the center will hold.

Nei­ther alive nor dead. The world swam around me, sparkles of col­or danc­ing be­fore my eyes. The lack of food had made me dizzy, and I was on the verge of faint­ing. I had to stay in con­trol here. I had to ask the next ques­tion. Out of all the vic­tims…out of all the vic­tims they could have cho­sen, sure­ly they wouldn’t have picked him.

“Goodbye,” I told him. “Thanks for your help… I… I’ll miss you.” His form grew fainter and fainter, and just before it went altogether, I saw the hint of a smile, that laughing and mischievous smile I’d loved so much. (insp)

[insp]

[inspired by]

“Dreams, dreams. I walk them; I live them. I delude myself with them. It’s a wonder I can spot reality anymore.”