Originally published June 5th 2019
Yes this is another one of those shorts where I have to put this kind of warning. If you are going through issues like these and need to talk to someone, please go to your parents, if not go to your friends, if not go to your counselor, and if not even that, go to a local therapist. It is never a burden to talk about this kind of stuff, because there are those that wish to help you and want you to get better. I'm not a professional, but I do know that I send my condolences. And if you are too triggered by the topic this short offers, then you may skip this one.
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A/N: So for this short, I was inspired by a certain underrated YouTuber that I love. CardlinAudio, bless his soul, is a YouTuber that makes mainly boyfriend/husband/etc. audios for people of all kinds to listen to whenever they are sad or single and lonely or just need some fluffy comfort. He has helped out a lot of people in need, including me. This short was inspired by his audio that he made on the suicidal spouse. I'm not sponsored by Cardiln in anyway, but I'd like to thank him for the inspiration, and for helping me and thousands of people who don't have the best of life right now. So you can thank CardlinAudio for some of the dialogue used in this short. Anyways, the short's about Dory going through a lot of emotional turmoil, to the point where she believes that she has no meaning to the world anymore, so she attempts suicide. Thankfully, Marlin along with Gill and Nemo come home just in time to save her. Marlin then proceeds to comfort his love and tries make sure that this never happens again.
I wanted to try something different and write this in a script format. I think it'll be easier for me since this short will be heavily reliant of dialogue. Also, there is kinda a cussing warning too for the youngin's so if you're one of them, you probably shouldn't be reading this either. This'll be rated PG-13
Also the beginning part may or not be inspired by a one-shot a friend of mine is currently working one :3
With that said, hope you enjoy :3
Dory is currently lying in the sand of the beach. She stirs a bit as she opens her eyes and glances at her surroundings, trying to process where she is. To the right of her, she could see the calm blue morning ocean and to the left was a small beach home that was a good few feet away from the beach. Dory instantly recognizes the place. It was her old home in California. But why was she there. Dory walks over to the shore and looks down to the water at her reflection. She was shorter, her hair was tied up in pigtails, and she was wearing a plain yellow t-shirt with a blue tang on it, and a navy blue skirt.
Dory's head: "I'm a kid again? Or is it again?"
Before she could question further, she forgot what she was reminiscing about and waltzed over to the beach house.
Dory's head: "Hopefully mom and dad are home."
She stopped at the porch when she heard laughing coming from the living room. She peeked through the window that lead to the living room and found a middle-aged couple, with the same hair color and clothing style as Dory, holding two glasses of wine and having a chat. Dory couched under the window and listened in on the conversation. She didn't understand why she needed to. Something was telling her that she should, like a red flag is going up in her head.
Jenny: "Nice to not have the brat around, wouldn't you agree Charlie?"
Charlie: "Yes, it has been more quiet since we left her out."
Jenny: "And her memory loss, such a chore."
Dory's eyes widened, and her heart sank to her stomach
Charlie: "Yep, it was hard to abandon Dory out by the shore like that, but it's certainly worth the peace and quiet."
Jenny: "A cheers to that."
Jenny and Charlie clank their wine glasses together, exchanging a laugh whilst Dory sat out there by the window, completely distraught. She couldn't believe what had just went down. Her own parents that she has loved and trusted and thought have cared about her back, had planned on disowning her behind her back.
Dory's head: "N-No that can't be true. They love me. Right?"
Suddenly, her parents exit the house and find Dory sitting there. She was petrified at their reactions upon seeing their daughter by the porch.
Charlie: "The hell you doing here, you little brat?!"
Jenny: "We thought we have gotten rid of you you for good!"
Tears were now falling. She had never in her life heard them act so harsh around her. She couldn't say anything at that moment because of both her tears choking her up and the pure shock she is going though at this very moment.
Charlie "Can't you see that you're not needed here anymore!? You were never needed."
Jenny: "You cause nothing but trouble with your short-term memory. That's why none of the other kids want to play with you."
Charlie: "You'd give them too much trouble with your memory-loss like you have with us."
Dory attempts to speak.
Dory: "B-But I-"
Charlie: "Shut your damn mouth! We don't want to hear it!"
Jenny: "You think anyone would care for someone like you?"
All Dory could do was sit there, letting her parents throw insults at her right and left. It's not like she had any authority over them, she's just a kid. And what would've been gained if she even did try and speak up? Her parents would've still given her crap and wouldn't even care about what she had to say. Her parents words started to echo and become louder.
Charlie: "Brains aren't everything. In fact, in your case they're nothing."
Jenny: "Don't think, it might sprain your brain."
Charlie: "Selfish"
Jenny: "Useless."
