Patience is my virtue.

I woke up somewhere. Dark room. Vibrant, yellow flowers. But that was only for a few minutes. I had a large headache and didn't know where I was or who I was. All I could remember was "Patience." I woke up again in a bed. It was warm and comfortable. I felt like going back to sleep but I couldn't help but notice that smell. Below me on the floor was a pie. I took a small bite out of it and coughed. It wasn't the most... delectable pie...

I walked a few more paces. I wanted to inspect the room. Everything. There's a box with a label, "Try some on." I opened the box and there I saw some slippers inside. I felt them and made sure there were no spiders or anything inside. Nope. Just fluffy slippers. I decided that, 'hey, if I'm being given such hospitality, a stay here with comfy slippers may be nice.' So I put my shoes in and wore the slippers.

I looked around some more. A torch. I lit it with some matches I found on the table adjacent to it in order to get a better view of the room I was in. I found a box with toys inside. I suppose taking one of the toys wouldn't hurt me and would be better for me in the long run. I'm somewhere I've never been before. Who knows what could happen. I picked a toy knife just in case. A light shone below the door that led to another room so I followed it.

I walked down the corridor to the left. I found plants and more rooms. I didn't want to intrude so I just walked until the end of the corridor. I then walked back. As I neared closer to the room I was originally in, I saw a figure open the door and go in. I ran away, trying to find an exit. Although I lost my memory, I managed to remember that I was in the underground and this was a dangerous place. I found a place with a relatively open space. Stairs to the right and a door to the left. I couldn't see where it led to and I didn't want to take the stairs so I kept going forward.

I reached a sort of living room with a fireplace, a table, chairs, and books. I decided that if I were to die, I'd like to die in a way that involved something fun. I took out a book but was dumbfounded when I saw that it was just underground history and snail recipes. I thought that from all these recipes, it was likely only one person lived here. An intellectual. I sat on the chair reading the snail book I took out. It was bookmarked to the page of "snail pie." I smiled because the strange-tasting pie was made dearly. The intention was there and I closed my eyes and smiled for the effort put into the pie.

"Oh, hello, there you are!" said a warm voice. When I opened my eyes, I was startled to see a monster of this sort.

"Umm... hello..." I muttered. I was slightly frightened. My village told lots of stories about the monsters hidden in the mountain. The types that if you were to fall down the mountain you'd die instantly because their primal instinct is to kill humans and absorb their souls. All while doing it very painfully.

"My apologies, child, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Toriel. I'm the keeper of these ruins. I heard you fall and hit your head. I saw some blood on you so I tried to cover it up to stop it. This is my home and you're welcome to stay here as long as you like." She smiled. A very gentle, warm smile. I felt better.

"Thank you," I told her. I reached towards my head to feel the type of bandage she put on me. A ribbon. Well, it is the underground. I wouldn't expect the monsters to have the type of technology we have at the surface. In my village, we found a way to make a sort of bandage by taking canvas and dabbing it with syrup to stick to the skin and have a piece of paper in the middle to clot the blood.

"I baked you a snail pie. I hope you liked it." I nodded my head, trying to appear nice. She smiled and continued with, "Ah splendid, I was worried you wouldn't like it. I wonder, though, how did you fall into the underground?" I tried to think but my head hurt too much. "Don't hurt yourself, child. If you like, you can stay home with me." I nodded my head but was already beginning to think about my escape. "Excellent, if you want, I could read you a story. I promise you, they are very fascinating!"

As she read, she looked so intrigued by the history books and story books. I wondered more about her as she read. What sparked her interest in reading? Why did you bake me a pie? Why are you so hospitable? Why aren't you an incredibly hostile monster like everyone has told me? Are you especially different? Are you the only nice monster? Were you once a parent? Who built this home? Well, as she read more of the history books, that last question was answered.

My plan was to wait out her story time until she got tired. It backfired, for I ended up falling asleep. The last thing I remembered was her opening a new book about 20 more uses for snails. She read a few recipes before everything began to go dark. I woke up in the bed again. My toy knife back in its chest, the slippers at the feet of my bed, and the ribbon still on me. I decided that if I can't out-wake the fluffy monster, I should try to find an exit.

I managed to find the exit, I think. It was more caverns. I lost my toy knife somewhere. I then got lost myself. The ribbon she gave me kept falling on my face, restricting my field of vision. I took it off somewhere and kept walking. I got into a few fights but each time I managed to wait until the perfect moment and killed them at the perfect opportunity. If I had the knife, I would swing it and spin myself if there were many monsters surrounding me. If not, I'd have to use my hands. I was amazed that were hostile, it became obvious to me that my village was right. Monsters just want to kill you and take your soul. Not Toriel, however. But she could never replace my parents. I kept walking until somehow I ended up right back at the house.

Toriel was reading when I came up. She looked at me and exclaimed, "You're hurt!" She ran to the kitchen and tried to heal me with some chocolate she had stashed. I ate the chocolate and was amazed at how better I felt. "But how could food heal me like this?"

"Monsters don't have physical attacks. They have magical attacks. That's why you feel bad but you don't have any actual injuries. Despite that, you're still hurt and if you get too hurt, you will die." I nodded. I began to wonder if humans could use magic attacks. I took another nap and checked that Toriel was busy. I wondered if she ever slept. I decided to check what was down those stairs. It was a very, very long hallway. I kept walking until I found a door. As I was about to reach it, Toriel stopped me and told me that it wouldn't be wise to go past those doors. That, like the ruins, she wouldn't be there to protect me. She asked if I understood and I nodded.

I waited what felt like days. Playing with what I found in the toy box to pass the time. I hoped she would have forgotten about my attempt of escape by then. I appeared happy and for a bit I had forgotten I had ever wanted to leave this home and go back to the surface. But I needed to leave. I wanted to see my family again. I waited again until Toriel was deep into a book and ran this time. I ran and managed to leave the ruins. Outside was cold. Snow on the ground and I was in socks. I walked a few steps before I saw what looked like a large ghost of Toriel.

"Toriel..." I cried out. "Help me." But nobody came. It was just me and that figure that just stood and waited for me to die. 'Patience...' I told myself. I looked up at the white, fluffy figure. It looked worried but wouldn't move. I knew that it was the end for me. But I waited. Patience. Toriel will come. Patience. I shall see my family again. Patience.

Patience.

Patience.

Patience.

Patience.

Patience that I shall soon die.

Patience isn't my virtue.

Patience is my vice.