Shoelaces

Raindrops

"But you could have lived during a time when people looked like this," Haley gives a twirl in her gigantic Victorian ballgown, which I have to admit is pretty pretty. Her hair is even in the signature style for the time period.

"Well, yeah, but then dying at eighteen wouldn't have been such a shock," I joke while taking a bite of my churro.

"And, Disneyland hadn't been created yet," Alex adds, gesturing to the theme park we are currently walking through. To give it an authentic vibe, a bunch of hologram-guests roam the park around us with fairly authentic screaming and crying hologram-babies, along with hologram "cast members" the work at the rides or food stands.

"Disneyland, shmisneyland. The only good thing about this place is the fake children crying about not getting a new toy and the fact the Gaston actor is always hot," Haley groans.

"Hey, I'm right here!" Alex yells.

"I'm with Haley on this one," I add, quietly, causing Haley and Alex to both laugh. Going to Disneyland for the day has actually been quite fun, and it's even nicer without having to pay the obscene prices or waiting in any of the lines. All the hologram-guests are more than happy to let you cut in line. We walk slowly, finally getting back to the front entrance.

"Okay, I guess I have to get back to EarthVisit. Some of the other hosts have complained that I'm sometimes missing," she rolls her eyes. "So, obviously, I told them to suck it. But I guess I might kinda feel a little sorry for the limbs that want to us it." She starts to walk off from us, waving us goodbye. "Good seeing you, Darrion." She pauses and looks straight at Alex. "And, I'll see you later, big man. Maybe change into one of those Gaston costumes, though."

"Wait!" I yell out before she can get too far. "I was thinking I might want to visit again. It's been a few, really, uh, several months since the last time I visited, so- I don't know."

"Yeah, of course, Darrion. Just follow me. You can follow too, Alex, if you insist."

We walk together to the EarthVisit room, always just one flight of stairs away. During the short walk, we continue to joke about Disneyland, about the day we just spent together. And it's nice. The afterlife is nice. Alex and Haley are nice. Rebecca is nice. I could get used to this.

Haley unlocks the door of the room, ushering me and Alex inside. The room is familiar, nothing has changed since the last time I visited Santi. That's not to say that Santi hasn't changed since then. Every day he seems to be recovering a little bit more, which makes me recover a little bit more in response. When he's feeling down, I feel down. When he's feeling better, I am too. A few weeks ago, he went to that spot of the mountain he took me too. It was just as beautiful as the last time I saw it. I think he's still looking for me, but I also think he's re-finding himself at the same time. It's clear in the way that he talks; it's with emotion now. I guess he's starting to talk like Santi again, instead of just a shell. Another thing that has helped is Jazmine has been calling him more often. She updates him on her life and tells him to visit her in North Carolina. He always says he'll think about it. They always chat about random things, to start off at least. Jazmine brings up a new TV show she watched or a funny story from a party she went to. I laugh along with them. But, the conversation ends up drifting to me. During the first calls, I used to watch, my eyes glued to the EarthVision screen. But, after a few calls, I stopped watching. It felt weird, I guess. I invade enough into their lives, watching them whenever I want. I guess I just don't want to invade into my own.

But, yeah, Santi seems to be getting better, and I couldn't be happier for him. For me too, I guess. For the both of us. But I still miss him, every day. I miss him when I wake up and go to bed at irregular times that don't actually mean anything. I miss him, and I know I'll always miss him. Which is why I'm heading back down to Earth, for my second natural visit.