Charlie: "Disabled."
"Jenny: "Unstable."
Charlie: "Childish."
Jenny: "Worthless."
Charlie: "Good for nothing!"
Jenny: "Mistake!"
Her ears started to ring and it was unbearable. She had to get out of this. She couldn't take it anymore. Dory was about to make a run for it, until-
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Marlin: "Dory? Dory! Are you okay?"
Dory's eyes shot open, she turned over to find Marlin sitting next to her, looking extremely panicked. It turned out to be a dream. Dory didn't know weather to be grateful or not.
Marlin: "Sweetheart? Are you alright? I woke up to find you drenched in sweat and tears."/
Dory looked down at her clothes and he was right. She could feel sweat soaked from her clothes to the sheets. Her eyes also felt extremely wet as they were covered with tears. Marlin, realizing she hasn't responded, set a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
Marlin: "Dory? Did you hear me?"
Dory was snapped out of her trance and glanced over at Marlin again, giving a bright smile.
Marlin's head: "She must've forgotten."
Dory: "Nope, I don't think I did."
Marlin: "Hon, you were crying in your sleep. It really worried me. Is there anything wrong?"
Dory suddenly remember the dream vividly now, her overhearing her parents boasting about her being gone, them throwing insults at her, going on about how she isn't needed by anyone.
Dory's head: "Is it really true? Am I nothing but trouble?"
Marlin: "Dory? You know, when you're silent like that, it doesn't mean anything good."
Dory: "Oh! N-No, I'm fine, Marty. Don't worry about."
Marlin: "Are you sure? Because if something's bothering you, you know you can tell me right?"
Dory: "Yep. Everything's good. Must've been a bad dream but, it's no biggie."
Somehow, Marlin was buying it, but knowing Dory, he wouldn't get anywhere if he asked further so he decides to drop it for now.
Marlin: "Um, alright. If you say so. Anyways, I'm about to take Nemo to school. You wanna come?"
Dory: "No thanks, I'm good."
He was taken a back. Usually she'd love to go with him to take Nemo to school.
Marlin: "Really?"
Dory: "Yeah, I think I'll just stay home and relax today."
Marlin's head: "Okay, what the hell is going on with her?"
Marlin reminds himself to ask her about this later because he right now had to worry about taking Nemo to school.
Marlin: "I guess you deserve sometime to yourself. I'll see you when I get off of work then, love."
Dory: "Bye, I love you.
Marlin lets out a small chuckle before approaching Dory. He pressed his lips against hers. It was brief but it was still as compassionate as all of Marlin's other kisses.
Marlin: "Love you too."
He then leave the room. Once Marlin was out of the house, she starts to sob quietly. How could she have lied to him like that. Why won't her parent's words leave her head. They aren't even their words, they're just a figment of her imagination. At least, she thought they were. Dory started to ponder everything she could remember about her parents. Was all of it a lie? Did they even care about her at all? Or did they only raise her because they felt pity for her. All her friends... what about them?Was she really just a burden to them? ... Marlin... Does he even love her? Did he only want her around her to be the mother figure to his son? Was she really only causing more harm than good?
"You were never needed."
"You think anyone would care for someone like you?"
"Unstable."
"Childish."
"Worthless."
"Good for nothing!"
"MISTAKE!"
Dory's eyes widened. She has come to the horrific realization. She had no purpose being here. In this god forsaken world. Everyone she has ever known and loved has probably lied behind her back all her life. She couldn't take it anymore. She knew what she had to do. She walks down stairs to the kitchen. She approaches one of the drawers, she sees the knifes, she grabs one of them, she walks back over to the kitchen. She sits at the corner of the floor, and just sits there, sobbing her eyes out. All she could do was cry, cry until she had no tears left. She really did have no purpose. No one really cared about her anyways. not her parents, her friends or even her own boyfriend. So what was even the point in living?
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Meanwhile, Marlin had just picked up Nemo from school. Nemo offered Gill to come hangout with them and he agreed. Him and Nemo were chatting while Marlin had unlocked the front door to the house. They stepped in, somehow the atmosphere was different than usual.
Gill: "Odd, where's Dory?"
Marlin: "I'm not sure."
Nemo: "She'd usually be right here to greet us."
Marlin: "Maybe she's still asleep or doesn't feel well so she went up to rest."
Gill: "I'd doubt it. Even then, Dory would still be as bubbly as always."
They head to the kitchen to find Dory in the corner of floor, not facing them.
Marlin: "Hey, there you are, honey."
Nemo: "Hi, Dory!
Gill notices something in Dory's hand. He grabs Nemo's arm and pulls him back.
Nemo: "Ow! Gill, why did-"
Gill: "She's holding something."
