David
Ketayi thinks I am xyrs* favourite.
I am everything that is wrong with the world.
I am disease; I am prejudice; I am pain. Yet xe finds a comfort in my being. Xe thinks I'm part of what puts everything in balance.
In other words, I am the antidote to life.
A corrupted soul.
Anna
"David hates me. He hates anything of any good. I need a break from him. I'm going to Spain and Maria is coming too. Get rid of him. He's going to get you into trouble you can't get out of."
"But he imagined you."
"How could he have imagined me? I am the complete opposite to him!"
"He couldn't bear to be two completely different people any more."
"Is that how you think of me? Dave's counterpart? The thing that stops you falling apart!"
"Yes- without him none of you could exist."
"Get rid of him. You've got until we come back."
I stormed angrily away from Ketayi. Why does xe prefer Dave to me? Xe loves him.
How can someone so belligerent be loved so dearly? I would have kicked him out ages ago.
This anger flows freely through me. There's so much of it, I could create another galaxy with it. I hate David. I hate him. I hate Ketayi.
Can't xe see what I am? What I can give to her?
I am love; I am beauty; I am happiness.
Maria
I peer through the crack between the door and the door frame, into the room Ketayi sits in, immersing xemself in Dave's music, which is dark and gloomy with lots of hidden meanings, which I can just about listen to without getting bored (on most days).
I watch xem until xe looks around at me.
"You're going with Anna then."
I'm not sure how to interpret her. Is xe upset or joyful? Is xe tired or energetic? Is xe angry or calm?
"Well, don't you need to go now?"
Xe's angry. That's about as much as I can work out. I count the ceiling tiles before replying.
"Yes."
"I won't miss you trying to kill me with recklessness," xe laughs.
Was that an insult?
Confused, I leave, hoping Spain will give me a chance to get everything in order.
*Xe, xem, xyr, xyrs, xemself corresponds to they, them, their, theirs, themself.