Electorate 093
SCENE: The park, night.
Joshua and Lauren walk along the dimly lit path, though the bushes and trees, towards his house.
Joshua: "Kat's going back home this morning."
Lauren: "Yeah?"
Joshua: "It was good to see her."
Lauren: "She's nice."
Joshua: "I guess I should probably visit them at some point. When I get enough money."
Lauren: "Do you feel bad? For leaving without telling them, I mean."
Joshua: "Not really."
Joshua laughs.
Joshua: "That makes me sound like a jerk."
Lauren: "No, I know what you mean."
Joshua pauses, then takes a deep breath.
Joshua: "Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer."
Lauren: "Go for it."
Joshua: "What's it like?"
Lauren: "What?"
Joshua: "When they come. The corpses."
Lauren pauses, considering.
Lauren: "I'm not sure how to explain it. Sometimes it's like I'm not actually here; I'm somewhere else completely. Sometimes they come to me. There's one... the brave one. The rest stay in my room, in the corners. With their backs to me."
Lauren smiles at him, her eyes sad.
Lauren: "They're looking for something."
Joshua: "What?"
Lauren: "I can't say."
Lauren shrugs.
Lauren: "I don't want to talk about this any more."
Joshua: "No, that's okay. I don't blame you."
They walk along in silence for a while.
Joshua: "Do you think you need help?"
Lauren: "I'm not crazy."
Joshua: "I don't think you're crazy. Really, I don't."
Lauren: "Right."
Josh stops walking. Lauren turns to face him, arms crossed.
Joshua: "I don't. But that is scary, what happens to you."
Lauren: "What do you want me to say?"
Joshua: "Say what you want."
Lauren: "You think you're the first person who ever suggested the most obvious solution? I got help before. It didn't help."
Joshua sighs.
Joshua: "I'm sorry."
Lauren: "Don't."
Joshua: "I am. I am sorry."
Lauren watches him carefully for a moment, then smiles.
Lauren: "It's fine."
Joshua: "'Fine' fine, or 'I hate you' fine?"
Lauren: "'Fine' fine."
They resume walking.
Lauren: "I don't hate you. If I hated every single person who suggested therapy there wouldn't be anyone left for me to like."
Joshua: "That must get tedious."
Lauren: "It does, yeah."
Joshua: "Sorry."
Lauren: "It's okay."
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