//------------------------------//
// Chapter Thirteen 
// Story: Lasting Memories 
// by Boopy Doopy 
//------------------------------//

“Thank you for that, Thunderlane,” Charley said happily, hugging the stallion when the two landed. “God, I’m so tired from that. But it was nice.”
“It’s no trouble,” Thunderlane told him. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Also, it’s a good thing your wings were preened, because on a night like tonight, there were a lot of ponies out.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Charley rubbed a hoof behind his head as he said, “I still don’t see what the big deal with that is, but thanks anyway. I appreciate it.” He gave the stallion a kind smile, who returned it with one of his own. It sent a flutter through his heart like it always did, as well as sent a twinge of uncertainty through him. He didn’t know if it would be tomorrow or the next day he had to leave, but it would be difficult.
“Was there anything else we should do tonight?” he asked, blushing just a little bit as he asked the question. “Not that I have anything in mind, but if you do, I’ll take you up on whatever you want.”
“Thanks, but nothing that I can think of either,” Thunderlane replied. “Other than getting ready to say goodbye to you tomorrow, and helping you pack if you have anything to take with you.”
“No, I don’t have anything, but thanks for the offer.” He looked down at his hooves before he quietly said, "I wish I could stay with you here.”
“It’s okay, Charley. I’m not going to pressure you to stay. And actually, I’m gonna force you to leave because I do remember you asking me to force you to leave if you had second thoughts.”
“I did, and you better,” he said. “If I say something stupid, you have to make sure I leave, okay?”
“I’ll make sure. Now let’s head back. I still need to talk to Rumble and hit the hay.” He stretched and yawned, which made Charley do the same thing in response, as he said, “I’m glad to know a pretty mare like you, and I’m glad I got to be the first stallion you ever kissed.”
“Aaah, stop it!” Charley yelled with a gigantic blush on his cheeks as he hid his face in his hooves. “There might be ponies around us who could hear!”
“Then they’ll just have to hear about what a pretty mare you are,” Thunderlane laughed lightly as he put a wing around his companion. “Now come on. Let’s get out of here and head home.”
Charley walked with the stallion as he kept a wing on him, doing his best to not smile widely as he did. He hoped he could find someone as nice and amazing as Thunderlane in the afterlife. Or better yet, if Thunderlane was going to die eventually, meet up with him someday once he got there.
Unless he finds someone else before he gets to me, he couldn’t help but think, a thought that soured his mood a little bit. If preening was an intimate activity, and other mares said he was good at it, that meant that Thunderlane had other women to turn to after he left. With as charming and handsome as he was, there was no way he wouldn’t find somepony else by the time he died. Charley really was choosing between himself and the stallion.
And I’m gonna choose myself. I have to pick myself over him. I can’t live like this for the rest of my life, because it’s just gonna end the same way as last time. He wasn’t going to choose Thunderlane. He was going to choose himself.
It wasn’t long before the two of them got to the porch. They didn’t go inside immediately, Thunderlane taking the moment to turn Charley around and stare him in the eyes again. He started back happily, and before he knew it, another kiss was being planted on his lips. He couldn’t help but squeak happily as it was and lean in, wanting the moment to last forever. Sadly, the moment had to end so Thunderlane could speak again.
“I know I haven’t known you for that long, only a week,” the stallion told him, “but you’re a lovely mare, one of the best I’ve ever met. I’ll miss you wherever you go.”
“I’ll miss you too, Thunderlane,” Charley told him, sniffling a little bit and holding back tears. “You’re probably the best person I’ve ever met and the first person I’ve ever fallen in love with… and a good friend. I don’t know how I had no friends in an entire lifetime, or how you swooped in and picked me up when I told you not in spite of my attitude, but you’re amazing.”
“I try and be,” the pegasus chuckled. “Now let’s head inside now.”
“Yeah, I’m aching to get to bed… thank you for today. It was amazing.”
“No trouble.”
The two stepped inside with that, Charley not even noticing Rumble’s grumpy looks as he headed off to bed, feeling happier right then than he had in his whole life. He would be sad when he had to leave, but Thunderlane somehow made his life worth living, even if only for a few days. More than that, he’d been so kind and nice to him, and by the time Charley was done being in Equestria, Thunderlane was going to have given him the ability to be himself when he saw Death again just by being his friend.
