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“Joel, are you there?” The words skipped themselves out of the orange haired woman’s mouth as she rubbed her eyes lazily. The apartment was seemingly quiet, and Clementine felt herself trapped in the endless prison that was silence. She didn’t understand why someone would entrap themselves in such a dull lifestyle. She was not except from the humor of silence, or the necessarily of it all but that did not mean she enjoyed it. Silence meant being alone in her fucked-up universe, swimming, drowning, washing away the little peace of mind that she was able to craft together. She’d been there once, been there without Joel, with a Joel impostor that was so wrong that she could still taste the bitterness of them on her tongue. Perhaps it was then that she decided that their fate, whatever it may be, was destined to happen — despite Joel and herself trying to meddle with everything. “Jooooooeeeeeelllllllll,” She called again, positioning herself underneath the blankets and feeling as if there was something that had occurred here that she would never be able to get back. Memories, especially erased ones, were funny like that. Always highlighting the ghosts of themselves just to torment you all the more. Clem bit her nails, sitting on her knees before decidedly walking into the small, cramped kitchen that Joel possessed. Pulling a yellow bowl from the cupboard she poured Coco Puffs and milk, pulling out a dimmed spoon afterward. Taking a bit she plopped onto the couch again. Her Agent Orange hair feathered around her face, framing it as the doorknob turned to reveal the most disheveled Joel Barish she had ever seen in her life. Except when he was drunk. When he was drunk was always an exception. He was the almost worst drunk, well she was too, but unlike him she was more inclined to admit it. Clementine grinned, popping up off the couch,” Doughnuts? For me? Well, you sir are too kind,” The man laughed as she peppered his cheeks with kisses, whispering,” I’m glad you stayed.” He nodded, he’d heard the line several times over the last two months but his ears never tired of it. “I’m glad I stayed too.” Taking a bite of the doughnut she hastily set it down, pulling his arm as she fell onto the couch, him sitting beside her. She let the silence swell for a moment,” Doesn’t it feel familiar?” She asked. “Like we’ve been here before and there’s so many thoughts and conversations — and fights that have happened and we’ll never be able to recreate them?” Blinking Clem continued,” So many rainy days and moments of heartbreak just — proof — gone — like they never existed in the first place? I guess that’s all right and all, I mean we’ve sure have many more conversations and fights to be had — but doesn’t it feel like we’re missing something unattainable. Like we’re this intricate puzzle that’s lost a few pieces?” “You really think that?” Joel asked. Clementine nodded,” It’s like we’re toggling between who we used to be as a couple and us now — with this fresh start and we have yet to decide which path we want to commit to. If we commit at all -- knowing me we'll probably be stuck in this state of limbo for years.” "That'd be all right with me."