Marlin approached her cautiously.
Marlin: "Why are you by the corner of the kitchen, love?"
He gets no response from her. Marlin turns her around and quickly backs up, noticing the object she was holding. It was a knife!
Nemo: *Gasp* "Dory!"
Gill moves in front of Nemo, holding out a protective arm in front of the kid.
Gill: "Get back, Sharkbait!"
Marlin: "Dory? W-Why do you have that?"
Dory raises up the knife.
Marlin: "Hey, hey. We can talk about this-"
She turns the knife towards her chest. Marlin gasped.
Marlin: "Dory? Put the knife down."
Nemo: "Dory, no!"
Dory was about to plunge the knife into her.
Marlin: "Dory!?"
Enough was enough, he had to act.
Marlin: "GOD DAMNIT, DORY! PUT THAT KNIFE DOWN THIS INSTANT!"
He runs over to her and grabs her wrists in time for her to drop the knife without harming herself. Dory's eyes widened. She had realized how much trouble she had caused by trying to take her own life. New tears formed. Marlin started to panic.
Marlin: "Dory, I- I'm sorry for yelling. Come here."
He pulls her close all the while her crying into his chest.
Nemo: "Gill, what's wrong with Dory?"
Gill: "I don't know, but I think we should stay out of this."
Nemo: "But I don't want dad to get hurt."
Gill: "He won't, Dory wouldn't be willing to go that far. Let's just stay in the living room until they're done."
Nemo: "A-Alright."
The two stepped out of the kitchen. Marlin didn't either notice or care. All that mattered to him right now was Dory. He was trying hard to fight the tears that were threatening to fall, but he emotionally couldn't at that moment.
Dory: "I'm sorry, please don't hate me."
Marlin: "Sweetheart, no. I don't hate you. Just, get this shit away!"
Marlin kicked the knife that was now on the floor, away to the edge of the room. Far from Dory's reach.
Dory: "I'm sorry." *Sob*
Marlin: "It's okay. I'm here. Thank god I'm here. I won't leave, okay? I won't let go of you for a second. Christ, Dory *sob* Y-You scared me."
Dory: "I know you hate me a-"
Marlin: "Dory, no. That's not true. Look at me."
Marlin turns her head towards him so she could face him. He could now see her eyes all red and her cheeks were stained with tears.
Marlin: "I love you. *sob* God, I love you. I love you so much. I would never hate you, you hear me? I love you."
Dory: *Sob* "You have a right to leave me-"
Marlin: "No, Dory. I'd never leave you. I'll never abandon you. I certainly won't now."
Dory: "God, I'm such a psychopath for trying to do that. I'm probably insane."
Marlin: "Love, you're not crazy. You're not psychotic in anyway, shape, or form."
Dory: "A-Are you going to put me in an asylum?"
Marlin: "No, I won't send you away. No one's gonna take you away from me, okay? We'll just stay here as long as we need to. Alright?"
Dory: *Sniffle* S-Sorry for crying."
Marlin: "Dory, it's okay to cry. There's no shame in crying, okay? You can cry, scream, yell at me, but... you can't do that again. I-I don't want to have to lose you the way I lost-"
Dory: "Damn it! You're right! I shouldn't have been so selfish to to try and leave you with that kind of trauma again. I-"
Marlin: "Honey, no it's not selfish. That's done and over with."
Dory: "But it was selfish, I would've left you to raise Nemo without a mother again. But, felt like it was the only option, and-"
Marlin: "Dory, look at me."
Dory does so, hesitantly. Marlin gives her a stern but not intimidating look.
Marlin: "There are many options for you to take in this kind of situation, but that... that's not one of them. It won't ever be, understand?"
Dory: *sigh* "I-It was a selfish reason too-"
Marlin: "Dory... Whatever it could be, I'm here. I'm here for you and I love you. Nothing can change that."
There was silence. Marlin let out a sigh of relief.
Marlin: "Y-You terrified me for a second. I actually thought you- It just.. seemed so surreal."
Another wave of silence.
Marlin: "Okay.. Now that you're safe, in my arms, and not out of my grasp. Tell me.. How did we get here? What happened?"
Dory: "... I-It's silly-"
Marlin: "No, it's not silly. I promise you, nothing you're gonna say right now will sound silly. Just tell me. Please. I won't judge you, no matter how insignificant you may think it seems."
Dory: "Everything?"
Marlin: "Yes, every last single detail. Everything that lead you to turn out like this."
Dory starts to cry again.
Marlin: "It's okay. Take as long as you need. We can stay here all day if we have to. Go ahead."
Dory finally came clean and spoke after a moment of awkward silence.
