friend seems to be saying something about their cat, but whumpee can't quite concentrate. the edges of them feel blurry and unformed.
they dig their nails into the tablecloth, the fabric rough and unpleasant, but somewhat grounding. blinking harshly, they try to settle back in their bones, but it proves to be a difficult feat.
"hey," friend says, drawing their attention. the absent-minded words have been replaced for something more concerned. their smile is gone. that's never a good sign, whumpee thinks from a place faraway.
"are you alright?" they say, trying to catch whumpee's eyes properly, "you haven't been answering anyone's calls... we are all really worried. you'll tell us if something is going on, right?"
and whumpee inhales sharply, the stale air like sharp pins in their lungs as a strange sense of vertigo overcomes them. nausea swells near the base of their throat as they rapidly swallow back the measly sips of coffee they had. it threatens to spill out right beside the plethora of words that fill their mouth, itching to get out, out, out.
but they breathe, and breathe some more. easy, they tell themself. easy. no one wants to know about your bullshit, something about that hurts. they are still not present enough. keep your mouth shut, a voice that sounds suspiciously like whumper's hisses through their thoughts.
they smile weakly at friend, raising their cup to their lips, "of course, I will. I'm okay," the words hurt, hurt, hurt, "don't worry about me."
there is no comfort to be found in the way their friend only seems to be worrying more throughout the rest of their meet-up.