He could safely say he loved Thunderlane like no other.



“You know he’s just playing you, right Thunderlane?” Rumble said flatly, not even bothering to look up at Thunderlane from his game as the stallion stepped into the room after putting Charley to bed. “I mean, it’s completely obvious anyway.”
“What are you talking about, little bro?” Thunderlane asked with a light laugh. “Charley’s not playing anypony.”
“Yes he is, and the pony he’s playing is you,” the colt said matter-of-factly. “I know so because he told me. So there.”
“What? When did he tell you that?” Thunderlane gave him a stern look, clearly not believing him, as he said, “You’ve barely said two words to him since he came over.”
“It was when you were gone yesterday. He came out into the dining room and said that he was using you. He didn’t explain how, but he said he was. I don’t know.”
“You probably misheard him or something, or if he didn’t explain himself, you didn’t understand what he meant exactly. Charley’s weird like that, dude.”
“Can't you see he’s manipulating you though?” the colt asked seriously. “He’s playing with your feelings with the way he’s acting! Trying to kiss you at the show and holding onto you and asking you to preen him and–”
“You saw that?” Thunderlane asked. “Don’t spy on us like that again! For real, that’s not okay!”
“Ugh, you’re missing the point, Thunderlane,” the colt said, rolling his eyes in annoyance. “He’s emotionally manipulating you and trying to play it off like you’re doing that to him. He told me that he was being manipulated by you when I asked why he was doing that to you.”
“He said I was manipulating him?”
“Yeah, he said you were playing with his emotions. The way he stomped out and slammed the door that day, he made it seem like it was a serious issue. He said he was using you though before that, but didn’t say how.”
“That… I can’t believe Charley said that. I don’t think he would do something like that.”
“Well, he did, and now he’s gonna leave tomorrow having gotten into your head and stuff. I told him to stop doing that, but he didn’t want to listen to me.”
“He’s not in my head, Rumble, but… did he really say that?” The idea that Charley would say something like that hurt him. He brought it up to Thunderlane before, but he didn’t think he was actually being serious, or if he was, that he wasn’t that bothered by it. Was he actually hurting him as badly as he said?
Was Charley trying to manipulate Thunderlane? He didn’t think he was the kind of pony, but now he had to wonder.
“He really did, and it’s annoying to see. But whatever. If you wanna keep being played, go ahead. I know both you and Charley think I can’t see what’s going on, but I can. I’m not an idiot.”
“Well… I don’t want to keep talking about this, Rumble,” he said quickly. “Just go to bed.”
“Whatever. Don’t believe me if you don’t want to.” He sighed and trotted off, leaving the stallion sitting alone in the living room, contemplating the meaning of what he said.
Charley couldn’t have been trying to manipulate him, could he? What was there to manipulate him about? He couldn’t think of anything, and certainly didn’t think Charley would do something like that. That didn’t necessarily mean he wasn’t, however. There were weird things about the way he acted. How he never specified where he was going, and the fact that he didn’t like being called a mare were odd enough, but didn’t mean anything. He could tell he was the kind of pony who didn’t like to put himself out there.
But those things in combination with the other weird things about him, like not knowing how to preen himself and almost seeming to go out of his way to flash his wings like he did last night, along with how quickly he fell for him and how, now thinking about it, he seemed like he was passively trying to pressure him. He knew the stallion was weird, but he wouldn’t do something like that, would he?
Even more importantly, Thunderlane wasn't manipulating Charley, was he? He certainly hoped not, but he wondered now.
It was certainly in his head, yes, especially with only a day left before Charley left.



Charley woke up early the next morning, stretching and yawning as he looked out at the just now rising sun. It was now seven days since he first entered Equestria– one full week– and no more than a day until he saw Death again. Death challenged him to make a friend, and Charley came to Equestria and did exactly what he said. He made a friend, and now he was going to be himself very soon. His heart was being out of his chest at the thought and he couldn’t help but smile widely as he got out of bed. He was going to be a woman soon.
One week. It had been one week since Thunderlane looked at him, too, sending those golden eyes his way. He couldn’t believe he was angry about it when he first saw the stallion. The second he saw the black pegasus, he knew how handsome he was, and it seemed that day by day, he’d fallen even more in love with him. It was unbelievable how nice this week had been just because of Thunderlane. He was so glad to know him, and his heart beat happily once again at the memory of the kisses he received from him.
