Spoilers for Cypher
Note: A 'sim' is a simulation.

Let's Pretend

When I found out about the case and how the killer was pretending to be his victims, I didn't want to believe it. Then, when he showed up at Major Crimes I knew it was true. We were each playing our roles perfectly...except for our eyes. They were saying 'I'll keep up your charade if you keep up mine.' And so he had and so had I. Our bodies going through the motions...all the while planning with our eyes--'let's Pretend.'

Later I played the role of the victim. My lips were saying that he couldn't be me--my eyes were saying that we were the same. Outloud I spouted off about his childhood--my eyes telling him that I understood. His eyes where pleading. He didn't want to live this un-life any more. They had taken away his identity and that terrified him. It terrified me too. We played out these roles till 'help' came. He knew he would be killed and I knew it too. But still we kept up the pretenses--till the very end. I heard the shots and I knew that he was finally free. The last part of our little sim--only it wasn't a sim... Then, Jim asked me if I was ok...he didn't know and I couldn't tell him. I wanted to but I don't think that he would have understood. Besides, saying it outloud would make it too real... I wish I was the person he thought I was. Though, I guess I am in a way...

I don't have nightmares about the things he thinks I do. And I've seen worse than what he encounters at his job... But the worst was seeing David. After all, maybe he couldn't be me, but I could have been him. I know his eyes will always haunt me--pleading with me for one last request--'let's Pretend'.