Love Never After

“What are you so scared of? Come on! I’ll even go with you.”

“Really? But you hate feeling out of control.”

"Don't worry. I’ll be fine. You need to do this.”

“Okay…here I go.”

“Why aren’t you going? I told you you’d be fine.”

“I’m sorry. I just can’t…it’s too much.”

“Sigh. Alright. We’ll try it again.”

“You know I love you.”

“I do. Why are you saying this?”

“Becuase, I want you to know that one day I’m going to marry you one day. And we’ll have a perfectly average house, a perfectly average family with perfectly average jobs. And then we’re going to have perfectly average deaths in each other’s arms.”

“Sounds like the best life ever. Can’t wait to be perfectly average with you forever.”

“How about we start now?”

“I have news.”

“Yes?”

“Our family is growing.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“This is great! We’ll be perfectly average parents that’ll love so much you can drown in it.”

“There’s no one else I’d rather do this with.”

………

“Chris?”

“Christ!”

“Christopher!!”

“I’m sorry, but your wife isn’t here.”

“What? Like, not here currently? But..she is. She’s always with me.”

“I’m sorry, but this Loren you speak of? There’s no record of her anywhere. No birth certificate. No social security. Nothing.”

“No…no that’s impossible. She’s right here. Don’t you see? Tell ‘em, Lor.”

“I’m sorry but I can’t.”

“Why not? I know you’re shy, but these people won’t hurt you. Just tell them you’re here!”

“No, Chris. I mean I can’t. They’re right. I never was a real person.”

“What? Then how do we have a daughter? Our son? This isn’t funny, Loren. You’re my wife and I’m your husband.”

“No. You’re just a man who made us up to keep you company.”

“Oh. Oh, I see. You’re just mad at me because I haven’t been giving you attention.”

“CHRIS! You’re not listening! I’m. Not. Real.”

“Christohper. It’s okay. Many people do this. We just have to fix you.”

“But, I don’t want to be fixed! I want my wife and kids.”

“They’re not real. We are. And you’ll thank us later.”

“It was fun, Chris. It’s time for me to leave, though.”

“Where are you going?”

“Wherever I’m needed.”

“Oh. Well, goodbye Loren. I love you.”

“Goodbye, Chris.”

“See you on the other side, Christopher."

“Hi. I’m Loren. And you must be…”

“Joshua. But call me Josh.”

“Josh. What a nice name.”

“Is it too forward to say that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve seen?”

“Not at all. I thought the same of you when I saw you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Um…do you think I could call something other than Loren?”

“Of course. Call me whatever.”

“Okay. I’m going to call you Monica.”

“I love it.”

“Are you sure we should be doing this?”

“Absoulety not. But that’s why we’re doing it, right?”

“Of course.”

“So…on three we’ll jump.”

“Together?”

“Always.”

“You’re not scared?”

“Not when I’m with you.”

“Aw, Moni. You’re so sweet.”

“I know.”

“So I’ve been thinking.”

“I’ve realized.”

“We’ve been hanging out every day for nearly two years.”

“Best two years of my life.”

“I agree.”

“But…I want more.”

“More?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t mean marriage and kids, do you?”

“Is that a problem for you?”

“Well…no. But that’s what EVERYONE wants. It’s a little cliche honestly.”

“It’s cliche to want to start a family with the woman I love?”

“You love me?”

“You know I do.”

“Do I?”

“What are you saying?”

“Nothing. Ignore that. I’m just going to sleep.”

“How dare you!”

“How dare me? How about how dare you?”

“You kissed another man!”

“Oh please. It was barely a kiss. Just a peck.”

“And that makes it better?”

“How about you, Mr. Self righteous? I saw you practically humping that woman.”

“I was not!”

“Your hips were swaying against her body!”

“Maybe because you never give me more than a kiss!”

“Sorry that I don’t want to give myself away to a man who can even be faithful!”

“You didn’t.”

“Oh, I did.”

“My father was right. Never fall for pretty girls.”

“You’ll be back at my feet tomorrow.”

“I won’t.”

“Joshua? Joshua, it’s not real. I need you to tell me where you’re at.”

“You weren’t going to tell me? I never asked for this!”

“Oh so I’m just supposed to bend to your every beck and call like a dog? Yeah, cause that’s how a man should treat his woman.”

“I’m sick and tired of this! I ask so little of you and you can’t even give me what I want.”

“What about what I want?”

“Monica, let’s not pretend you’re here for any reason but to give me what I want.”

“Oh my, you’re disgusting and a pig. I can’t believe we have a child together!”

“We what?”

“Oh. Yeah. I should've mentioned that…”

“You must be joking.”

“No.”

“So there’s a baby in you?”

“Yep.”

“Even though you didn’t want one.”

“Yes.”

“So you did this for me.”

“Look who finally caught up.”

“Joshua, they have no power over you. You can come back.”

“She loved me…she really loved me.”

“Who? Who really loved you, Joshua?”

“Mon…Monica. My lovely partner. She gave us a child even when she didn’t want one.”

“We’re losing him. Give me the sedative.”

“He’s gorgeous.”

“Yeah, he sure is.”

“And he looks just like you.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

“I’m sorry we fought.”

“It’s alright. It’s in the past. We have this guy now.”

“We sure do. And I’m never going to leave you guys again.”

“Okay.”

“Good. You’re awake. I need you to tell me about Monica and your son.”

“Charlie? He’s here.”

“No, Joshua. Neither is Monica. Just us. We’re here to help you.”

“Help me find my son?”

“Joshua, you’re not listening. They’re not here.”

“Charlie’s right behind you. You don’t see him?”

“They can’t see me either.”

“What? That’s crazy. You’re so beautiful they’d have to be blind not to see you.”

“...that’s just it.”

“What? What are you not telling me?”

“Josh, I didn’t want you to find out like this.”

“Find what out? Where is my son?”

“Josh, you never had a son.”

“That’s crazy. He’s an eleven year old boy who looks just like you, Monica.”

“How do I say this? Josh, we’re not real. We’re just your imagination.”

“That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard.”

“It’s not funny.”

“But…what about rock climbing? What about swaddling Charlie and being covered in his vomit day in and day out?”

“Those are just scenarios in your head, Joshua.”

“No..they’re real. They have to be.”

“Joshua! Come back to us.”

“What are you going to do to me?”

“We’re just going to help you relax, that’s all.”

“What about Monica and Charlie?”

“You’ll have to let them go.”

“No. No. I refuse. They’re mine and I’m not leaving them.”

“You’re not leaving us. We’re leaving you.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’m no longer needed here.”

“Yes you are!”

“Soon, you’ll feel much better Josh, I promise.”

“Oh, okay…If you think that’s best.”

“Goodbye, Joshua.”

“Bye, Monica. I’ll always love you and Charlie.”

“I know.”