Title: Conversation: friendLOVEself

Author: Utenakun

Series: Serial Experiments Lain

Summary: After her final action, Lain has a conversation with someone or something in the Wired.

Rating: G

Disclaimer: Maybe in some alternate Wired I own SEL and rule as Lain… but not this one.

Notes: The title comes from the background text "AliceLOVEneedsyou." This was created on my graphing calculator, during a deadly boring Precalc class…therefore, I take no responsibility for the insanity. ^^;; If for some godforsaken reason you actually like it, be sure to check out Elf Asato's "Noises or Lack Thereof" - I didn't actually come across Elf Asato till after I'd written this, but the format is very close, and NLT is actually cute, as opposed to strange, random and ultimately nonsensical. But if you like that as much as I do, on with the trippiness! ^_^

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Are you there? I've waited so long for someone to speak to.

I am here.

I'm glad. Do you-- do you think I was right? To do what I did?

What did you do?

You know! I-- I reset--

Why are you crying?

I'm… so lonely.

But you have friends who love you.

How can they? They don't even remember me!

And that isn't what you wanted?

…No. It is. I wanted to stop hurting them.

And deleting yourself was the only way.

It was!

I did not say otherwise.

Well, what would you have done?! Alice was in so much pain…

I would have found my happiness in the bond you share.

But Alice would have been miserable!

She took no joy at all in your friendship?

She… might have… I don't know. I don't…

She did.

You… know that? You're sure?

Despite everything I had to do, something inside her remembers, and loves you still.

…Despite everything you did? You separated us?!

Of course.

But I thought I-- I was the only one who-- who are you?

I am you. Of course.

I think… I understand. …Lain?

I am here.

I'm glad.