You say it's free association. Just to say whatever first comes to mind.

"Red," you say.

I think of bleeding lips curled around the butt of a burning cigarette. And the endless smell of nicotine and blood.

I think, Tyler.

I say "Cigarette."

"Fire," you say.

And I think of the barrel of a gun clenched between my teeth, the strategic holes drilled into it leaving marks on my tongue that fade the instant the gun moves.

"We won't really die," he'd said.

I think, Tyler.

I say "Gun." And you nod and make a note.

It's the wrong answer.

"Trust," you say.

Project Mayhem. Project Mayhem.

I say "Project Mayhem."

You have to trust him.

Another note. Another wrong answer.

This whole time, you know I bullshit you right?

Nothing but lies.

"Tell me about your family."

Absent father, possibly abusive. Lack of paternal presence. No wonder I broke.

My eyes say it's all bullshit.

But you're not looking me in the eye.

Please, hear my false family problems. Fix them. Really listen to me, I'm dying.

Faker. Faker. Liar.

You change the subject.

Maybe you can see the lies.

"Tell me about your hallucinations."

You want to hear about my imaginary friends?

Faker.

Let me tell you about Charles. He's British, and a literature major.

I'm sarcastic now.

Let me tell you about Frank. He's a giant bunny rabbit. He tells me the world is going to end. He tells me time travel is possible, and I need to follow him.

You flinch. Maybe you've seen that one.

"I want you to tell me about Tyler Durden.

Stop.

"Don't talk to her about me."

He's free in all the ways that I am not, I think.

He's everything that I want to be, I think.

He's mine, I think.

And you can't have him.

I say "Tyler who?"

You sigh and make another note.

And behind you and over your head, one eye winks at me.

Author's Note: I seem to have been writing a lot for Fight Club recently. Huh. Anyway, this just had to happen, my brain insisted, it wouldn't go away. And I hope you liked it. Thanks for reading.

Oh, and, see of you can figure out where Charles and Frank are from. Uber cool points to you if you can.