He got out of bed and began cooking breakfast once again, the stallion he was cooking for walking into the kitchen a few minutes later. He had a smile on his face, but it felt different than the one he usually wore. It seemed more… sad. Or maybe worried? Either way, it made Charley nervous. He was worried about what he might say, and that he might break their agreement on asking him to stay.
“I made quiches this time,” he said simply as he placed that and hashbrowns onto a couple of plates. “You know I don’t like cooking, but I think these are well made. You should like them.”
“They look good,” he said politely, smiling up at him as the plate was set in front of him. “Thanks.”
Thunderlane was definitely being weird. Charley might have only known him for a few days, but he was acting strange. There was something about the way he spoke and his body language that said he had something on his mind. There was a good guess to be made as to what it was.
“What are you thinking about?” Charley asked as he sat down at the table, nervously looking Thunderlane in the eyes.
“Huh? Oh, nothing, sorry,” he got in a quick reply. The stallion shook his head and tried to put on his trademark smile, but Charley could tell it was different than normal. Something was bothering him.
“You’re not gonna ask me to stay, are you? Because you know that I can’t. As much as I like you, I can’t do that.”
“I know, I’m not gonna pressure you to stay.”
Charley could hear just the barest hint of anger in his voice as he said it. He wasn’t mad at him, was he? What did he do to make him angry? Was he just in a bad mood? Charley only got more and more nervous.
“What’s wrong, Thunderlane?” he asked. His voice was probably the quietest and most concerned it had ever been in his life.
“It’s nothing. Do you want to go for a walk after this?” He looked up, but didn’t smile anymore. He had a flat, unreadable expression, one Charley didn’t like. 
“Sure, I guess, but if you’re angry, I’d rather know right now,” he said. “If it’s about me using your food to make breakfast, I’m sorry. I just thought it was okay.”
 “It’s not that,” he sighed. “I– you– it’s just… can we go out walking, please?” he asked again. “I don’t want to do this in here.”
“You’re making me really nervous, but I guess…” Charley would guess the stallion was about to say he was breaking up if he was dating him. He didn’t seem like he was about to ask him to stay either. What could possibly have him so upset looking?
“Thunderlane?” 
“Yeah?”
“You’re really making me nervous,” Charley said again, making sure to look him in the eyes this time.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he apologized quickly. “Uhhhh, when are you leaving?”
“I don’t know, but probably soon. It’s… a complicated mess. Long story short, someone’s gonna be picking me up, to put it simply. I don’t know when though, but they’ll be here. I’d rather be gone by the time they get here though.”
“Okay. Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a walk with you now and talk to you before you have to leave.”
“Um, can we eat breakfast first, Thunderlane?” he asked. “What’s wrong? Just tell me now so I can be prepared for whatever you’re gonna say.”
“Sorry. We’ll eat. But I’ll tell you what’s on my mind when we go walking.”
“Ugh, whatever.” Charley shook his head as he picked up the fork to eat. He wanted to look annoyed, but he was very anxious about what this could possibly be about. He tried to think and see if he accidently upset him, but nothing came to mind. The stallion had been cool about the way he acted, and even said he found his abrasiveness attractive. What would’ve changed between last night and this morning? Did his little brother say something?
It was an awkwardly silent meal, one that stood out to Charley more than any other meal had in years. He occasionally looked up from his meal at the stallion to see him focused on the food, not returning his gaze. It only intensified his discomfort and anxiety, and he was extremely worried about what he would say.
They both finished their meals at about the same time, and wordlessly headed out the door. The sun was high in the sky, although most ponies were still indoors at this time. The sky was completely clear, a bright blue beautiful day being brought to the two of them. It would be a perfect scene for him to leave on if only Thunderlane would smile and wipe that flat expression off his face.
“Do you want to…” Charley tried to start, until he noticed the stallion wasn’t even paying attention to him. He was looking down at his hooves, as though considering what to say. It was making him extremely frustrated to see, and a large scowl formed on his own face because of it.
“What did I do that’s making you act like this?” he asked. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
The pegasus still didn’t look up, not yet anyway. Instead, he sighed again, and closed his eyes for a moment, gathering the words in his head and trying to force his question out. Charley stopped moving and stared intently at him until he finally spoke.
