Chapter Six: The Eighth Restart (II)

Narrator briefly told Stanley what really happened.

Stanley listened in astonishment, and did not say one word.

"So…What are you doing now?" After a long time, Stanley asked with an absentminded tone.

"I am apologizing, I was wrong. Now I came back and I promise, I will never leave you again."

Stanley shouted violently like he was going to explode, "Apologize? Do you know what I had experienced? I thought you were died! I looked every corner! I thought you were died! I was even risked my life to try to find the higher controller! I even thought my death could save you!"

He shouted loudly, thrown the computer on the table, and smashed binders hardly onto the ceiling, "You son of a bitch! I have been suffering here along for months, and you were just watching me? Why did you even come back?! Why didn't you just let me die here?"

Narrator said cautiously, "Sorry."

"How is a 'sorry' going to help?"

"It won't…" Narrator said, "but I'm really sorry."

"You originally wanted me to die here, right?"

"I…If I could take you with me, I surely will. I promise." Narrator explained, "But that is not possible. I am the only one who can leave."

"Oh, of course! I heard you, you are the main character! You are the mean character! I am the supporting character! I should serve you! I am just some random guy! I don't even get a chance! Oh, how can I lead the story?" Stanley yelled angrily.

"I never see you as a supporting role, Stanley. I see you as a friend."

"Fiend? Do you even know what a friend is?"

"You are my friend, Stanley. Don't you remember the work we've done? Looking for the clues? I cared about you…Don't you think I really meant that?" Narrator said sincerely, " Also… Don't you remember telling me that I said I loved you? I really believed that at that moment."

These words seemed to have two sides. On the one hand they showed how Narrator was not a jerk with no heart or feelings. On the other hand it enraged Stanley. He hoped if Narrator was in front him, then he could punch him in the face. Unfortunately Narrator was just a invisible voice from the ceiling. So Stanley kept staring at the ceiling, "Die! You liar!"

"You really want that?" Narrator asked.

These words cooled Stanley's madness down like a piece of ice. He closed his mouth, he was silent for a few second, and said reluctantly, "Of course not. I'm happy that…you're back and okay. But before that…No, I couldn't forgive you. I can't do it."

Narrator sounded a lot more relaxed, "I didn't ask you to forgive me. You are happy that I'm back, and that's enough."

Stanley walked around, looking at the ceiling, like he could not think of what to say. But he finally sat down, "Okay, maybe I will forgive someday in the future, but not now."

"Thank you." Narrator answered nervously.

And neither of them talked.

One week had passed; Stanley and Narrator did not talk.

Stanley did not like the silence, but he did not want to talk first. Narrator clearly was not good at dealing with this kind of relationship. He was silent, only sometimes cough to let Stanley know that he was still there (Narrator finally became a little smarter).

So during this time, Stanley first stared at the monitor on the floor. It was still displaying the cursor. Then he collected all the files and pencils on the ground. He put the binders into one pile, then into a row, then into a pile. Finally Stanley tried to join the keyboard, for two days.

And Stanley sat down, staring at the ceiling angrily, and said disappointingly, "Hey, why don't you talk?"

Before Narrator thought a way of how to answer that, Stanley kept saying, "Okay, anyway, you gave up your only chance of leaving to save me, right?"

"Yes." Narrator answered cautiously.

"But you shouldn't leave me along for so long."

"Yes."

"I know you were hesitating, I can understand, but you totally could talk to me when you were hesitating, otherwise I might think something bad happened to you.

"Yes."

"Even if you decided to leave me, you should at least say goodbye."

"Yes…No. No!" Narrator explained urgently, and incoherently, "I will never leave you, Stanley. I promise, I won't do that, I promise."

"Oh, why? Why not?"

"I…I can't leave you…"

Wait, Stanley seemed to notice that beside nervous in Narrator's voice it was a little…tearful? Was that his illusion?

He interrupted Narrator, "Are you crying?"

"Ah, no… I'm not…"This time his choking is way easier to hear with sobs, "Stanley, I…"

Stanley could not help to laugh, "You are such a fool."

"What?"

"God, can't you understand what everything I just said meant?"

"What did it mean?"

"I've forgiven you, you fool."

"Ah?" Narrator asked surprisingly, and added dully, "Why?"

Stanley rolled his eyes to the ceiling, "Guess."

~Notes from original author:

1. The main character is Narrator

Like the Story of the Narrator, this fiction is not about Stanley, but a story about Narrator. Though the first half and last half is in Stanley's point of view, he's just helping the story. The focal point is actually between two choices that Narrator had: to pursuit the freedom he desired, or fetters of the relationship he is reluctant to leave.

2. Love between Stanley and Narrator

Those who hoped to see their love might be disappointed. Because Narrator didn't love Stanley, and Stanley didn't love Narrator. Even if you think their feeling were love, it wasn't the staunch love that could beat death.

Actually, you can see that the decision Narrator made at last is not a very staunch decision. You will notice that he kept avoiding making decisions. He finally stopped Stanley when he saw that Stanley was going to die in front of him. But it's just because of that certain situation.

(Even he felt relaxed and thought he didn't care about freedom, I still think he cares. It's just he has mad that choice and accepted it, which makes him think the other option is wrong.)

But the good news is that I think they will create deeper friendship in their life after. After all Narrator need to practice.

3. Where is the higher controller?

Right, you might ask, "Where is the higher controller? Who wrote the schedule and story of Narrator and why? It is true that at the end Stanley and Narrator still didn't know anything about that, because it's not important any more. (It's not that I'm too lazy to write it (shrug shoulders)) It's just something to keep the story going, the focal point is what that caused.

4. It's also a story of how Narrator become more mature

Is it really freedom behind door 416? It might be something to suspect. Because I might just say that "freedom" is Narrator and Stanley understanding each other. The Story of Narrator mentioned that Narrator got freedom, but it never says "freedom" and "leaving the story" is the same thing. It never said that Narrator left the story. (check the texts. They won't lie.) After this confusing story, Narrator is no longer isolated with Stanley, but started communicating and understanding each other instead. So the story after will surely be a "new story".

Or I might say that "freedom" means that Narrator is no longer being ignorant, but started having free mind, and learning about loving and being loved, and become more mature blahblah...

~Notes from the translator:

English is not my first language so sometimes you might find it weird to read. I sometimes don't know the right word for certain situation. I apologize if you felt confusing when reading this story.

(Happy End)