Imagination

Tenth Encounter

"Navin? Navin, what's wrong?"

Navin hugged his legs and turned his face away from her.

"Nothing." His voice was muffled.

"Well, something is wrong." Aviva sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around him. "Can you tell me?"

Navin relaxed into her and sniffed, wiping the tears from his face.

"Corda died." he whispered. Aviva had to restrain herself from jerking away in surprise.

"Navin, I'm so sorry," she said, trying to have a sympathetic voice, "But......are you sure?" How can a Figment die?

"She died." Navin sniffed again. "She disappeared."

"Oh, Navin." Aviva couldn't think of anything else to say. He must really believe she's dead. But he must have had to imagine Corda was killed. Why would he do that? Can I get him to think that Corda is alive, so Corda is alive again?

"Navin, just imagine Corda is alive," Aviva said carefully, "Do you think she would like you crying?"

"She isn't alive."

"Imagine she is! Think that she is flying to you right now to play."

"But she died! She died and it's your fault." He tucked up his legs and rested his head against them, facing away from her.

Aviva didn't know what to say. It's my fault?

"Navin, what do you mean...."

He stood up abruptly. Aviva could see tears welling in his eyes.

"You said they're just my imagination. That I was making them all up. I didn't believe you, but when I went outside I couldn't find Corda. I looked everywhere. I even tried imagining her, as if she were just a figment of my imagination, like you said. But I couldn't even see her that way." Navin sniffed, tears slowly trailing down his cheeks. "And now, all the Figments are gone."