[ He waits while she speaks and then finally moves to sit on the steps, too. He can't sit on the same level as her because of the width of the emergency steps, but he does go below her, sits a bit to the side so he can finally try and look at her. He waits a beat while he gets settled, then offers: ]
I know it was what you always feared, but we both knew it was possible. It could have been you, it could--was--me in the end but. If it had been the other way, I would have felt that too.
So if you're going to doubt what I feel, what should I be doing? [ Then even quieter: ]
What should we be doing, because forever isn't real, is it? Is this not enough for you?
[ You aren't dead, Athena, and that means a lot more than she could probably know, too. ]
stabs in the kokoro
I know it was what you always feared, but we both knew it was possible. It could have been you, it could--was--me in the end but. If it had been the other way, I would have felt that too.
So if you're going to doubt what I feel, what should I be doing? [ Then even quieter: ]
What should we be doing, because forever isn't real, is it? Is this not enough for you?
[ You aren't dead, Athena, and that means a lot more than she could probably know, too. ]