but eventually decided to walk into the building. It’s not like there are any scary monsters in it. Besides, I have Yuri to help protect me if there are any!
The inside of the building smelled like if a squid had fought a gingerbread man and lost. I had to stop walking, the fight played out in my head for a moment and I couldn’t help but laugh. I stopped, now thinking of how nice some squid jerky would be. I hadn’t seen any of that in months, and the place seemed like it might have some hidden away.
Yuri decided to sit down near the entry, he told me I could explore and he’d wait there for me. I nodded, understanding that he might be a little tired, and skipped away to explore the building. Most of the shelves were empty except for a few that were littered with old snack wrappers and opened soda cans. Eventually, I found an unopened bag of strawberry candy, I picked it up and shoved it in my pocket. Strawberry candy is the best!
I couldn’t see Yuri from where I was, so I shouted and asked if he wanted anything. He didn’t respond, which was weird. Usually, when we go on adventures and to the store he’ll at least tell me if he wants something. I waited in the silence for a moment, my head was starting to hurt. He still hadn’t responded. I started to walk back, worried about what I might find. What if Yuri fell and hit his head? What if he didn’t like me anymore and got up and left me all alone?
I arrived at the door and was horrified at what I saw. There was a dog biting into Yuri’s arm, his head had been thrown to the side and his insides strewn across the floor. I shouted at the dog, scaring it away, and walked over to Yuri. I sat down next to the mess on the floor crying. After a few minutes, I picked up the pieces of stuffing and fabric and hugged them carefully. I stood up and began walking home, deciding to sew Yuri back together once I was there. This hadn’t been the first time he was broken, but it still bothered me every time it happened. I looked down at the pieces again, there was no way I would be able to put him back together this time. I sighed and found a spot along the side of the road and carefully buried the pieces in leaves. I guess it was time for a new teddy bear anyways.