hey /lit/ i need your help finding a short story i read a long

hey /lit/ i need your help finding a short story i read a long time ago. i'll greentext as much as i can remember if that helps
>everyone in the world is connected by invisible strings
>no one can see the strings
>one day the protag wakes up and sees the strings everywhere
>he himself is not tied to any strings, but everyone else is, and they don't notice
>he goes to his female friend's house and unties her from the strings
>suddenly she can see them too
>then they see these goblin-like creatures tying strings around
>something something the strings are a metaphor for the lack of free will
>protag wakes up, sees no strings
>was it all a dream or is he tied in the strings again???

any help would be greatly appreciated. pic related i found by googling "goblin strings"