LISTEN
Snowflakes dot the gray sky and fall around the passerby, their feel shuffling on the pavement. The slick pathways and frost-covered roofs make the town so distinctly Keterburg. It was usually a peaceful place and would have been today if not for the young man and woman standing in the center. Their discussion grew loud, but she felt as if he hadn't spoken at all...
Really? You really don't feel anything? Not even when I say I love you? Because I do, Jade, I do. You trusted me with your secret. That has to count for something. And I'm still here, I'm listening, and you say you have nothing more to tell me. I know you never meant to hurt me- it's just the way you are. But can't you at least try to change? Look at how far you've come already with the Emperor and Nebilim. You can't really want this isolation for the rest of your life. You're only trying to protect people, but you're hurting them, you're hurting people like me when you push them away.
Well, yes, your past scares me. A lot. That's how you can summon your spear from your arm, from when you mutilated yourself when you were young for some experiment your own genius mind thought up. You must have hated yourself even back then to do that. That's not it? You say it's because you just couldn't feel empathy for anyone or anything. That's why you killed those monsters, even the harmless ones. I know, I know, I'm just thinking, I'm just piecing things together. Yes, Jade, I know you're completely serious. You don't have that smile plastered on your face to hide anything. I know I'm the first person you've told this to. You say you only did it to get rid of me, to stop me from getting hurt? I don't believe that. It's the same as when you invented fomicry in the first place, replicating your sister's doll for her after she broke it. Don't tell me you just did it as an experiment! You cared about her, or you would've found some monster to try it on.
You're right. I can't know what it's like to live with that much guilt every second of your life. But Jade, you didn't mean for Professor Nebilim to die. It's not like you knew that thing would make her house burn, and you tried to bring her back! Yeah, I didn't miss the part about the replica being no more than a monster. I know it didn't work! What matters is that you tried. That's all I'm asking you to do, try. You can feel something- You don't love me? We can't be together? All right. I can help you, and maybe you'll see love isn't beyond you, even if it isn't me you end up with.
Why are you asking me again? Your past scares me, okay? But I-I don't care! I love you, Jade! I love you so much and I...I...Y-yes, I'm okay. I'm not crying. Just leave me alone for a little. Please...