Little Fire

You adjust your black metal frames before lifting your daughter up and over the fence. She's heavy, and she tries to adjust herself in your arms so she can balance better, but maybe you're the one who's just weak. (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Crawling across the border, her movements are clumsy, and she shakes like a newborn animal, rattling the fence. You steady her as best as you can, but she slips. With a gasp, you try to catch her by her coat, but she saves herself with a white-colored grip, stark against the black bars.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She adjusts herself, and she cautiously drops, her feet hitting the cement below. You let your daughter catch her breath before you pick up the busted shoebox beside you and throw it over the fence. She wobbles backwards to catch it, and the box hits her chin before landing in her arms. You laugh, but she doesn't pout, so your smile drains.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Resetting yourself with a deep breath, you roll your jacket sleeves and grab the bars, the cold of the rust sinking into the memories of your childhood.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You're out of practice, but you manage to lift yourself over the fence, and you drop to the ground with a thud, stumbling and nearly falling. Usually, your daughter would smile, but lately she hasn't seemed too amused by the things you do.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You know why, but it's fine. This is the only way to be.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You take out your phone, turn on the flashlight, and then grab your daughters hand, and the numbness of your fingers disappears with the warmth of hers.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[It's been almost twenty years since you last stepped foot in this park. Good place, you think. You almost miss it. It's quiet, and the people that come like to pretend that nobody else exists, just how you like it.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[With dull shuffling footsteps, you look at your daughter. Just like you, she's been here before. You always took her to the jungle gym—the same one that you played on as a kid. It's a happy thought. Showing someone your world.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[The light of distant lamp posts fade, and with her hand in yours you pull her into a dark, twig-littered corner.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You gather little branches, and your daughter helps you without a word. She always helps you, and even though she doesn't love you as much anymore, she never complains.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Placing them in a pile beneath the box, the both of you crouch low under the tree, hiding in the shadows behind the public bathroom. You pull at the folded flaps of the box and take out the matches and the water bottle filled with gasoline you manage to siphon out of your car, placing them on the ground beside you.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[The both of you look inside the box. It's dark, but staring back are all memories and each item with its own baggage. You don't need them anymore, because you have her.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Once all of these memories are gone, burnt into dirt, blown into the wind, mixed into mud somewhere else, you have a feeling you can throw your old life away and have room for something better—especially now that you share it with your daughter, marked by the pinkie promise you made together.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Because neither of you will forget that night.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[It was special.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[And it was stronger than any kiss.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")+(transition-time: 2s)[Your forever ever after.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Her eyes don't look up at you. Just down. Down, at all of your things. Her heavy lashes make her look tired, or maybe she just doesn't care.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You want her to understand, so that's why you brought her.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You return your gaze back down into the box and inside are four things:](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")+(transition-time: 3s) [ [[A tooth you lost.]] [[A Valentine's Day card.]] [[A laminated leaf.]] [[A photo of your mom.]]](scroll:?page, 1) (set: $items = 0)(set: $sawTooth to false)(set: $sawCard to false)(set: $sawLeaf to false)(set: $sawPhoto to false)

