Ginger
When I was little, I nearly drowned. Later, I was poisoned with wolfsbane. Both left me timid to the bone, afraid of the dark, afraid of water, afraid of being alone.
One time I fell into freezing water. Just when I thought I was going to die, Herman found me and pulled me out.
He told me, "You scare easily. Don't do anything alone. If you need me, just call. I'll always come."
So when my claustrophobia got worse, I called him. He said, "I've already found a therapist. Come to the pack and see me."
When I arrived at the pack, he was playing video games with his best friend, Clara.
Clara's eyes stayed on her phone. "See? She came here by herself," she mocked. "Scared out of her mind, and she calls herself a werewolf. How embarrassing."
Herman patted her head. "Fine, you win. I'll take you to the haunted house tomorrow."
I sank to the floor, too weak to stand, staring at them in disbelief.
Herman kept staring at his phone. He didn't even glance at me.
"If you're this much of a coward, you'll never survive in the real world. We're training you."
I screamed, breaking down. "Do you have any idea I almost died just now!"
Clara put down her phone, annoyed that she'd lost the game.
"You're alive, aren't you? Stop screaming. Herman, just get the therapist."
When Herman saw me crying, he walked out immediately. Clara followed him.
I had barely caught my breath when the lights suddenly went out. The whole pack compound went dark.
"Herman! Clara! Where are you? Why did the power go out?"
I screamed their names, but no one answered. Then a text popped up on my phone.
"Already scared, you little coward? Hang in there. This is training. It'll make you brave."
Another text followed. "Stop relying on other people all the time. You need to learn to be independent."
I was timid. I was weak. But I still had my dignity.
If I was going to have to get used to being alone anyway, then the two of them could get out of my life for good.