2020-02-21 - The Only Way Out Is Through

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Hey, Bella. I heard about what happened to you on Valentine's Day. Lilith and I experienced something similar.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : Yeah. I wanted to check in but I figured the two of you would be recovering. I figured we saw the two of you there for a reason.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : You okay? What about Lil?

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : We're alive. Still a little shaken over our experience.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Trying to get Lilith's confidence back.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : So the same thing happened to the both of you? Did you have to kill one another in order to get out?

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Alexander told me that you both aren't... well, that he's been avoiding you due to his guilt. I'd ask whether that was true or not, but he's not the sort to lie. And if he were, he wouldn't be a good liar.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : (....)

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : If that was the way to get out, then yes. That was the end result.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : It's true. It was the one thing I knew couldn't happen between us. I wasn't able to prevent it.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : When Gohl was going on, we stayed apart in the summer for that reason.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : I told him that it's good to be cautious, but he was crazy if he thinks that this is what he really wants. Lilith regretted doing something similar back in the day.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : You're kind to worry about us.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I'm worried about the both of you also. This winter's been especially bad for everyone.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I don't think...it has less to do with him knowing or not knowing what he wants. It's just that he can't trust himself to keep it and with good reason.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : To keep what? To keep himself from trying to kill his friends? And those closest to him?

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : That's why Lilith ditched me all those years. For that very same reason.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : To keep what he wants, and he wants connections more than anything. So yes, that, in a way.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : It doesn't help. It just brings about loneliness and resentment.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I don't know what this means for us, but I continue to hope anyway. I never wanted to be safe, Ronnie. You know that better than anyone else I know. But I know...or at least came to realize in the last few days that doesn't matter. I can't...and nobody can force him. This is something he has to work out for himself.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : Though it could be me, also. Maybe I'm not capable of reaching him. I don't know.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : How are YOU feeling? You tried to kill him too, didn't you?

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I did. I didn't try hard enough. It was difficult...he had his face and I...

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : But when I saw the door solidify with every hit, I thought...if I could just damage him enough, I could make a break for it.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : I think... I think he thought that you were trying to save him. Did that happen?

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : If he knew that he had this urge to kill him too, he can't blame himself completely.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I tried to use his body to throw him through the door so I could get out too. I wasn't sure what...all I knew was that he was trying to kill me and I obviously couldn't let that happen. So when I saw the door solidify, I tried to toss him through it to break it down so I could run.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : Fat lot of good that did, really.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : When I was fading into unconsciousness, I saw him turn back into himself. I was relieved, but I wasn't thinking of saving him that entire time. I didn't know it was him. I just wanted to get out so I could try to find him and save him.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : After I killed Lilith, I just went ballistic. Tried to shoot all of my clones. They were laughing at me, taunting me.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : Oh, B. I'm sorry.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : I can't help but have this feeling like, I don't know, a part of her might still be there? Do you feel like you're missing a part of you?

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : It's probably nothing and after recovering from her shellshock, I'm sure she'll be fine. She just needs rest right now. And comfort. That's what I'm giving her.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : Always, but not from that incident. Well...no. That's not true. I felt hollow ever since but I think that has largely to do with Alexander running away from me.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I'm glad you didn't leave her. That you're there for her.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Leaving Lilith was never an option. I hope that Alexander realizes this before you move on and find someone more your speed.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : And highly successful.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I'd like to interpret all of this as you starting to care about him in your own way, even if it's only a little, and that the two of you are finding some manner of equilibrium after your rocky history.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : But thanks, Ronnie. I...

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : You know how I am. I don't know how to let go. I never learned.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Alexander Clayton has his uses. But obviously, above anything else, I care about you, Izzy. And I know that his being distant isn't helping you any.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : He's trying his best to stay away but...he's keeping a bead on my movements. At least once a day, I think.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I try not to notice. I'm...I would take that than nothing.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : I don't know what to do.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : I'll check in with him when I can. See what he intends to do. Right now, I also have someone who needs reassurance that she's no danger to me. And that she won't bring out the worst in me. Dream trauma. As for myself, I just keep telling myself that I would never hurt Lilith. How many times has it been already though? Twice? And that fact still doesn't keep me away. Maybe Alexander has the right of it. 😉

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : You know as well as I that would never happen. Even when the two of you were supposedly in the outs, you kept tabs on her. I think you should count it as a sign of my devotion to you as a friend that I haven't told Alexander about your own stalker past. ::winky emoji::

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Sorry about your Valentine's Day. And the fact that you and Alexander were compelled to try and kill each other. I'm sure everything will sort itself out. They just need time and for their friends to not give up on them.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : (...)

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Look, we'd run into each other every so often. Everything was coincidental. Honest.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : But I hope you know that I do, too. Care about you, and Lil. I think we're all just trying to deal the best we can - it's not like we didn't know winter was going to be terrible. And yeah, well. It was our fault, I think. We could have been genre savvy enough to try and have a date outside of the city limits. But no. We had to stay here, like idiots.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : ::laugh emoji:: Alright, Ronnie. If you say so.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask, alright? And yeah, we should've left. You have this opportunity to do so. If you can, take Clayton with you.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : If I can. If I can't...

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : Anyway, I will. Ask. You too, please. Whatever the two of you need, please let me know. Would help me too, yeah? To keep busy.

(TXT to Byron) Isabella : Goodnight, B. Take care of each other.

(TXT to Isabella) Byron : Good night to you too. We'll get through this. Sweet dreams.