Dory: "I-I had a nightmare last night."
Marlin: "The one you didn't tell me about?"
Dory: "... Mhm. And I was a child again, I woke up from the shore of the beach. I had no idea what was going on so I ran over to my old house to try and talk to my parents when I heard something through the window. It was my parents and they were telling each other about how better their lives were without me being around. How my memory-loss was a chore for them to deal with."
Marlin: "Dory, honey. You know you're memory-loss is never a burden, right?"
Dory: "But, it annoys you at times and I feel awful because I can't control it."
Marlin: "Sure it annoys me from time to time, but that's only from me trying to get used to it. That doesn't change how much I love you. Your memory is something that can't be controlled so you shouldn't be the blame when it acts out like that. Hell, your memory-loss is what makes you you. And not in a bad way. It's adorable whenever you get little things wrong even after being corrected, like Nemo's name."
More silence.
Marlin: "So did anything else happen in your dream?"
Dory: "Well, after I overheard my parents, they walked out of the house and found me sitting by the porch. They started cussing out at me and saying how much they or anyone else needed me in their lives. They started just spouting insults at me non stop. It started getting louder and louder and I couldn't take it anymore. But before i could do anything, you woke me up."
Marlin: "...But how did it lead to you trying to do.. that?"
Dory: "No one truly cares for me. That everyone I've known my entire life, including you have been lying just because they felt sorry for me. I feel like I'm nothing but a chore for everyone around me so I guess I tried to lift that burden off of everyone's shoulders."
Marlin: "No, Dory, love. Don't you ever think that we don't care about you. Don't you ever think that I don't care about you! Because I do! Oh god above heaven I do! You changed my life for the better when i first met you. if it wasn't for you, I never would've been able to travel halfway across the world to find my son, to help you reunite with your parents and.. to learn how to love again. And you would never EVER be a burden to me or anyone else. Your have parents loved and supported you and will still continue to because let me tell you, if you were all those things that you think you were, your parents wouldn't have bothered to wait for you to come home. They would've never believed in you. They never would've thought you would be able to return home. And all your friends have stuck by you because they love and care about you too. hell, you've inspired them."
Dory: "How?"
Marlin: "By being who you are. By being able to work though your memory-loss and be able to fend for yourself. You also give them a little bit more of positivity and optimism in their lives when they're going through tough times."
Dory: "*sigh* I-I guess. Still, you should be at least a bit angered at me-"
Marlin: "I'm not mad for what happened. I'm glad it didn't get worse than this. I'm just grateful I came in home in time to save yourself and that you're still alive. Standing here beside me as I have you embraced in my arms."
Dory couldn't counter anymore of Marlin's claims. She knew he was at least somewhat right. All she could do now was hug him tighter. She looks upon him, smiling after what felt like ages. Marlin patted her head.
Marlin: "There's my love."
Another wave of silence hit.
Dory: "So, now what? Will I have to have this sorted out."
Marlin: "Yes. We'll have to console with a therapist about this."
Dory: "T-They'll think it's silly."
Marlin: "No they won't. These people are professionals and have dealt with a lot of people with similar situations like this. They won't think it's silly. Sometimes, if it gets to the point where you're hurting not only on the outside, but on the inside, we'd need to see a professional.
Dory: "I don't wanna have to go alone."
Marlin: "Then I'll go with you. As much as it'll pain me, but I'll do FAR worse if it makes you happy."
Dory: "... *sigh* Alright, I guess it'll help."/
Marlin: "Good. Now, we can deal with the mess tomorrow. Right now, let's just head back over to Nemo and Gill, okay?"
Dory nods and the two make their way to the living room. Nemo and Gill, who were talking by one of the couches turns to them. Nemo runs up to Dory and hugs her.
Nemo: "Dory! You're okay!"
Dory: "Yep, sure am, kiddo. And I pray nothing like this ever happens again. I'm sorry for scaring you."
Nemo: "It's alright."
Gill: "Are you okay, Dory?"
Marlin: "Mhm, we talked it out. W]I'm gonna try and get her some professional help."
Gill chuckled at that.
Gill: "Are you gonna go with her?"
Marlin: "...Y-yes."
Nemo: "FINALLY!"
Marlin: "Hush, you little runt!"
He starts tickling his son's sides, making him laugh.
Nemo: "D-Dad! Haha! Stop it!"
Marlin: "Will you take it back?"
Nemo: "Yes! Yes! I take it back!"
Marlin lets go of Nemo whilst Gill ruffled his hair.
Gill: "I'm just glad Dory's getting help for this now.
Marlin turns over to Dory and hummed in agreement.
Marlin: "Yep."
He gave her one last grin, with Dory returning it.
End❤️