[ Maruki's silent for a few moments after that kiss, that benediction. His throat constricts, a cough building up in his lungs, but it's the searing pain at the base of his skull that really makes itself known. Difficult to tell if it has anything to do with the disease at all.

Nothing is impossible, Maruki knows that better than anyone. He's seen visions of lives never lived on those alcove walls. But in any reality where he has this same power–

That's a future that never comes to pass.

And it'll never be anyone's fault but his own. ]

Thank you. I am too.

[ Blood pools at the back of his tongue.

This started because he asked if Dolph knew why memory is so important to him. He has to be honest. He has to. ]

I should... clarify, though. Rumi isn't dead. Our relationship didn't end badly. She's living a good life now.

[ Another icepick stab through his nape, driving up into soft tissue and gray matter. Maruki squeezes his eyes shut, forces out the petal-strewn words. ]

I told you before that I can give people what will make them happiest. That's how I found out. We suffered a terrible tragedy together, and Rumi was never able to recover from it. She begged me to help her forget, so– I did. Without knowing what I was doing, I made her forget the horrible things that happened to her, but–

[ So. What does it cost? ]

She forgot our life together too. She doesn't remember me, and she never will.

[ The worst pain and regret of his life, and he would never change a thing. Would do it again, in fact – and again, and again, and again.

The vines in his chest unwind, and he breathes easy for the first time all afternoon, but he doesn't feel better. Not at all. ]

When I vow to always remember, I mean it. Even if you forget every trace of me, I'll still remember you. It's what I do.