[ the light curiosity of the discussion betrays the mood for what he knows it’ll come down to– why he’s avoiding it so avidly… he doesn’t remember now, when the time to face his reality is already here, and already weighing down his heart– but ultimately he knows, it’s because it isn’t the version of this conversation he expected to have. these weren’t the circumstances he’d be in when he finally had to reveal he was dying.

considering the anxiousness he feels, he might just lie about that, as inconsequential as it is, but for now, he just speaks the truth. he smiles. ] I’m afraid not. I’ve been going through the literature that was left here, you see. [ his voice grows just a bit quiet. ] It’s important to try to understand this place as best as we can...