“Do you… think I’m trying to manipulate you?”
“Huh? Yeah. I mean, I guess a little bit. Why?”
He got a surprised look from the pegasus, one that made him look back at Thunderlane confused. “You really think I’m trying to manipulate you?”
“I mean, yes, but it’s not like that’s an issue. I don’t really care that you are. But yeah, I do think that.”
“Into doing what?” His voice was exasperated as he asked it, almost sounding offended by the notion, both that and hurt. He had a look on his face like he wanted a good explanation, one that took Charley aback. He really couldn’t see what the issue was.
“I don’t know, but you have been,” he replied factually. “I don’t care though, but that’s what it is technically. I know you like me, and I obviously like you, but–”
 “Then why are you saying things like that to my little brother?” he asked. “If you think I’m manipulating you, then talk to me. Don’t go around telling other ponies that. It makes me out to be somepony I’m not, and I don’t like it.”
“I really can’t understand what the big deal is,” Charley said, getting a bit annoyed himself. “It’s not like it’s some sort of issue. I manipulated you, you manipulated me. It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter! How can you say it doesn’t?” He had a look of utter disbelief as he asked, “How can you say I was manipulating you? How were you manipulating me?”
“Thunderlane. You’re making this into a bigger deal than it is and misinterpreting what I’m saying.”
“How am I misinterpreting it? If I am, then tell me how we were manipulating each other.”
“What do you call it when you do things like call me a mare in public or bring me into the air during your show or ask me for drinks the first time you ever see me or teach me how to fly and stuff? Cause that seems like manipulation to me.”
“I did those things because I like you, not to manipulate you or something! Except the drinking thing, but that was because you were laying on a bench outside all alone! I wasn’t trying to manipulate you. I chose to bring you in the air over Rumble! That should say something, shouldn’t it?”
“I’m not saying you don’t like me–”
“That’s what it seems like you’re saying,” Thunderlane asserted. “It sounds like your just trying to cover and say 'I manipulated you' as some final act of truth to me before you go. Like you never even liked me back."
“Okay, why would I do that on the last day I’m gonna be here?” he asked. “You’re not interpreting what I’m saying correctly at all, and it’s annoying because obviously I do like you.”
“Okay. Okay…” Thunderlane closed his eyes and took a breath to calm his nerves as he said, “Tell me what you’re saying. When you say ‘manipulate’, what do you mean?”
“I mean... It’s… it just- it’s just that! I don’t know how to describe it. It’s not like it's a bad thing, but it’s what happened. That’s just how it is.”
“I didn’t manipulate you, but apparently you’ve been manipulating me, so what do I know?”
“God! You’re not listening!” Charley sat down and put his head in his hooves as the black pegasus paced around, thinking over what he said. It was a long, silent moment before Charley spoke again. 
“Can we just forget about this and do something nice before I have to leave?” he asked. “I don’t want my last memory of you to be you all upset and angry like this over nothing.”
“I want to know what you’re talking about since you were the one who told my brother that I was manipulating you and you were manipulating me.”
“Please, Thunderlane? If you’re gonna take it out of context, I don’t wanna have this conversation.”
“How am I supposed to take it, Charley?” he asked. “What’s the context that I’m missing?”
“The context is that I’m gonna die again soon!” he yelled, looking up at Thunderlane. “I died once on Earth, and Death said before I can, like, pass on to the afterlife, I needed to make a friend because my soul is black or something and then sent me here. That’s what I mean when I say I had to manipulate you into being my friend. So that way when I see Death again, I can be a lady.”
“Okay, assuming that’s true, why are you using the word ‘manipulate’ to describe it?” The way Thunderlane asked, it made it seem like he was looking to find any explanation that told him what he wanted to hear. It only made Charley more upset though. He wished he could just see that he was making a big deal out of nothing. Where had this conversation even come from? It was so ridiculous!
“Because that’s what it was! I don’t know how to make friends like that! Or, I guess I do, but I just can’t! The way I act just puts people off, so I have to try and act a bit different to get people to be my friend. As evidenced by Pinkie Pie and the gray mailmare.”
“Do you understand how that’s a bad thing to say though?” Thunderlane asked. “That’s not something you can just casually say to ponies and have them brush it off, especially if you’re saying I did something like that to you, too.”
