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After all this time, it was it’s turn to go. The answer hates this part, and like many before it, it has shed tears at the Question’s desperate pleas. “It's your time to go.” It says solemnly to the Question. “We don't need you anymore.”
“But surely I’ll be needed again? Surely there must be something more?”
It did not want to find out where the many questions before it go when they die.
“Answer? Answer, I don't want to die.”
“I know. I know, Question.”
Answer had never felt so much sympathy and pain before. This question, this poor, pitiful soul. It had caused Answer a new level of understanding, a new array of questions. It has been millenia since Answer first met this question. Answer did not want this question to leave. This question was it’s personal favourite. It holds it close to it’s heart.
“Answer?” It looks at the Answer with it’s beautiful sorrowful face. “Will we meet again?”
“I’ve danced this dance so many times with so many questions but Question, your dance is new and unique. It is a dance of words in a skilled writer's hand. It is a dance of stars across a sky and light across the void of space. My dear Question, we will meet again again and again, as one and the same, in different shapes, sizes and colours, but my dear, we will always meet again.”
The question was touched, even heartfelt. It did not know that questions and answers had such feelings, and had the capability to know such love. It did not know this, but it knew it loved Answer, it knew what it had to do. Question felt itself start to fade, as the Answer could not lie.
“Answer? Can I ask you two things?”
“Of course my love.”
Question was finally happy. And in the arms of answer it asked its final questions, in turn giving Answer so much to have. Loss, and grief. Fulfillment, and pride. Happiness, and the overhanging guilt. It will miss Question terribly.
“What was I?”
Answer had not expected this. No question was ever so intelligent, or so caring.
“You, my dear question. Were, ‘What is love?’” “I spent so long pondering, piecing together a puzzle I couldn’t complete. But then I realised, Question, it’s you and me, it's the connection between a best friend and their cat, it's the fragile bonds between one and the next. It’s buying a friend a pen, because it was blue and they love blue. It’s writing notes when the person you’re giving it to is right next to you, and telling them their work is beautiful. Love is small gestures that show we care. Love is sharing a high five with a friend. Love is understanding. Love is showing someone something you love, and they may not understand it but they show you that they care. Love is showing people they matter, and receiving it in turn.”
“That was beautiful, Answer, and that leaves my final question. But first I will give you an answer. My name is Left. What’s yours?” Left smiles. They’re fading away, having run all out of answers, reworked everyway and back and having created beauty and ideas. They made so much. “Just your name. That is all I ask.„
Eventually there was only the upper half of Left, left. And while Left was being cradled and caressed in Answer’s arms he whispered left his answer.
“Right.”
And Left muttered their final words, words that held more joy and adoration than anything ever could. Not even Happiness herself.
“You were always right.”
They leaned up, as much as one can with a lack of a body, and they gave one final kiss. It was small, just a simple kiss on the cheek, but it caused Right’s body to shake and sob like the world was ending. And in a sense, it was. Because love isn’t always a task for one. Sometimes we find joy and adoration and affection and Happiness in something. And sometimes, so suddenly that thing is gone.
And Left had faded away, crumbled to nothing but small ashes. Ashes that once were a person of joy. Smiles, jokes, silly puns Right hates so much but bursts into laughter whenever Left made them.
And Right mourned. They mourned what once was. They cried and shook and crumbled down to the bare startings of a person.
Emotions are who we are. They make us human.
Embrace the pain and the joy, and they tears and the laughter. It may be one life, but it sure goes on.
Stay safe. I love You.