*Did I ever tell you about my first crush?*(set: $sawCard to true)(set: $items to $items + 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She shakes her head.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*It was kind of embarrassing.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*In fifth grade, I think, there was this Italian girl in my class. Everyone liked her because she was pretty and nice.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*She did dance and was friends with the other girls in the school that were in her dance classes. I think the dance instructor had a son around the same age that also did dance with them. Some scrawny ballet boy with a bowl cut. He was in the same class as us.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*It was Valentine's Day, and we were passing around cards for the entire class. She didn't buy hers. She made them herself.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I went through the bag of Valentines that I got and just took off the stickers and candy without reading them until I got to hers. It was a heart cut from construction paper with a lollipop stuck through it.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I flipped it over, and there was a handwritten note. I don't remember what it said, but it said something like, "I like you, Joseph. Do you like me?" with a little smile and heart on it. My heart jumped.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I couldn't believe what I just read. I never got a confession before. I had no idea what to do. I never really talked to her, and I never talked to her after Valentine's Day either. Just stared at her in class for a whole week. She never looked at me, but she seemed a little sad.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*One day I was feeling brave and gave her a note telling her to meet me during recess. So later we met. And then I told her, yes, I do like her back.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*She was confused at first, but then she froze. Turns out the card was actually for the ballet boy, who was also named Joseph. He was Joseph D., and I was Joseph B.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She covers her face with her hands. Oh god, she says.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Yeah. It was so embarrassing. I forgot about the card for years until I found it in my closet in my elementary school backpack. Kept it because it's kind of funny, looking back. Your grandma laughed at me when I came home from school that day and told her.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You're quiet for a bit.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I don't think I ever got a real confession from anyone, until you. So that's why you're special.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Palms clench.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*It's also because you're my daughter.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[And her shoulders loosen.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(if: $items < 4)[(link: "↓")[(goto: "hub")hub]](if: $items is 4)[(link: "...")[(goto: "All items GET")All items GET]]](scroll:?page, 1)

*I used to come here all the time as a kid. Just by myself because your grandma was always busy, and my brother was my brother.*(set: $sawLeaf to true)(set: $items to $items + 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She looks away at the mention of your brother.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*It's fine, though, because I could play around in the neighborhood or here at the park, even though it was pretty dangerous. I was a scraggly ass kid, so nobody wanted to kidnap me.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[I think that would have made you even more kidnappable though, she says.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Well, here I still am, so it's all good.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Anyways, wanna know where I got this leaf?*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She nods.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I got it here at this park. A boy gave it to me.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I don't know why he was alone, because he didn't speak much English besides hello and how are you. "My name is..." I forgot his name. He was either Chinese or Vietnamese or something.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I was eating my chocolate bar and I saw him sitting alone under a tree watching other kids play. I walked up to him and asked him what he was doing.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*He looked at me and smiled and waved with this wide-eyed look on his face. I broke off a piece of chocolate and gave it to him. He ate it, and he looked at me like he had just eaten the best thing in his life.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I was feeling bored that day so I was going to go home earlier than usual, but he got up and started following me. I decided to stay at the park a little longer.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I gave him the rest of the chocolate and taught him some English words. He pronounced them so badly, it was funny but also kind of cute. I really liked him, he made me laugh a lot. I liked that he was shorter and scrawnier than me. If I wanted to push him, he'd fall right over. I never pushed him though, even though a part of me wanted to see what would happen.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*We played and pretended to be criminals, and he was my sidekick. We pulled some girl's hair and pantsed a kid with a crutch. We stole some "treasure" that was just some rocks and hid them away.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*At one point he grabbed my hand, and I don't know why but I slapped him away. I remember feeling scared of something, but I don't know what. I told him I was leaving. He looked at me confused.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I started walking home, but he kept following me.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I told him to go away, but he thought I was still playing, so I got mad until I saw some jump rope some kids left next to the water fountain. I grabbed it and pointed at a small tree.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I got him to sit down and I started tying him to the tree. I tied him real tight and good, and he tried to wiggle and laughed when he couldn't get out. I was still a little mad but that made me smile, but then the scared feeling came back and my heart was beating when I looked down at him and I told him again that I was going to leave.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*He picked up a leaf with a loose hand and held it up. "Leave?" he asked. He thought I was asking for a leaf.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I nodded, and he tried to give it to me. I wasn't sure what to do, but I took it anyways.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*And then I ran.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*When I got home, I wanted to throw the leaf away, but for some reason I kept it for years. It got ripped in half at one point, so I got it laminated. Even now it might the only thing in this pile that I kind of want to keep.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You shake your head.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*But I don't need it anymore.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You look into her eyes, and she stares back. Somehow, it feels familiar.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*It's a good thing, I think.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(if: $items < 4)[(link: "↓")[(goto: "hub")hub]](if: $items is 4)[(link: "...")[(goto: "All items GET")All items GET]]](scroll:?page, 1)

