daybreak | three

Durban sits up on his futon and leans against the wall
– can’t sleep?
Moscow’s voice from the bed
– i did. for a bit
Moscow gets out of bed without any signs of fatigue
sits down and leans against the wall adjacent to where Durban sits
– you?
– probably the same. i don’t know. don’t remember
Durban gives a small laugh
they sit for a while in the darkness
– you know last night,
Moscow begins
– i mean, it wasn’t the time to talk about it, but when we did,
he pauses
– most of us… everyone seemed to only talk about Kyoto
another pause
Durban responds
– yeah. i noticed that
silence
– maybe
Durban offers, then stops
Moscow continues
– i miss them both, but… i’m not trying to say that Kyoto means any less to me
Durban inhales
– but her death was easier to accept than Venice’s?
Durban hears Moscow move
– yes
silence
Moscow eventually speaks
– i don’t know what it is – we spent equal time with them both
they reflect for a while
thoughts moving through memories of their time together
the final conclusion to their friends’ lives
– i think i know what you mean
Durban replies
– but i think – just thinking about those last weeks, it was hard to separate them as people
a pause
– they really did become one person
and it surprises Moscow to hear his old friend speak in this manner
– they loved each-other so much. they loved us…
Moscow leans his head back on the wall
– yeah

Durban sees Kyoto’s body falling to the ground
drifting down like the lightest of feathers
– i don’t know what happened that day
he says
– but Venice died the moment Kyoto took that shot
another loud crack
and the memory of white pain
instinctively he clenches his eyes shut