
”—right. Fine. Just answer one question,
are you taking care of yourself?”
[ he had expected this, really. ]

"——…Um? Good question.“
{ She can’t answer that without lying,
so she’s just going to not answer it. }
"I’m not…it’s not…you. I know that sounds like
really cliche, it’s-not-you-it’s-me bullcrap but…
hear me out? …Please?”
{ Lydia, now that she thinks about it,
hasn’t said please to him many times.
She can probably count them on her
fingers. But right now the only times
she can think of are the two times
so far she’s sat at his side, breathing
heavy and desperate, begging for him
to please, please wake up under her
breath. }
"——…Um? Good question.“ { She can’t answer that without lying, so she’s just going to not answer it. } "I’m not…it’s...
"–right. Fine. Just answer one question, are you taking care of yourself?“ [ he had expected this, really. ]