“You did though! You did it, too! When you go out of your way to make me fall in love with you, that’s manipulation! Especially when I tell you first thing that I don’t want to be picked up the way you picked me up!”
“I wasn’t trying to pick you up, Charley! I told you when you first tried to kiss me that I don’t like stallions! Do you really not understand the difference between just being friendly and trying to manipulate somepony?”
“You said you flew me around on your back during the show because you liked me! How is that not manipulation on your part?”
“Because I did like you, because you act like a mare! I didn’t tell you anything or try to make a move on you because I thought you were just a weird stallion before and it was making me uncomfortable to think about! Do you understand?”
Charley grunted and shook his head in annoyance. “Can we please just fucking drop it?” he asked. “If you’re gonna get worked up because you’re misinterpreting what I’m saying, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Whatever,” Thunderlane whispered, starting forward as Charley got up to follow behind him. 
It was painfully silent as they wandered aimlessly to the outer reaches of Cloudsdale, finding the edge of the city and sitting on a ledge above Ponyville. As they did, Charley couldn’t help but feel afraid. He was this close to having the week be done with, and within the span of a few minutes, it seemed like the friendship he had was slipping away, right out of his hands. 
He couldn’t say he was surprised. It wasn’t like this was the first time this happened. Everyone who tried to be friends with him like this always ended up resenting him by the end of it. What made Thunderlane different? He half expected to be in this position most of the week, even if he did start to let himself believe that he would actually be himself soon. Why would he ever think he’d be able to be himself? He never was before, except for a few moments in front of Death. He’d probably only get a few more minutes before the end. That would be nice at least, he figured.
The ponies in Ponyville that they saw looked like little ants moving about, going in and out of businesses and houses and things throughout their day as Charley and Thunderlane sat unmoving on the edge of the city. He couldn’t see their faces, but he had to assume that all of them were happy and smiling. It was all he saw on the faces of everypony here before, so why wouldn’t they be? They all had nice families who loved them and pictures on their butts to determine their destinies in life and got to be themselves every day of the week. They should’ve been happy.
Charley wouldn’t have been surprised if someone told him that the entire world was happy. Everyone in every single world beyond every single door Death led him past. All of them were happy except for him. And Thunderlane, too, considering the depressed look he wore.
They sat for a long time until eventually the sun began to set. It was an entire day Charley spent with Thunderlane by his side, but it felt all wrong. He wanted to be at a point where he was trying to choose between the pegasus and himself, and it felt like it was going to end up being neither of those options. He turned to look at the stallion, hoping to catch a glimpse of those nice, golden eyes he had, but Thunderlane remained focused on staring out at the scene in front of them.
“What do you mean you’re going to die?” he suddenly asked, making Charley jump in surprise. It caught him so off guard that it took him a second to process what he was saying.
“I mean that Death is gonna take me to some afterlife after this,” he explained. “I don’t know exactly how it’s gonna happen, but he told me to make a friend here in a week so that I could pass on. It’s really confusing, but…”
“And do you think I manipulated you into falling in love with me when you were only supposed to make a friend?” he asked quietly, finally turning to look at Charley. The stallion’s eyes took his breath away, and made him want to fall into him and never let him go. He had to hold back tears as he looked into the stallion’s soul, seeing the sadness and hurt Thunderlane had. Of course, he felt bad about the idea of hurting him. It made Charley feel downright terrible to think his words brought this on. The ending to this week wasn’t going how it was supposed to at all.
“Thunderlane, you’re not listening to what I’m saying,” Charley told him, pleading with him to get it. Why did he have to say anything in the first place? Why did this have to happen right now?
“We both manipulated each other. It’s not a big deal. I promise.”
“I… I’m gonna go,” he sighed as he stood up. “I’m sorry if I made you feel bad, Charley.”
“Don’t go, Thunderlane.” Charley grabbed his wing the same way he did the mailmare’s at the beginning of the week. Right now though, it felt like more than just holding onto a pony. Somehow, he realized it was him holding on to life.
“It’s not a big deal. You didn’t hurt me. You’re just misinterpreting what I’m saying! That’s all!”
“I’m gonna go,” he whispered, pulling away. “I know you said you don’t want me to put you in a position to choose between yourself and me, and I promised I wouldn’t make you do that."
