(Viola)

"Yer pa was over there, struggling to change you." I read aloud "But then I went up to him, kissed him long and hard and then took you into my arms."

I blushed as I thought about the kiss I shared with Todd many years ago. With the boy who is now lying unconscious next to me.

I am 18 now. It has been 5 years since 1017 killed Todd. 5 years since Todd left me when he promised he wouldn't.

But not everyone can keep promises.

I haven't given up on him though. I never will. Everyone else has except me. Ben says in his voice that he will never give up; but every time he comes in here and smiles sadly at me, I know he has given up.

"Yer probably disgusted about me telling you about this." I continue "But I think it's important for you to know how madly in love we are. Because one day, my little Todd you'll be madly in love with someone. And that girl will be lucky to have you."

My heart wrenches every time I read this; because Todd was in love – with me. And now he's gone.

Todd's noise opens up again. It has been happening more and more now. It started when he would have been 15. I screamed when it happened, causing Ben and Lee to rush in – but it turned out he wasn't awake. It was just his noise.

It's always just his noise.

Viola? I hear Ben? Manchee stop it!

Sometimes that happens. Sometimes he thinks people who have left us are still here. And it kills me when it happens.

I begin to talk to Todd about how everything is now. Even though he can't hear, it comforts me to get it off my chest.

"I wish you are awake. Everything is how you imagined it. We are at peace with the Spackle. We don't have a leader, instead everyone gets a say in the decisions.

Lee has been trying to take me away from you, but it will never happen. When I leave you in the night, it hurts me. So that's why I'm here now. I couldn't sleep, so I managed to get away."

And then he does something he has never done before–

Something that is amazing–

He voice says–

His voice actually says: Managed to get away.

And that's when I hear it–

It's much louder than before–

Louder than ever–

Viola. Viola EADE.

Then he says it again–

VIOLA EADE.

And I swear the room vibrates from the impact.

It comes again. VIOLA EADE. VIOLA EADE. VIOLA EADE.

Then his eyes flicker–

And I hold my breath–

And they snap open.–

And his voice comes to me at full force.

Where am I? Manchee? Ben? Cillian? Viola? Why am I so big? Too many voices! And then I think it all comes back to him. Manchee and Cillian gone? Where's Angharrad? Why can I hear Spackle voices? What happened to the Spackle? Where am I?

Then he looks left and looks at me staring at him and his voice explodes.

Viola. VIOLA? Is that you? Why do you look different? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola? Viola?

And then somehow I'm wrapped up in his arms and his voice is murmuring Viola. Over and over again.

And then his hands are all over my body and mine are all over his as if we can't believe we're here–

Next to each other–

And then one thing leads to another–

And we're lying next to each other on his bed half naked–

And he's kissing me long and hard as if he's afraid to let go–

But I know he won't.

Because he's Todd.

And Todd will never let go.