moira ( @altruprism ) said, ”I saw everything.”
hands tangle in sullied blond hair. nails scrape at a scalp once scorched by the midday sun. lungs shudder as a too-deep breath is taken; they flatten ‘gainst the ribs from the inside out. the ensuing exhale is harsh through gritted teeth. it carries the taste of stomach acid back against the flat of a useless tongue, the scent of last night’s madness-made mistakes smothered by artificial orange.
❛ me too, ❜ comes the host’s response, aching and tired. hands drag themselves down his face, fingers briefly snagging on the bottoms of his eyes and pull until the soft pink of the muscle underneath is visible. they relinquish when the library’s air starts to sting, and the hands rest under his chin. they are a more comfortable pillow than the bare of the library desk, but only slightly.
❛ i saw everything’s everything. the idea of it. what everything feels like, i saw that. ❜ the head turns from her, mouth hidden ‘gainst the inside of his crossed arms. eyes fix on a shelf on the other side of the room.
❛ i wish i just saw a part of everything. maybe i could’ve handled that better. ❜ a pause. his eyes return to her. ❛ how did you handle it ?? ❜