“Thunderlane, please…” How in the world had it gotten to this point? Wasn't he just kissing him last night? And now Thunderlane was staring into his eyes, feeling terrible that he might have hurt him.
There were no more words spoken as the stallion took off, leaving Charley sitting alone on the ledge.
Of course, this happened, and of course, it had to be at the last second. Why am I not surprised? Oh yeah, because it’s how everything ends up with me. What the fuck is wrong with me?
Apparently everything, since he barely even tried to make friends with anyone else, and the ones he did try to make friends with, he screamed at and cursed out. And now Thunderlane was upset with himself because of a dumb miscommunication error with Charley. Why didn’t he just lie and say he didn’t say that? Why couldn't Thunderlane just get it in his head that it wasn’t that big of a deal?
Because the issue is with you and your lack of fucking social skills, you fucking idiot. After everything, you deserve to be in this position. It’s what you get for not knowing how to even talk to people.
Charley sighed and closed his eyes, his breathing getting faster and faster and his body starting to shake until he screamed out loud in frustration. He fell down onto his back and put his head in his hooves as the angry tears streamed down his face. It was mostly at himself for not knowing what to say or do or how to talk to anyone. Maybe Death was right when he first talked to him. He had to be. Maybe it was his fault that his parents didn’t love him and that he worked a dead end job and has an ex-wife who didn’t want to see him. It was because he just didn’t know how to act. 
It was now his fault that Thunderlane was hurting as he felt awful for something Charley tried to convince him he didn't do.
A little bit of it was at Thunderlane and his foolishness, too. Why did he have to be so sensitive and care about Charley so much? So much that he probably fucked up his last chance to be happy over something so stupid. Why couldn’t they have just been friends? Or at least never notice that he was a mare. Things would be different right now if that was the case.
Can’t you fucking see that I’m an idiot, Thunderlane? he asked internally as he cried. You know I love you. You know I Iike being around you. Why can’t you just see that I’m dense as fuck and don’t know how to talk to people? You didn’t hurt me!
“And you’re still alone,” a familiar voice said. Charley was still crying when he heard it, and didn’t even bother to wipe his eyes as he looked up at Death. The look on his face was one of bitter disappointment as he stared right down at the pony before him. Charley’s heart beat out of his chest as he lay in front of him.
“I don’t believe I need to ask how it went,” Death said flatly. “Your face says it all. You failed, just like I suspected you would. I hoped you would prove me wrong though, but I’m not surprised.”
“I did prove you wrong!” he said back tearfully. “I made a friend! Thunderlane!”
“The friend that abandoned you not just a moment ago because of your actions?”
“I didn’t do anything! It was just a miscommunication! He doesn’t hate me! He’s my friend, and I… I love him…” He closed his eyes and sniffled as he turned away, whispering, “I’m so in love with him. There’s no one else I’ve ever been more attracted to.”
“That’s all well and good, but does he care about you?” Death asked. “Someone who cares would be by your side when you ask them to stay, but I watched him leave in spite of your pleading. That’s not care from what I can see. Will he remember who you are once it’s over for you?”
“Yes! He will! He won’t…” Who has he kidding? Thunderlane would just find someone else and spend time with them and forget about Charley. Death was absolutely right.
“I love him though… I made a friend,” he said quietly. “I did exactly what you said and made a friend. It’s not my fault that I was born with the worst luck possible. Just give me one more day and I can fix this.”
“You’re already well past due to be gone,” Death replied. He had a bit of sympathy in his voice, sympathy mixed with indifference somehow. His voice made it seem like he wanted to come here and have this be a happy ending.
“I told you before that you lasted so long in that hospital ward because I fought to get you an extension while I looked for someone who cared about you. You’re weeks past due to be done. I can’t give you one more minute.”
“Please don’t do this…”
“I have to do this,” Death sighed. Then he tapped his hip with his scythe, silently calling him to get up.
Charley didn’t resist, tearfully getting up and making his way over as Death conjured up a door, opening it to reveal the room with a thousand others they passed through on their way here. He watched Death step through, then turn to beckon Charley forward with his eyes.
It’s your own damn fault for all of this… you can’t even keep someone you actually love, someone who loves you. You’re getting exactly what you deserve right now.
Charley wiped his eyes and stepped through.