[ she stays completely still, not moving an inch from where she's settled herself against them. as if she were afraid of scaring them off like a nervous animal. she was nervous, too. ]

i don't. i.. i tried to..

[ she shakes her head. no, she's not ready to talk about it yet. ]

..i'm alone.

[ despite herself, she reaches out. a gentle touch to their arm, barely there, less than a graze. but she lets it linger there. ]

... maybe this is what we both deserve. being alone.. forever. but..

[ her brows furrow as she thinks about her next words. ]

.. ah. we're alone together, aren't we?

she's even stupider than i remembered for following someone like you so blindly. whatever. hurt her all you want. she deserves it.

that's how i know.

you're nothing.

... i.. resented you, for bringing me back. i didn't deserve it. i still don't.

[ she looks away, fists clenched in the fabric of her dress at her sides. ]

but.. we're all we have now, aren't we? from that time, there's.. nothing left. everyone's gone.

she'll turn out just like me and you'll discard her.

i bet she thinks you'll save her.

// CRYIMG

⠀
⠀/ /⠀' hey richie wjat kind of literature do you like '
⠀

[ she watches them, almost blankly, but her eyes shine with all the emotions she tries to suppress. ]

.. you're the one who helped me. that time, it was you, wasn't it? you.. i know it had to have been you. tell me.

hah. you're wasting your time with two of them right now.

apparently i have use as your punching bag.

[ she's silent for a long, uncomfortable moment. then, quietly, she whispers. ]

... i'm alone, too.

.. it doesn't stop hurting, you know. it never stops.. it just.. keeps.. cutting deeper and deeper, until your guts have spilled out onto the tile.

tell *her* this instead.

you're.. alone. is he..?

don't you have anything better to do than tell me the things i already tell myself?

i don't need or want your mercy. i'd rather delete myself than listen to another one of these stupid spiels...