A.N. — Here's a character I've looked forward to for a long while. One of my favorites to read about, but surprisingly difficult to make sound believable in a 100-word write, this young girl deserves all the world after what she's been through. Thus, I was always gonna wind up dissatisfied with the final product I published. Happy birthday Eri, and happy (mixed-up) holidays!
355. Eri
Smiling was hard.
Everyone encouraged Eri to smile more, but it was a lot to ask of a girl who'd forgotten an innate reflex. Relearning to connect with her positive emotions and having faith that she wouldn't be hurt by them was just one of many lessons Eri had been deprived of during her captivity.
There was a certainty in being unmade and remade over and over, never seeing beyond the Shie Hassaikai's underground compound. Being urged to explore her newfound freedom that'd she'd lacked paralyzed Eri with a glut of choices she wasn't equipped with the knowledge to make.