"Let's see another place."
Those were the words he had said. But, being honest, he wasn't confident.
The only reason he had tried to explore this mansion was because Wednesday was reading creepy books.
Tuesday didn't want to admit it, but it was fun reading.
It seemed that Wednesday's tastes were influencing his mind.
Reading descriptions of brutality and gore made his heart skip a beat with ecstasy and fear.
This was confusing his mind because Wednesday's feelings were being mixed with his.
Didn't it mean that if Wednesday kept reading, he would become crazy like his family someday?
Would he lose his mind and common sense?
Or would he endure and "change" Wednesday?
Tuesday didn't like either option. He didn't want to manipulate Wednesday's thoughts and deprive her of her independence.
But he also couldn't set her free to explore her tastes, knowing it would make her seem more like their family.
Because Wednesday was the only thing he had.
She was his only comfort and the only wall he could rely on, and it was a shame an adult like him had come out so low.
He couldn't feel safe anywhere.
All the members of his family didn't seem human.
They would talk about death and torture with a smile.
Did his parents really care about them dying or living? If Tuesday needed to answer, he would say they didn't care.
Grandmama had almost killed them when they were just 6 months old. He had nightmares about her from time to time.
He wanted to run away from here, but they lived in a mountain far from the city, surrounded by mysterious dangers.
Their bodies had not even reached 2 years old. So the only thing he could do was protect Wednesday's mentality from their family.
He wanted her to have a normal life.
Make some friends, enjoy trivialities, and have common tastes like other children.
It hurt his heart every time Grandmama corrupted her mind, and he was impotent to stop her.
Just looking at her brought back the memories of her trying to kill him with a sword.
It was so vivid it felt like he was reliving it.
The smell of blood in his head, the sword almost reaching his body, her distorted smile...
It was traumatizing.
And scary.
And...
'Tuesday?'
He had shrunken his body in front of the door to their room.
Sniff.
Tears started to fall from his eyes.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I... just can't do it."
The first time he walked on his own, he was almost eaten by a strange door.
What if the other rooms were equally scary?
That was why he just shrank his body like a coward.
'...' Wednesday became silent, looking at him.
She was shocked.
It was the first time she had seen Tuesday cry.
Was it her fault? She knew Tuesday was scared to walk alone, but even knowing this, she still made her walk on her own.
"I'm sorry, let's go back."
At her words, Tuesday felt his emotions calming down.
Wednesday used to be more stable than him.
Every time she was in command, he would feel more confident and stable.
He wouldn't feel the anxiety or depression he usually hid from himself.
But maybe because he was a little too stimulated after remembering Grandmama, the tears were still dropping from his face.
Even in such a state, Wednesday kept composed like a strong older sister.
"Can you sing a song to me?" she said with her usual stoic face.
Sometimes, looking at Wednesday, who always stayed composed, gave him a little stability.
What a crappy adult he was. Why was he feeling so relieved?
'Which song do you want...?'
But even knowing he should overcome it on his own.
He couldn't refuse Wednesday's kindness.
"The same as always."
The same song he always sang to her since she was a baby.
'♪' An emotive and calm lullaby played in their minds.
Wednesday breathed deeply, listening to Tuesday's voice.
It was a song she never got tired of listening to.
Mainly because Tuesday always seemed to sing with her heart in it.
Wednesday wasn't a very emotional kid. She rarely cried from sadness, and her emotions hardly varied.
That's why Tuesday's songs were so special to her.
Because every time she listened to them, she seemed alive.
Without the usual fights or discussions of "right or wrong."
Just a moment they could truly appreciate together.
Wednesday moved her fingers, following the flow of the song.
It was a habit she had since she was a baby.
Looking at Wednesday immersed in the melody, a small smile appeared on their faces.
'As expected,' he thought. 'I love this child.'
It was a hard day for both of them.
But in the end, it wasn't so bad.
Maybe if Wednesday stayed by his side, Tuesday would someday explore this mansion on his own.
But this was just a "maybe" for now.
*
It didn't take too long for hell to return.
It was afternoon, and Grandmama would teach them again.
Today, she wanted to share a bit of her "wisdom."
"Kid, what do you think is the most important thing in life?" she asked with a serious face.
Listening to her words, Wednesday thought deeply.
It was an interesting question.
Wednesday hadn't lived much or experienced the world enough to answer.
Defining a single answer to something essential in life meant revealing what she valued most.
What was it? Reading?
When she read, she always had fun, but it was fun because her mindset aligned with those books.
