"Oh, remember this one? This was the gig that Lilly came to at the Velvet Onion." Howard sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve. A tear fell onto the photo and he quickly wiped it away.

Howard was sitting on the floor in Vince's bedroom. He was surrounded by photographs – some old, some new, and all from Vince's photo box that he'd kept under his bed. Howard didn't know why he'd pulled the box out. He wasn't supposed to know it existed. Vince had hidden it from him for a reason that Howard still couldn't figure out. But he'd discovered it one day – months ago – when he'd undertaken the endeavor of cleaning Vince's room.

The next photo he picked up, he immediately wanted to put back down. It was a candid picture of Lilly and Howard that Vince must have taken. They were sitting together on the floor of the living room, talking about something. Howard hadn't really realized until that moment how beautiful Lilly was.

Lilly felt a strong sense of déjà vu come over her as she walked down the street. Her backpack seemed to get heavier with every step she took. The closer she got to the Nabootique, the farther away she wished she was. The only thing pushing her on was her need to see Howard. She had to make sure he was okay before she could turn around and go again. Though, she wasn't sure she'd be able to leave this time.

The first time Lilly passed the Nabootique, she didn't even stop. She just kept walking, watching it disappear behind her before turning the corner and trying to catch her breath. She'd never had a panic attack before, but she thought this is what it must have felt like.

The second time Lilly passed the Nabootique, she stopped for just a moment. She peered into the window, half of her expecting to see the shop boarded up and everything gone. To her surprise – and shock – there was a man sitting behind the counter. Upon first glance, she didn't recognize him and thought Naboo must have replaced Vince. But, after some study, she realized that it was actually Howard. He looked an absolute state and Lilly wanted to cry. She didn't know how much of that was because of Vince's death – which was her fault – and how much was because of her absence – which was also her fault. All in all, it was all her fault.

She didn't go in. She just kept walking.

Howard was sitting behind the counter in the Nabootique, reading a copy of Global Explorer and reminiscing on the Yeti mishap. He knew no one was going to set foot near the shop on that day – or any other – so he didn't bother turning the sign around.

Something in the window caught his eye and he glanced up. He couldn't believe his eyes. Standing there, squinting at him through the pane was the love of his life. But just as soon as she appeared, she was gone. He sighed and flipped to the article on page twenty-two.

The third time Lilly passed the Nabootique, her feet were aching. She hadn't eaten in ages and she attributed her loss of stamina to hunger. It was now or never. She had to confront Howard.

The sign on the door said 'Closed' but it swung open against her hand. Clearly, Howard had forgotten to turn the sign again. Vince told her once that he was always forgetting to flip the sign and they were losing profits because of it.

The bell above her head jingled and she froze, still only halfway in the shop. Howard glanced up, ignored her, and looked back down to whatever he was reading. Lilly sighed and stepped forward, mustering strength she didn't have.

"Howard?"

He looked up again, shook his head, and looked back down. Something was wrong.

"Howard, it's me, Lilly."

Howard didn't even look up this time but she saw the look on his face change. He looked hurt.

Lilly stepped forward to the counter. Howard was resting his head on his left hand and his right was turning the pages to what Lilly recognized as a copy of Global Explorer. It was nice to see that some things hadn't changed.

She reached out and put her hand on top of his. He froze and looked down at their hands in confusion. He looked back up at Lilly, who tried to smile, and then back down at their hands. If she wasn't real, she wouldn't be able to touch him.

He pulled his hand out from under hers harshly, as if her touch had burned him. She looked down at her lonely hand, resting on the glass case, and sighed.

"What are you doing here?" He still wouldn't look at her, choosing to stare down at the sepia colored picture in his magazine.

Lilly pulled her hand back and let it fall to her side, shrugging, "I don't know."

The silence stretched on for ages. It was stifling and Lilly wanted nothing more than to grab Howard by the collar and never let go. She wanted him to look at her, at the very least.

After a few minutes, he did look at her, and the look on his face brought tears to her eyes. He was angry and hurt, she could tell.

"What did you think you'd achieve, coming here?" He spat the words at her and then, when she didn't answer right away, sighed at her as if she wasn't worth his precious time, "I didn't blame you when – it – happened. I didn't blame you when you disappeared. But I do now. I've seen through your cheap act, Lilly Emerson. You used me, you lead me on, and you killed my best friend."

She thought at first that she was going to throw up. Then she thought she might cry. Then she thought she was going to scratch Howard's eyes out. Finally, she settled on a sick feeling in her gut. She couldn't think or move and she definitely couldn't speak. He'd just told her what she'd been telling herself for two months.

Howard stood up violently from the stool he was sitting on, making Lilly jump. He seemed to make it around the counter in three steps and was right in front of her before she had time to gather herself.

She looked up at him, fighting off the urge to cry, and he made eye contact with her for the first time in two months. For a moment, his mask broke and she saw the worry in his eyes. But he quickly covered it up with more anger and for the first time in her life, she was afraid of Howard Moon.

"I don't want you coming near me or any of my friends, ever. I suggest you vacate the premises." He gave her one last long stare and then turned to look at Stationary Village, "Good day, madam."

Lilly's heart broke. She'd heard that before somewhere. She knew those words. They struck fear into her and made her want to scream in frustration.

"Howard, you can't –"

He turned and glared at her once more, "I said good day."