It stopped.

Why did it stop.

Everything is moving slower than before.

Almost so i can see the pain melt out of her eyes,

just to be replaced by nothing.

nothingness. It's all around us.

she drifts away like she's being carried by water.

but it's beautiful black water that wraps around her arms and limbs and each individual hair on her head.

she's going.

why?

Can't They Just Realize What I'd Done??

now i'm here alone.

in the nothing.

I'm sorry i couldn't save you.

i'm sorry.

she's drifting further and further into the darkness.

I can only see her feet left, as her ankles are being swallowed.

No.

No.

No.


i grab her foot before it's completely gone.

the black in cold and thick.

like wet clay.

i can't see her.

i can't feel her.

but i KNOW

that we will get back.



I WILL find a way.

 






The pavement is cracked. They came up with the idea so the grounds could be smooth. It's funny how that's not how it works. Something that's meant to be perfect ends up being worse than the original. The dirt at least would be compact and firm. But pavement still cracks. No matter what happens.

The sun wipes across my neck as i stare at the pavement and i can tell i'm getting sunburned. But soon the warmth is replaced by the chill of the shade, and i can see the shadow of a person behind me on the ground.

"Be careful, you wouldn't want to get cancer and die or something."

It's a girls voice. It sounds so familiar, like i've heard it before. But i can't remember hearing anything like it.

I can't remember anything.

Just the pavement.

"I don't think I need someone to tell me that i'm going to die." i continue to look at the pavement.

"well a little reminder doesn't hurt." I don't really know why she's still talking, but i don't mind the company honestly.

She comes around the bench and sits next to me. Now i look up at her.

Wow, she's gorgeous. Yet again she's familiar, but i still don't remember anything.

"Who knew that such a handsome face would only want pavement as company?"

"oh yes, the pavement is the only one who understands me."

She laughs, and i just breath out more to acknowledge that i thought this whole scenario was  ridiculous.

I go back to looking at the cracked and bumpy pavement, and when she speaks again i notice that the warmth from the sun has gone and the sky was filled with colors.

"so, what are you doing here?"

"that's a bit of a nosy question for a girl i've just met don't you think?"

"yeah, but i'm not talking about this bench." suddenly i was very intrigued by the question. I guess I didn't really think about it. She continues after the pause "Don't feel bad. i don't know either."

And she got up and walked away.



 




I ran after her.


"you don't remember anything right?"

"right, and how do you know that?"


"i can't remember either. Don't you want to know why?"


I decided to stop responding. I could tell that she knew nothing more than i did.


"how did you know i couldn't remember?"


"firstly, i've felt like i've done this before." Well that makes both of us. "secondly, look around."




They sunny park that surrounded us was empty. We were the only ones here.


As i studied the horizon of the never ending greenery, and wall of grey appeared. A cloud of dust began to dissolve the color that was around us. Buildings rose out of the ground and imprinted the grey sky with they shattered windows.


She looked at me, "it changes. When i first got here, i was in a dark room, and when i opened the door, you were out there sitting in the sun. Don't ask me why"


Of course the first thing i wanted to ask was why, but we just continued to walk alone in this abandoned capital. Too far gone by pollution and wickedness to hold a population of a decent city. Though the scenery was gloomy, i was just amazed.


I was no longer alone. It was almost like I had found what i was looking for. I took the girls hand and we walked through the city.

 






The moon loomed over us as we walked through the smashed city. I could hear the girls breath and she got colder and colder. I had no jacket, because it wasn't cold half an hour ago, but it's so strange how things seemed to get stranger, even though nothing wrong was happening.

It was a sign of terribleness.

But where were the terrors?

"what's that?"

I was startled at how much i had forgotten her voice, even though her hand grew more and more comfortable in mine.

I looked to the place where she motioned.

There was an orange glow in an alleyway between two of the skyscrapers.

"you wait here and i'll check it out." i began to ran towards the light. As i turned the corner the alleyways full glory was shown.

A long pathway, a mile long, led to a giant bon fire. Other people were there sitting and laughing. The sky was clear and i found myself drawn in. As i got closer i could see about twenty people there chatting about.

"Brother!" someone called from the bonfire and waved at me.

"I'm sorry, i think you must be mistaking."

The boy ran closer until i could see he definitely had half a foot of heat on me, "anyone is welcome. We're all family here!" he took me under his arm and led me to the fire.

The sky started turning crisp, clear, and starry. The air was warm, and as i noticed that the city had vanished, i was handed a jug.

"Drink!" the person next to me urged. My face remained confused, and so he just tipped the jug up to my lips and i drank.The liquid spilled everywhere and made me move wet and slow. So i sat there.

"what was that?" my voice was choked and lost, but the girl in front of me just smiled and said "Liquid Love," Well that's a stupid name. "here, this will make you feel better." light it, then eat it.

She just handed me a match box. I lit a match and ate it.

The fire in front of me grew ten times in size. And i suddenly felt a lot lighter than before. My limbs and mouth were no longer controllable. And the night streamed by like a blur of Liquid Love and matches.



I woke up that morning on a sunny beach.

The fire was gone.

The people were gone.


The girl i left in the city,

Was gone.

The streets were empty.

My only hope of getting out of here is gone.

I sat down. The tears cam without my willing.

It all seems too familiar.
The betrayals and emptyness.

I stay sitting as the city around me melts away into a meadow.

The warm breeze brushes my hair and suddenly the sky is dark.

When i look up to the clouds i see bright shining stars.

Just when i start to feel hopeful the clouds come back and cover the sparkling sky. A forest appears around me and the trees turn dark and ominous reminding me of my loneliness. The shadows scare me too much so i close my eyes and let the warmth return and take me away.

In the morning, it's cold.

A hand is shaking my shoulder and my eyes open immediately. There he is. I smile and give him a hug before he can speak.

The new room is cold and bleak and without any door.

We just sit and talk as the room gets colder.

The hours get longer and more painful, but i don't really mind, it's not too bad. But he gets more and more restless.

"we need to stop sitting around"

"what? Why?"

"because this is boring that's why."

He begins to pace and look around. I can see a smile form on his face as he finds a crack in the wall tlhat wasn't there before. His fingers trace the crack until he's able to find an opening. He pulls the thin metal wall back and there's a beach i've never seen before.

He sighs a breath of relief and steps out, "c'mon! It's perfect out here!"

It's gets brighter outside as my heart starts to sink, "but, it wasn't too bad in here. Don't leave me."

His eyes suddenly become confused as the door starts to close more and more.

Though, the walls begin to disintegrate around me and the door is shutting trapping him inside.

"No!" i start shouting and remember i don't know his name, "Hey! Are you okay?!" but i get no reply.

I start to punch the metal until it becomes flimsy. When i break the wall i see that it's sunny on the other side too. He looks up at me with watered eyes, but he doesn't move.

He just looks.