III; voice | something's changed...

[dadenergy]

[Those who know Aaron will likely recognize the voice, though there's something different in the quality, something harder but no less kind. He's also much less hesitant, direct.]

Good afternoon, everyone. Something...happened last night to Eric and I that I felt we should all be aware of. [There's a scoff before he continues. It's still a process to compute that 'last night' he was 6 years younger, and that so much time has passed and yet it hasn't.] Last night, he and I went to sleep and we dreamed of home, not just in the sense that we were homesick, but things happened, some things others from my world have told me would happen, exactly the way they said they would happen, and when we woke up, there was...physical evidence to go along with those memories.

[He takes a breath and allows that to sink in for a moment.]

In the span of one night here, 6 years passed for me, so if I'm a little...off, I'm adjusting. I just thought you all should be aware this can happen. The Sphere...neglected to mention that.

Comments

[gristle]

Aaron.

[That is her don’t pull that adult bullshit on me voice.]

[dadenergy]

Bev...

[He breathes a sigh.]

Okay. Things...aren't great, but they could be worse. [I think.] I'm still me. Eric's still Eric.

[gristle]

Okay. And you're both still here.

[The most important thing, honestly.]

[dadenergy]

We are, yeah.

[He nods.]

And so are you. We'll be okay.

[gristle]

Yeah. We will be. I know it.

[or she’s trying to anyway.]

[dadenergy]

It's okay. You don't have to know it right now. Time takes care of that.

[gristle]

Adults always say that.

[dadenergy]

Sometimes it's the truth. I can tell you it's going to be okay all day long, but until it is and there's a pattern of it being okay are you going to believe me?

[gristle]

[there’s a long pause before she just replies:]

Yeah. Okay.

[dadenergy]

[He doesn't say anything for a moment.]

You know. Sometimes we say because we need to believe it, too.

[gristle]

I know. I’m trying. I really am.

[dadenergy]

I know, Bev, and you're good at it.

[gristle]

Really?

[She sounds dubious at best.]

[dadenergy]

Better than you probably realize, yeah.

[gristle]

Okay.

[She still doesn't sound like she believes it, but she's going to just let it go.]

I'll be there soon, okay?

[dadenergy]

Sounds great.

[And his voice is gentle when he continues.]

I'll let Eric know.