Chapter EX - Witness Record

I try to make it down here every once in a while. For her sake, at least. It’s always been her favorite place in the city.

“...” She continues to stay silent. Eyes closed. Just listening to the waves.

I've never been one for all this water and sand. But somewhere down the line, I started going to so many places I thought I’d never go, doing things I hated, saying things no sane person would say… Just to make her happy… And yet…

“How long are you going to stare at me?” She says with a tone of amusement.

“Sorry, should I stop?”

“It’s not that! But we come down to the shore at least once a month, and it seems like you always stare at me instead of the ocean.”

“I see it reflected in your eyes. The view is prettier that way.”

She stares back at me, blushing for a second before breaking into a small chuckle.

“What cheesy film did you steal that line from? Oh man, that was lame! hahaha!”

I try to play it off in a cool way, though I can feel my face turn red.

She leans against me. Relaxing her whole body for a moment.

“We should start heading back soon. You have to work earlier than usual tomorrow, right?”

“...” I take my turn being silent.

She starts to rise to her feet. Weakly.

“H-hey! Don’t overdo it…” I say, bracing her.

“It’s fine, I’m just standing. I want to do things like this by myself while I still can.”

Her arms are thinner. She’s lost a lot of weight too.

“I gotta get ready for the morning myself. My brother will be taking me to the hospital in the afternoon, so don’t worry, ‘kay?”

“...yeah.”

After a bit of walking, we’re back on the cement and asphalt of the city. Far from the feeling of sand and scent of salt water we had just enjoyed moments ago.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to get us a taxi?”

“I’m fine. You really worry too much.” She says, holding onto my arm.

She’s trying to be defiant, but I can tell she’s feeling tired already. Getting a taxi or carrying her would just make her mad. I can only try and take her mind off things…

“How about a story?”

“Another? Honestly, you should’ve been a writer instead of messing around with that weird stuff in the lab.”

“Yeah, yeah. Well? Do you wanna hear this one?”

“Have I heard it before?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“What’s it about? Is it long?”

“Mm, yeah…it’s pretty long. I’m not quite sure about the direction yet either.”

She tends to tune out my rambling. It seems she’s actually considering whether or not to get me started this time.

“We’re almost home. Do you have enough time? I hate not hearing the end of stories.”

“Even if I don’t, I’ll tell you the rest some other time.”

“Okay then. Is it another fantasy?”

I take my time to consider the question before answering.

“It’s more of a union between fact and fiction.”

“Huh? That sounds complicated.”

“It’s really not. It’s just rooted in an old dream.”

“Dream?”

“Yeah…the kind of dream you can only have awake, eyes wide open.”

“Fiction and nonfiction? A dream you can only have awake? Honey, you really have to figure out a simpler way to get the meaning across–”

A small grin appears on my face.

“I already have, actually.”

“Why didn’t you start with it then?! Well? What is it?” She asks with genuine curiosity.

I take in the sweet and amused expression on her face before answering.

Leaning in, I tuck her hair behind her ear and whisper…

“— – - —— — – —”

Her eyes light up brighter than I’ve seen them in months.

She twirls in front of me with excitement.

“That settles it!”

Almost as if time started freezing…the image of her in front of me, smiling against the backdrop of city lights, moon shining bright…it was all burnt into my mind…

“I really want to hear this story!”