“The stream is beautiful”.

“One could say that”.

“You don’t think so?”

“I think it’s a stream. If beauty is one of the qualities inherent in labeling a flowing body of water as a ‘stream’, then yes, I’ll say it’s beautiful. But it’s just a stream. It starts somewhere up the hill, and it ends somewhere down the bottom, where it probably joins into something much larger, and much more significant than itself in the grand scheme of things”.

“No need to bite my head off, Lee”.

“I’m not”.

“I was just saying that the stream was beautiful, and you turned all asshole on me”.

“If you wanted to talk about nature, you should’ve chosen the green door”.

“There wasn’t a green door”.

“Exactly”.

“Oh… so let me guess? Feeling blue?”

“My, aren’t we clever today?”

“You’re being a dick again”.

“I know. I’m… I’m sorry”.

“Wouldn’t green be for envy then, to you know… continue the whole emotion theme?”

“…”

“Lee?”

“…”

“Earth to Lee…”

“…”

“Are you crying?”

“…”

“Lee?”

“…”

“Lee! Answer me! Don’t you dare do this to me again! Don’t you dare bring me with you here, start this all over again, and then just ignore me! Not after everything… not after… turn around damn it!

You know what? Fuck you!

Yeah, I said it. And I’ll say it again. Fuck you!

I’m not here to be a fucking pillar for you. I’m not the wall you can lean on. Not anymore. You can’t treat me like I’m just a sidekick in the great Lee Stone story. It doesn’t work that way. You’re 31 years old for Christ’s sake! It’s about time you realized that the world doesn’t revolve around you. Act your fucking age or I’m out of here!”

“…”

“Fine. Screw you”.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“Where’d the stream go?”

“…”

“Damn it Lee! What the fuck are you doing?”

“…”

“Oh shit! Lee! Get up! Come on, baby, please get up! I can’t do this without you! I know what I said, but I was just angry. I need you. Okay? I said it. I need you. And I need you to stand, sugar. Please… please… Lee, please get up!

Wait, where’d you get a bottle of Scotch from?

Lee!

You told me you quit! You told me we were past all of this! You promised!”

“…”

“I-I don’t know what to do”.

“…”

“Lee… I’m on my knees here. I need you to tell me what to do. You’re stronger than me”.

“…”

“Please Lee… please get up”.

“Hey honey”.

“L-Lee? A-Are you okay?”

“Sure? Why wouldn’t I be? You look sad. What’s wrong?”

“Y-you…”

“Come here. We can’t have tears messing up my queen’s mascara. Let me fix you up”.

“I-I…”

“Much better. Although in hindsight, I don’t think anything could damage your beauty. Would I were capable of such a feat, I would etch thy face amongst the stars so all the world could share in thy divinity. It doesn’t seem fair that I should have it all to myself”.

“S-Stop it”.

“Where are the boys?”

“Huh?”

“Connor! Anthony! Where are you two rascals hiding?”

“L-Lee, they’re…”

“They’re probably off planning some mischief with their uncle Token. I swear, that son-of-a-bitch is such a bad influence on them”.

“Lee!”

“What is it?”

“They’re dead Lee! Connor, Anthony, Token, they’re all dead!”

“What the hell has gotten into you? I just saw them a moment ago”.

“No, you didn’t. I don’t know what’s going on here Lee, but you did not see them. It’s just been us here, the entire time”.

“Right, well nice catching up with you again Shelly. Best of luck, and all that jazz. I better get home to the old lady”.

“Excuse me? I am the…”

“Mandy! I’m home!”

“Mandy? Tell me you did not just say that name!”

“Mandy? W-where’d you go, love?”

“Can you even hear me?”

“I love you Mandy”.

“What the fuck?”

“I love you Shelly”.

“…”

“Mum… I miss you so fucking much”.

“Oh my god… your mother too?”

“I need a drink”.

“No you don’t”.

“Ah, that hit the spot”.

“Don’t”.

“At least I’ve got you, eh Mr. Walker?”

“Lee, you’re not alone”.

“Me and you, and the hilarious adventures we get up to every night! This is the life!”

“I’m here Lee”.

“You don’t expect anything from me. That’s the best thing about you, Johnnie. I couldn’t let you down if I tried”.

“SNAP THE FUCK OUT OF IT LEE!”

“Want a drink?”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Is there anyone else here?”

“I… uh… what?”

“Your loss”.

“You’re a tool”.

“Oh come on. These are my dreams, babe. Don’t crush a brotha’s dreams. Because here, it’s just me and you, in this sea of blue. Heh, a little poetry for you. Swoon for me, baby”.

“I’d rather not”.

“Suit yourself. Let’s go”.

“Where?”