MY WORLD - The miserable child

Wire mother creakingly strokes Eden's hair like a cat's, cradling him against her metallic ribcage as she did back when no harm had yet befallen the child. His bandaged hand curls up in her lap. Despite wire mother's sharp and cold fingers more so scratching than caressing him, even bruising the skin on his forehead in rosy lines, scratch after scratch, Eden's angst slowly but surely eased in her nurturing embrace.

“I made a girl cry.” Eden murmurs under his breath, eyes hanging heavily. Metal slits caressingly through his exposed skin.

“Shhh...” Wire mother shrieks quietly. “Did you mean to make the girl cry?”

Eden nods wearily, expressionless.

“Yes. I tried very hard to.”

Wire mother shushes him again, joints screeching.

“That's what matters, dear.”

The darkness of mother's room creeps closer, gets louder. Wires lie scattered over his limp feet. Eden cannot recall the last time wire mother held him in his arms, and not the other way around.