So, the most important thing in life must be what allowed her to enjoy them.
Her essence.
However, she had often experienced Tuesday judging her tastes.
So, saying the most important thing in life was the essence itself didn't feel right.
"Independence."
That was the answer.
Wednesday always listened to the words of those around her.
Reading books, she saw different perspectives and understood that what Grandmama said was often influenced by emotions or empirical data rather than absolute truths.
Initially, Wednesday would listen to her grandma and accept whatever she said as truth.
But thanks to Tuesday's accidental efforts to challenge her thoughts, Wednesday created a multifaceted network of information to compare with what people around her said.
A woman who cut off her feet to wear a glass slipper and date a prince initially seemed foolish and laughable to her, but Wednesday was impressed by the tenacity of those characters.
No matter how crazy their thoughts were, they still followed their essence.
So, for Wednesday, the most important thing in life was "independence."
The strength to keep being herself no matter what people said, even if it meant going against her precious little sister or her respected Grandmama.
"Tsk, totally wrong, kid," her grandma said with a frown.
Wednesday wasn't shaken by her words.
Instead, she was curious about Grandmama's perspective and what led her to think of a different answer.
"Why?"
The fact that people always had different answers intrigued Wednesday and made her ask questions.
She wanted to understand them and reach the "truth."
Even if she didn't know exactly what that truth was.
"What is the use of independence if you're broke?"
She said as if it were common sense.
"Money, kid. The answer is money."
Suddenly, Wednesday felt her body reacting strangely.
A strange feeling permeated her body—was it anger?
It was a mix of anger and fear.
Those emotions didn't belong to her but to Tuesday.
After realizing this, Wednesday suppressed those emotions and calmly asked her grandmama again.
"Why?"
"Money is what makes the world go round. People can always betray your trust, but not money."
Grandmama's words seemed to carry a lot of personal feelings.
"With it, you can have what you want most. You can have freedom and health. There is no problem in this world that money doesn't solve."
She said with a proud smile.
"People will tell you that this is wrong. But listen to me, kid. They live in an illusion. They'll tell you about friendship, pure love, and altruism. But most of the world isn't ruled by those laws."
Wednesday was contemplative, listening to her grandma. She couldn't agree, but she didn't have enough information to contest her.
For her, money was useless.
There weren't any material things in this world she truly wished for.
Instead, a book was more interesting than anything else, and she already had an entire library.
Was it because she was a child? Would she want money when she grew up?
"Why?"
"There are many reasons, but the main one is that people can't accept the world is ugly and disgusting." She frowned, as if recalling a bad memory. "That's why you shouldn't get caught up in such thoughts."
Grandmama looked at little Wednesday, deep in thought, her face stoic.
"Let's stop here." With those words, she got up with a disgusted face.
Both watched Grandmama leave the room.
Tuesday hadn't said a word during the entire process, but when the woman was finally gone, her mind exploded.
'Forget what this bitch said! She's just a frustrated witch taking her life's frustrations out on you! Not even she believes the things she says!'
Tuesday's voice rang in her mind, full of anger, her emotions turbulent.
Wednesday felt dizzy from the overwhelming surge.
'Money doesn't buy happiness, real friends, or love! The most important thing in life is not something she has the right to answer for you!'
"Tuesday, calm."
'How could I be calm?!'
Her sister seemed out of her mind. Every time Grandmama was the topic, her emotions became unstable and hard to manage.
Wednesday started regulating her breathing. It had become a habit to relieve Tuesday's worries this way.
"What about you?"
She asked with clear curiosity.
'Me what?!'
her sister replied, still affected by her emotions.
"What is the most important thing in life?"
Tuesday rarely talked about herself.
Even when she tried to give advice or life lessons, she never explained why she thought that way.
Naturally, Wednesday was curious about her mindset.
'Of course, it's you!'
"Me?"
Wednesday was confused by her words.
For her, it was independence. For Grandmama, it was money. But for Tuesday, it was... her?
"Why?"
She asked again, curious about what made Tuesday value her so much.
'Isn't it obvious?' Tuesday's tone was still angry, clearly influenced by her emotions.
'Because I love you!'
Wednesday listened to her sister's words with a blank face.
She had expected anything but a declaration of love.
*
Author note
My stories aren't about right or wrong. The meaning of this story is also simple: perspectives. Everyone thinks differently. You will agree with some characters and some don't. Keep in mind that it is you who must judge what is right or wrong.
Anyway, I hope you like it! This chapter was the hardest chapter I ever wrote about psychological stuff. I'm dying.