Bandaged up, but feeling no better, Marron lay in a bed in the Stellar Church. Carrot stood by his brother’s bedside.
“...Yeah,” he was saying, “Aila told her father sabout the Sijarru... But... he still won’t let them date.”
Marron let out a rasping laugh. “It’s sad, brother... You’re sad... But it feels good to have it back, to be able to laugh at you. You have no idea how it feels to be trapped within youself... unable to control your body...”
“Glad I could be of service,” Carrot said, and stepped out, leaving Marron to wonder why. The he saw.
Tira.
She stood in the corner of the room, quietly watching him.
“Oh... Tira... Can you ever forgive me, Tira?”
“Marron, you didn’t do anything.” She came closer.
“I did, I hurt you, I.. I almost...” He looked away.
“But you didn’t. I heard you say it. Trapped within yourself, unable to control your body.”
“I will never forgive myself, Tira. I cannot... You must know how sorry I am tha it occured at all... That I am even still alive. What I almost did to you... was... inexcusable.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m glad you didn’t die.”
Marron shook his head miserably. “It doesn’t.”
“It should,” Tira replied. “Because, Marron, we love you. We understand. That wasn’t you. It was the Sijarru. You wouldn’t even think...”
“No, I wouldn’t... But now all I can do is think... Think of how horribly everything has turned out in the last few days. Think of how sorry I am.”
“Well, if you want, we can alway get Carrot’s sword and ram it through you...”
Marron made a small smile. “Oh... would you?”
Tira looked up, smiling.“OK, maybe I was wrong about that you-not-being-a-masochist part...”
Fin.
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