*Remember this photo? Used to be up on the wall in the living room until you moved in for real.*(set: $sawPhoto to true)(set: $items to $items + 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She nods.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I didn't want to see her anymore. She was never really nice to me, and I hated how she was never nice to you. She only gave you two dollars for Christmas. What a cheapskate. I mean, I guess you were only a toddler, but what was two dollars good for? Ridiculous. She gave me a five dollar bill for Christmas once, too. I don't really miss her. Not anymore, anyways. Do you?*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She shrugs.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Yeah. You were only a baby.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You pause.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I guess I wouldn't have gotten my favorite toy without that five dollars. It gave me enough to buy it after I had saved some money up, mostly from finding it on the ground or whenever my brother would bribe me to shut me up. I was so happy about the five dollars back then. You know the Kermit toy on my bed?*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She nods.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*She took me to Walmart and I bought him. Took him to checkout and everything myself while she was still shopping. I looked for her and showed her, and she got mad at me and yelled at me asking how I could have afforded the toy. I told her. With the money I saved up. But she didn't believe me because she thought I stole the money from her and that's why she was missing some. I didn't want to tell her it was my brother that did it, so she hit me, and I looked around, but people were just trying not to watch.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I got to keep Kermit anyways, and I played with him all the time. Dunked him in water, slammed him against the wall, all sorts of things. I loved him. I'm surprised he isn't in rags even though I was so horrible to him. I love him so much.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You pull your arms in.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*If I die, I want you to look after him, okay?*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Don't say that, she says.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Everyone dies. And I want to die before you do.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Don't say that.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(if: $items < 4)[(link: "↓")[(goto: "hub")hub]](if: $items is 4)[(link: "...")[(goto: "All items GET")All items GET]]](scroll:?page, 1)

*Did you know that when I was a kid I was bullied a lot?*(set: $sawTooth to true)(set: $items to $items + 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Silence.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*They always laughed at me and told me to shut up. Couldn't sit still in class. Was so bad at math. Teacher would call on me in class and I'd get it wrong and everyone would groan or giggle, like, "Of course, of course."*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*One time I played with a girl. She was the other kid in class that everyone would pick on, because her last name had "Bum" in it and she farted in class once.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I was licking my loose tooth during recess, alone. I don't know what I was doing, I think maybe practicing karate, even though I didn't know it. She came over and asked if I wanted to play four square because another group of kids already had four. I said, yeah, okay.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*We played, just the two of us, even though you need four players. It went alright until I threw the ball too hard and it hit her head. I could see her face get red and I thought it was funny, so I started laughing. But she started crying and got mad at me so she threw the ball really hard at my face and I fell back on my ass straight onto the cement.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I almost started crying too, until I felt something sharp roll against my tongue towards the back of my throat. I gagged, and spat out the tooth onto the ground. She walked over and we both stared at it.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She asks if it was this tooth.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")+(transition-delay: 1s)[*... After she ran away, I put it in my pocket and kept my hands in there all day until the teacher got suspicious and asked me what I was hiding. I showed her, and she looked relieved. She told me that I can put it under my pillow and the tooth fairy would bring me something the next morning. I told her that it sounded stupid, and she told me not to say that word.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Later when I went home I played with my tooth until I got bored of it and decided I wanted to see if the tooth fairy was real. So I put the tooth underneath my pillow.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*No tooth fairy came. Never told your grandma about it. Even if I did, I don't think she'd care. I kept the tooth under my pillow for another month without telling anyone, until it cracked and broke in half.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She looks at the single, intact tooth.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*This was a different one. Got punched by some kid in fourth grade. Idiot thought I was making fun of him.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You smile.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*And I was.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[She smiles back.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(if: $items < 4)[(link: "↓")[(goto: "hub")hub]](if: $items is 4)[(link: "...")[(goto: "All items GET")All items GET]]](scroll:?page, 1)

