“So. I’m back.”

Liam and I were seated in the little kitchen. I sipped coffee, Liam sipped nothing. The ritual went well despite my fears but I was exhausted. A deep, bone-tired ache that permeated my body but each time I acknowledged it, I felt guilt. Liam would never feel that anymore. So I drank my coffee to stave off the ache.

“I’m sorry Liam.” I told him.

“No you’re not Des. Please don’t give me your regrets. I have enough of my own. But I swore an oath to you and I’ll stand by it.”

I didn’t know what to say to that so I said nothing.

He smiled at me. “It’s going to take some time to adjust to this… weirdness. I mean, I would really like some of that coffee. It smells delicious. But I know I can’t have it. I can’t eat anymore. I can’t sleep. If I touch the coffeepot I’ll barely feel the heat of it. I won’t ever need the loo. I can’t… I can’t…” His face crumpled and he slumped forward, his body shaking.

“Bollocks. I can’t even cry Des.” He raised his dry eyes to mine. “I’ll always be alone.”