===== Abi Wilson =====

Abi Wilson is in her dorm room, tapping away at a keyboard she managed to bring over from their home in Burghburgh. The music is soft and beautiful—although sometimes it’s interrupted by the occasional discordant note. Shaking their head, they play the section slower this time, repeating the right note and scribbling at their sheet music, before trying again from the start.

Abi finally manages to get through the tricky section of the piece without messing up when her phone vibrates. She reaches out to see who it might be.

oak 🐺🌳: //board games club soon!!! r u joining???//

It’s a new school year, and while she’s gotten better at being in places among strangers, the spike of anxiety still comes through. It’d be nice to go and to hang out with Oakley, though, but—

me: //sorry, practise :(//

oak 🐺🌳: //ahh good luck!! i’m sure greg’s cheering you on!//

Abi smiles. Greg is there, amongst their collection of stuffed animals. He’s a cute little bunny with big ears who turns into a strawberry when he’s shy. But today, he’s helping Abi out by being an audience member, along with Abi’s many other plushie friends. 

me: //thank you!!! they’re helping :)// A picture is attached; it’s Abi’s perspective of the stuffed animals surrounding her. The crowd is mostly soft pinks that have turned a little gray with time and care. 

She puts down her phone and breathes in deep, willing herself to focus. The student-run cafe was looking for performers who could do a few pieces of live music, and despite the fear, Abi decided that it was something at least worth //trying.// And at least they won’t be alone. Penny’s already said she’d be there to support them and hang out.

On Abi’s table is her Geochemistry textbook, and while she knows there’s assignments to do and a research proposal to write—she also knows there is music to be played. 

And at least for tonight, Abi chooses the music.

//Written by Miz I//