Kilmy: The Indomitable

17/ Love, Memories, and Moving Forward

"Hey," Ilon pokes his head in, glancing between us. "Wanna drink?" He pushes the door open farther and shows us the wine bottle he has in his grasp. He also has two wine glasses. "Sorry, Mila. I didn't know you were in here or I would have brought you one."

"Don't worry. I can use my water glass."

"We definitely need a drink," Landa says.

He joins us and fills up our glasses. "So what are you two fine ladies up to?"

Landa downs her cup, holding it out for more.

She seems to like alcohol. I must admit that I'm not a fan. I enjoy the moment but the drink is not particularly good.

Ilon doesn't hesitate to refill it.

"We're talking about our past," Landa finally informs him after she drinks half of her second cup.

"Oh, about love?" he intones in a high pitched voice.

"Have you fallen in love, Ilon?" I blurt out before I can help myself.

Ilon hesitates, biting his lip. He seems to be in deep concentration. "Yes, I have."

His confirmation makes me question how many more people have fallen in love but can't do anything about it.

"What's it like?" My eyes travel between my two friends, my eyebrows scrunching together. "To be in love?"

"When you fall in love with a person, you fall in love with their soul first," Ilon replies. "You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not."

That sounds amazing.

To love someone freely sounds like a dream.

"But sometimes the person you love doesn't love you, or not in the right way. It is sad to love without being loved in return," Ilon adds.

Memories of Gilbert surface but I shove them aside.

That was nothing compared to what Ilon and Landa seemed to have shared with someone.

Wen I saw Ilon for the first time, I thought I was a boy who has been preserved by life, His appearance was so neat, but listening to him talk now tells me otherwise. His eyes are rooted in a deep sadness which perhaps says a lot about its history.

And I only heard part of his story.

When Ilon's hand raises to press his glass against his lips, I notice a shining silver watch.

"Where'd you get that?" I ask him, nodding towards the beautiful watch. I haven't noticed it until now. "Is it new?"

He glances down at it, a small smile touching his lips. "Waldor gave it to me the other day."

That's all he said.

A part of me stung with that revelation.

But why, Mila?

Landa takes another sip of her wine, humming. "We don't talk about our past much around here," she informs me. "What's done is done. We can't change that. All we can do is move forward."

I guess that means our conversation is over.

Landa yawns, covering her mouth.

"We should let Landa get some rest," Ilon says, pointedly looking at me. "I figured you could use wine to sleep."

"Thank you, Ilon. Thank you, Mila." Landa murmurs, yawning again. "I appreciate it."

I follow him out, gently closing the door behind me.

My head spins with the revelations I received tonight.