Nothing was neat and orderly here. Nothing but a great void that held them both. There was a current as objects appeared to drift around them in a lazy spiral. The two of them watched an old model plane Calvin had built as a child drift in and then out of view.

This is it then. You’ve decided to kill us both. Which makes you a moron, insane, or both.

I think that we got what we deserved.

Silence fit this environment. Maybe that was why it persisted for so long. It chilled the space that existed between them.

Besides, we’re not dead yet.

You sound disappointed.

That’s your issue. You always lack nuance. I said we got what we deserved. If we had died, that wouldn’t be the case.

You had no control. Neither did I. Are you stupid enough to believe that we would live because we didn’t deserve to die?

There is very little that I believe in anymore. I used to trust in fate. Now I’m not even sure of that. If fate does exist, than maybe it’s best to avoid submitting to it.

I’m still trying to figure out when you stopped believing in me.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

You can’t be serious.

It wasn’t always like this. You weren’t always opposing me like this.

It doesn’t seem possible for a person to be so dense. Just because I wasn’t strong enough to oppose you doesn’t mean that I was ever content. I have had to watch you live out my life with yours, getting no say, watching you bungle away every good thing we’ve ever had.

I have been in control. Except for that day at the boardwalk. At the very least, I would have talked to her.

And ended things.

That wouldn’t have been wrong. Now who lacks nuance? The only objective wrong that was done was what you did. You made us run away.

You’re saying that you were in control the entire time, but in that moment, I get all of the blame?

I’m saying that you need to learn your place. I can run things fine if you don’t interfere.

I didn’t ask to exist. And you’re the one who came first, so if anything, you did something to create me.

I’m getting tired of this. You’ve had your fun. You wanted a chance to sit in the driver’s seat. This is where you’ve gotten us. Losing consciousness, as we float down a river in November.

Emerging from the black ether was the large armchair that belonged to their father. As it passed closer, they could almost smell the old leather.

Nothing to say? You’re naïve, idealistic to the point of delusion, and more than anything else, you will let us drown because you can’t stomach reality.

You just don’t see how much reality has already poisoned you. And you’re right, it was my choice to leave. I probably wounded Clara worse than you ever did. But you need to reckon with the fact that if we get out of this, we have no one to turn to because of you.

Do I look worried? I will get us out of this situation like I have every other time.

Then do it. You don’t need to waste any more time with me.

I don’t waste time. I’m here because I feel it is only fair to warn you. I’d hoped that seeing what you do when left unchecked would be enough to get you to back off. Once again, I must have overestimated your intelligence. I’ll change my approach.

The current stopped suddenly. The chair was half out of view, as if it had been swept up in a opaque wave.

I’m done humoring you. Go back to whatever pitiful place you once occupied in my mind, and get comfortable. If you ever try to take control from me again, I will do everything in my power to destroy you.