Extra Chapter 7: Infinite Money
[Extra Chapter 7: Infinite Money]
[TW: Suicidal thoughts/attempts, self-deprecation]
It’s another day.
Lydia is on her table, looking at the sky.
The sky is infinite, so buying a lot of amounts would actually be cheap.
She wished she had infinite money, so she could buy the sky, but infinite money will eventually make all money worthless.
She isn’t worth anything, but she isn’t overly infinite in anything.
Lydia thought to herself, “I’m just worthless.” She cried, then climbed up to the window of her apartment.
She wanted to jump, but she’s scared.
What is there to be scared of? Pain, agony, before her eternal rest.
But that pain will only be for a while. Death lasts forever.
Thinking this, she jumped from her window, down from a tall building, but instead of a painful collision, she felt a cold touch.
“Please don’t jump from the building… I don’t wanna see anyone die…” A short, purple-haired blue-eyed ghost catched her.
Lydia got out of the ghost’s grasp, and tried to climb the stairs to jump again, but the ghost stopped her repeatedly, until the ghost girl fell down, crying.
“Why should I not kill myself? I’m worthless! Dying will have no effect on anyone!”
“You’ll be worth something, eventually.”
“I won’t be worth anything! I’m poor, I’m stupid, I’m ugly!”
“You’re not ugly.” The ghost said, admiring her looks. “At least you’re more beautiful than a drug addict.”
“My parents abandoned me…” Lydia cried. “Please… Just let me go.”
“No…” The girl sobbed into Lydia’s legs. “I want you to live… Even if we’re strangers. Eventually, you’ll find somebody that deems you important.”
“Fine, I’ll take your word for it.” Lydia said, walking away.
She wondered where she should go, then she found a dollmaker shop. She doesn’t have money, but she thought to herself…
“I’ve seen some people give food to homeless people for free. Let’s give this a shottttt…”
She entered the dollmaker shop.
“Welcome! Do you want a doll?”
“I don’t have any money…” Lydia admitted, avoiding eye contact.
The dollmaker looked at Lydia’s clothes. It’s stained with tears. “Don’t worry… It’s free, as a first customer bonus. There’s a lot of popular companies out here that do the same thing I do, but I’m grateful I finally have someone entering my shop…”
“Oh… I want a doll of… Naneka Seren.”
“Naneka Seren… I’m sorry, I don’t watch cartoons, but…” The dollmaker searched up the character’s name. “She seems sweet. I’ll work on it right away!”
Hours later, and the doll was done.
“This looks so cute…!”
“I’m glad you enjoy it! All of your orders here will be free!”
“I’ll pay you later…”
“No need.”
“No, I want to! I want to find someone who feels like I’m important.”
“Well, you’re my first customer. I haven’t shown my passion in dollmaking in forever, and I finally have a visitor… I don’t do this for the money, I just want to expand people’s imagination.”
“Okay…”
“Thank you for visiting!” The dollmaker greeted Lydia before she left.
At home, Lydia just stared at the doll.
It’s small, but it’s huggable, and really detailed… It’s soft, and you can dress her up.
She loves Naneka Seren, so she imagines talking to her.
“Hello?”
“...”
“I’m Lydia, what’s your name?”
“...”
“Nice to meet you, Naneka… I love you. I’ll get you another friend tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, Lydia went to the dollmaker’s shop again.
“I want to give Naneka some friends.” Lydia tried to smile, but it ended up fake. The dollmaker still believed it.
“I’ve just started watching the cartoon she came from… What’s her friend’s name again? Tekeshi Ranma?”
“Takeshi Ranna… Would it be fun if we have, uhhh, her enemies too?”
“Cold War Reckon?”
“It’s Kowaji Rekan…”
“I’m sorry, I’m so bad at remembering names, I’m so sorry…”
“Don’t be. I’m worthless, so at least you’re better than me.”
“You’re worthless? No, no… You helped me regain my hope in my doll making business! Although you’re the only customer… How about you post about my product on the chat?”
“I would be so glad… That’s a great opportunity for me!” Lydia smiled.
“Thank you…”
It took more hours, but the dollmaker finally finished, plus some clothes for the dolls.
“Please come back!”
“Thanks, ma’am!”
At home, once again, Lydia played with the dolls.
“Naneka! Save me! Summon the Ultimate Destroyer of Earth!!!”
“There’s no choice, Naneka. You cannot beat my Sisyphus!”
“I SUMMON THE ULTIMATE DESTROYER OF EARTH, AND I USE THE ORBITAL LASER SPELL TO DESTROY YOUR SISYPHUS!!! I WIN, KOWAJI!!!!”
“NOOOO!!!!!”
Lydia voiced all of the dolls herself.
“That was kinda cringe…”
She then took a photo of the dolls, and posted it online.
It got only a few views, and a few likes. But they were interested in the business.
Lydia always wondered why the villain was picked on. She always felt bad for the villain. Nobody understands the villain’s motives.
Eventually, the business grew, and the dollmaker was grateful. She made a doll of Lydia.
She came to visit the dollmaker on the weekend.
“Oh, I’m so grateful for you…”
“My name is Lydia…”
“What a nice name, Lydia. You also look cute.” The dollmaker smiled.
“I’ve always thought that I’m worthless, but I've done something good for once in my life. I’m so grateful for you to give me this opportunity…”
“Thank you for advertising my business… I can afford some stuff now… I’ve been feeding on my doll-making materials since I couldn’t get any food, sometimes I go dumpster diving.”
“That’s sad…”
“If you think your life is sad, there’s always a life sadder than this. Be grateful, and enjoy your life.”
“Thank you… Thank you…” She hugged the dollmaker.
The dollmaker hugged back. “I’m Anne. Thank you too, Lydia. You’re the best girl.”
They comfort each other, and eventually, Lydia thinks she now has a worth in herself, plus… A room full of dolls.
See, events like these don’t happen often, events when you have an opportunity to do something good, something to make you feel an appreciation in yourself.
Eventually, you’ll find that time. Don’t give up now. Other than the organs you may sell, your heart and personality costs more than that.
Even small things can help people. When you do more good, chances are, you won’t get anything in return, other than happiness.