The door creaks

My eyes open

I look up

And smile softly

You sit

And we begin another round

Of let's pretend

We talk of the Alliance

Of SD-6

Of Sloane's whereabouts

Of Sydney.

We dodge

We parry

We probe

And we retreat

I feel you near me

And myself softening

It's unnerving

You've abandoned contempt

In favor of polite interest

They're both just masks

I wonder if you can see through mine?

If not-

My own fault

Everything, my fault

But this-

This one thing that could never be taken from me-

Is this your fault

Or mine

Or both?

That I can't forget

And you're still alone

And we're sitting here?

I wonder why you come here?

I think you probably do, too.

But you come anyway.

And I'm glad.