A Heart's Thoughts

Day 40 - Distorted

Matthew knocked softly on Clover's door before opening it. Clover sat on her chair next to the window, staring blankly up at the passing clouds.

He cleared his throat as he carefully sat down on the bed. "The police called. It's been two days since the accident, and they need to know what you want to do with the body."

Clover didn't answer and Matthew sighed, "look, Clover, I get how you're feeling, I really do, but it'd be cruel to Matthew as well to leave his body frozen for so long."

Clover remained silent for a short moment before she finally spoke, her voice barely audible. "how am I supposed to return and tell everyone I killed their friend?"

"You didn't kill him, Clover. Stop saying that. It wasn't your fault."

"It was."

Matthew made a frustrated sound as he ran a hand through his hair, "honestly, Clover, at this rate I'm not even sure my consciousness would let you go back in the first place."

"What do I tell his parents? What if I make the wrong choice again and disappoint them further?"

Matthew stood up and grabbed Clover's arms, forcing her to look at him, "nothing was your fault, and nothing will be your fault when you return. I'm sure his parents will understand whatever choice you make. Just- don't lose yourself like this. You came here for a reason and now that Matthew is gone, you just have even more motivation to solve whatever problem you two were concerned about."

"Julian is in our timeline."

Clover's unrelated words caught Matthew off guard and he took a step back from her, his eyes wide. Clover seemed unfazed and turned back to the window.

"Wait, what do you mean 'Julian is in your timeline'? Are you talking about the Julian you know?"

Clover shook her head, "Julian, your friend. The one who disappeared. He's in my timeline."

Matthew furrowed his brows as he processed her words and he lifted a hand as he closed his eyes, "wait, wait, how are you so sure? Wait, no, why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"We only just found out. Apparently, it wasn't noticeable to Matthew before he came here and saw what your life frequencies are like."

Matthew opened his eyes again, staring in disbelief at Clover, "and you're telling me this as if you're reading it off a grocery list? We have to tell the others and hurry to save him!"

"You can't!"

Clover's sudden outburst stopped Matthew in his tracks to the door. "Why not?"

For the first time since the other Matthew's death, he could see a sparkle in Clover's eyes.

"Because he might be dangerous. We met Julian a few months after he disappeared from this timeline. Our government- the Ministry- keeps a very close check on every single person in the city. Julian is enrolled in our University and works closely with the Ministry, so there's no way they wouldn't have known of his true identity."

"Okay, but that doesn't mean he's dangerous, right? Maybe they just decided to help him out since he had no way of returning home?"

Clover huffed, "I wish. The Ministry is vicious. It doesn't know kindness, only economical profits. If it doesn't benefit them, they won't spare it a single glance."

Matthew shook his head, "no, whatever you're saying, the Julian I knew would never be a danger to others. Sure, he tended to do some reckless things while experimenting, but he's not dangerous to anyone more than he is to himself."