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“Olruggio, this is the last time we’ll see each other.”
“Qifery, stop.”
“— And I am sure you are aware that I’ve been keeping some secrets from you.”
“Qifery.“
“You’ve suspected before, Olly, so many times, and I —“
“Quiet, Qifery.”
“No. I can’t leave you without telling you this.”
“And I don’t want to hear it! Not now. Let’s drink —you can still hold a cup. Let’s smile one last time. Here —“
“If I don’t tell you this, Olruggio, my soul will never have the rest that it was kept from in life. You said you would share my burdens, yes? I have only one to impart to you now.”
“…If you don’t want any wine, how about tea? I’ll brew some up real quick.”
“You speak your mind so freely, Olly. I envy you for that.”
“Honey?”
“Pardon?”
“In your tea, I mean.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you…I wish I could be more like you. But I’m not. I’m rotten within, from the inside out. Infested with all this misery that I can’t let go.”
“Then let it go. You said so yourself, that’s what I’m here for. Sharing your burdens.”
“I’ve taken your memories, Olly. Over and over and over. Every time you ventured too close to me.”
The teapot clattered far too heavily against the stone counter. Footsteps reentered the room, far too gentle.
“Your tea.”
“And every time you forgave me.”
“Why?”
“I could never understand either, a dispicable wretch like me —“
“No, why did you erase my memories?”
“Oh, why did I…? I…I don’t really know, now. We’re sitting here for a last time, just as we would have if I never took them to begin with.”
“…but you’re not planning on erasing my memories this time, are you, Qifery?”
The porcelain teacup cracked against the floor.
“No, I —“
“I would rather you do.”
“Huh?”
Blood pools across the tile.
“Ah, I suppose it’s too late now. Shall we go outside?”
“You mean you don’t want a silverwood as a piece of living room furniture?”
“You’d attract termites.”
“You’ll keep them away, won’t you?”
They remained seated. Perhaps of choice, perhaps they were root-bound.
“Then, Qifery, if you could ease a burden of mine in exchange.”
“Of course, dear friend.”
“What is real? And what have I forgotten?”
“That is a lot —“
“Quick now. You’re sprouting”
“Oh, dear. Well, where do I even begin? I suppose the looks were real, as were the touches. I had been quite the fool, but you know that already. I — Olruggio, I won’t be able to finish what I started.”
“That’s alright. I can finish it.”
“Thank you … dear friend.”
“Don’t forget to breathe sometimes.”
“I will…try… fare….”
“Farewell, Qifery.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“I should get back to work.”
He never did.