You return your gaze back down into the box and look at (if: $items < 3)[the rest of the things inside.](if: $items >= 3)[the last thing inside.] (if: $sawTooth matches false)[ [[A tooth you lost.]] ] (if: $sawCard matches false)[ [[A Valentine's Day card.]] ] (if: $sawLeaf matches false)[ [[A laminated leaf.]] ] (if: $sawPhoto matches false)[ [[A photo of your mom.]] ]

You drop the last memory into the box and reach for the bottled gasoline. Your daughter sniffs, and you unscrew the cap. (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[The smell of fuel pours into your nose as you drench the box, and your heart starts jumping in your chest, as if saying, hooray, hooray, and you smile and screw the cap back on, and then you take out a newspaper clipping. It's old and yellowed, and you show it to your daughter.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[It's an article about your mother's death. Your daughter looks away, because she knows what happened. Or at least she thinks she did.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You click the lighter, wheel scraping the skin of your thumb until it finally lights, sparking and sizzling, and you throw the burning paper into the box and everything bursts into a fire.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[You crouch with your beloved daughter, watching the flames eat away at your memories and turn it into frazzled ribbons of smoke. The light illuminates her, making her face look less childish than she usually does.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[The wind blows and you shut your eyes hard, because the smoke stings your eyes and it feels like you're crying even though you're not.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Despite that, the both of you huddle closer to the warmth, and you open your eyes, wiping them with your sleeve.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")+(transition-delay: 1s)[You want to stay quiet, but your mouth opens on its own.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")+(transition-delay: 1s)+(transition-time: 3s)[ *[[Wanna hear another story?]]* ](scroll:?page, 1)

(click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(We head home, and my hand is tighter in his than it was the first time.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(I hated that tightness ever since that time, but tonight it's fine.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(I don't want to get lost. Or maybe I don't want to lose him. And he doesn't want to lose me.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(We never finished watching the flames go out, but I don't think we need to.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(To me, it's still there, burning.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(I can see the lines of ember crawling along the edges of the box, the paper, burning everything that shouldn't burn.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(I see the little fires dancing, as if they're happier than us.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(Or maybe they're happy for us.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(The tooth will probably still be there later. His remains.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(Something he lost because the world hated him.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(I hated him, too, for a while, but I don't really know anymore.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(I hold onto his hand tighter.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(Because I'm the only one who can.)](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")+(transition-time: 2s)["Dad."](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[He doesn't say anything.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[And I don't finish what I was going to say.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[Because we both already know.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[==(goto:"thanks")

