he starts, "i thought we were in love."
"were you really in love, or did you think you were?"
"i thought we were. or i hoped we were."
"love is weird like that. it never goes the way you want it to."
his chin droops; quietly he says "theres a different sort of pain in being forgotten."
"not everyone has a perfect memory. sometimes people forget us."
"i know." he breathes. "but i had hoped... that i made a difference. that i was memorable enough to leave a mark on his mind. but in the end hes living the remarkable life i always knew he would lead, and im here. ive never been anywhere else. i never will be."
he begins, "i ran into him at the store." the words sound far off and distant.
"did he remember you?"
with painful honesty, he admits, "he walked right past me. i might as well have been invisible."
"i dont think i would forget you."
he pauses. "thats very kind," he says eventually, "but im forgettable. give it a few years and youll see."
he falls silent.
"i liked being wanted, he liked wanting me. but the light at the end of the tunnel is much less interesting once you make it there. grass is always greener on the other side, after all. i just think im boring. maybe if i wasnt so boring it wouldve ended better. thats my biggest flaw."
"i think youre interesting,"
he only laughs.
"they always say that," he says, "until you spend months with me, and then people realize. someone once called me empty headed. im beginning to think they were right."
"that person was wrong."
"yeah, well. they said they loved me."
the thought stands. if they were wrong about me being empty headed, that means they were wrong about loving me.