*Your grandma was never home often.* (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*She had a lot of boyfriends. I stopped having to meet them when one of them pushed me against the stairs. Mom went out to pick up takeout for dinner, and my head hit really hard against the rail, and I think I blacked out for a second, but I'm not sure. I remember him saying, "Fuck, fuck, shit, fuck" and he told me to go to my room and not come out when she came back or else he'd get mad.*] (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I just fell asleep on my bed because I started to feel a little nauseous, and I woke up to Mom talking really loud and angrily, but later it went quiet and I heard creaking up the stairs and then I started to hear weird sounds coming from her bedroom. But I was feeling really tired, more than usual, so I just went back to sleep even though I was hungry and wanted to tell her what happened.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*No more of her boyfriends ever came over, but that just meant she was away from home more often. I always knew where she went, and my brother was the one to take care of me, until... you know.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*But anyways, one day I came home crying. I forgot what happened, but I was really sad. Maybe that's why I forgot. But I also got sad about a lot of things, so it could have been anything. I cried alone by myself a lot, even though it's embarrassing. My brother wasn't around anymore, so I cried louder because there was nobody. I was seventeen. You were probably only two back then.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Now that I think about it, maybe it was about you. Or your mom. Or something. But I was upset, and my mom walked past my room even though I felt like I was crying loud enough for her to hear. And then, I don't know why, but I just stopped crying when I heard her close the front door when she left.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I just sat there for a bit, but then my body rushed up on its own and I threw on my jacket, a hat, grabbed my wallet, and stepped out the door to follow her.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*It was kinda late. She was walking, because she was going to the subway. It was the weekday, so it wasn't busy. I could follow her pretty easily.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I got off where she got off, and I followed her in the dark for a while. I don't know how she hadn't gotten murdered yet, because she never even turned around once. I followed her around this nowhere neighborhood until I saw her go into an alley.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*She climbed up the fire escape stairs, and I just watched her knock on the window. A few moments later, it opened, and I could see this smile on her face even though it was dark and I probably shouldn't have been able to see it. Maybe I was imagining it. I don't know.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*But she climbed through and then the window closed.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I waited for a bit until I climbed up too.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*And then I sat by the same window. It was so dark. The window was dark. I sat there for a long time. I don't know how long. But I didn't cry.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I guess I was falling asleep, because I woke up when I heard the window opening. It was pitch black, but I knew who it was.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*She stepped out and didn't see me until I stood up.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*And then she turned around.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*It felt like something was wrong with me.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I was just going to yell at her. Or cry. Or something.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*But I don't know why. I just pushed her instead.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*She didn't scream.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I don't know why.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I heard the sound and I was so scared.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I ran down the stairs and just ran.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I was really, really scared.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I don't know why I did it.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I really don't know.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Don't be mad.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Piper, are you mad?*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Piper.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Please don't leave.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[ *[[Please.]]* ](scroll:?page, 1)

(click: ?page)[== (t8n: "instant")[The bathroom stall clicks.] (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "instant")[We both pant in the dark, and I'm trapped. Aren't bathrooms supposed to be locked at night? I was stupid for running in here.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "instant")[It's dark, but I can almost see him crying. My heart keeps beating and I think I'm about to get a heart attack. He just keeps mumbling about something until he stops breathing and then he looks at me.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Remember when you confessed to me.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "instant")[Stop.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I was so happy.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "instant")[Stop it. Stop.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I promise I won't do anything to you.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "instant")[STOP.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I love you, you know.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "instant")[STOP STOP STOPSTOP.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[He leans down towards me but I push him and he falls back but he hits the stall door and the lock rattles and echoes violently. He breathes, staring at me.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Can I tell you something?*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[I sob and shake and tell him to leave me alone, but he keeps talking.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*That night when you told me everything. I was so confused. It was the first time anyone told me they loved me, I think. I just didn't know what to do. So I went to bed and tried not to think about it but then I had this dream.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[I shake my head. One last time, I tell him to stop.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")+(transition-delay: 2s)+(transition-time: 3s)[*In the dream, I thought we looked the same even though you looked like you and I looked like me and we both went to school with each other even though I'm old. But then you disappeared and my hand became you and it had "you" in it. I touched things with you to show you how they felt and then somehow I started touching myself. It felt really good, but I was scared you would hate it and fall off and I wouldn't have a hand anymore. But I kept touching myself anyways and I think you started to like it so I came and covered you in my cum but you got mad at me and it felt like you were going to fall off. And then I woke up really horny and scared, like really scared, but I saw that my hand was still there and I felt relieved. Then I walked by your room while you slept and jacked off while licking the handle to your door.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[I just hold myself close. I'm shaking because I'm hot but also cold and really scared but I feel sad too.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*I'm sorry it's weird. But I never dreamt about someone like that before.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[I just cry harder.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[*Please don't leave.*](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[We're both crying but he leans down and hugs me and I'm too tired to tell him to stop again.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[He hugs me close, lost, and desperate, and I just don't know what to do with him anymore.](scroll:?page, 1) (click: ?page)[==(goto:"end")

(click: ?page)[== (t8n: "dissolve")[(link: "End.")[(goto: "Intro")Intro]]