The Oblivion Walker

Sitting besides Kali's bed, I looked out the window, looking to the stars. Then, I turned to Kali sleeping. I did nothing but stare.

After a few minutes of me looking at him, his eyes opened.

"Are you alright June?"

"Yeah. How about you? You really even sleeping?"

"I don't know." Their pupils hid any and all intent, their expressions, mannerisms, always the same.

"Well I'mma take that as a no. So do you feel tired?"

"No."

"Hey Kali, say, if there were five people who were gonna die and you had the choice to stop them from dying, but someone else would die, what would you pick? Let's say, these are all people you don't know."

"I would let the five die."

"Oh? Really? Why now?"

"The someone else who would die would not die if I didn't choose to save those five people."

"So it feels less right for you to kill someone to save five people?"

"I suppose so."

"What if you were that person who would die?"

"I'd save the five."

"Why?"

"I would just want to save those five people more."

"So if in the original scenario, the one person had said they wanted to save the five people, you'd been willing have sacrificed them?"

Kali thought for a bit, "Yes."

"What if it was Dice?"

"It would depend on who those people are."

"How do you feel about these questions?"

"I don't like them."

"Do you want me to stop asking them?"

"Yes."

"Alright alright, I will."

Odd. Odd indeed. It was interesting.

"Well Kali, you can go to sleep now, you don't have to force yourself if you don't want to anymore though. You can do something else instead."

"Alright."

They took what I said to heart and got up out of bed. Moving from the living room to the front door, they opened it and went outside.

Walking a few steps away from home, he then stopped and stood there. Sitting down, he laid on the grass, facing the night sky. Countless stars shined.

Picking up a chair, I moved to him. Sitting in it, I sighed, "Ya know. You're gonna have to shower in the morning."

I looked into his eyes once more. Emptier than the night sky, darker than the black moon, taking in the light of a billion stars, he spoke up, "Can you see it June? The stars. They're yelling."

I looked up, "I can see the stars. I can't hear the screaming."

"They're all burning away. Trying to light up the universe. And one day, they'll be gone."

"Yeah. You're right."

"Can we reignite them? Is that possible?"

"I don't know Kali. Perhaps."

"June. You're dying." Their words were not something I expected. I guess they were more perceptive than I thought.

"I know."

"Is there a way for me to help you?"

"Maybe. It doesn't matter."

"You're lying. You don't know if that's true."

"Tch, you finally learn to figure out lies, and the first thing you do is sass me?"

"I'm sorry."

"Damn now you gotta make me feel all bad."

Silence permeated the air, before it began lightly raining.

"Listen Kali, everyone dies. Some sooner than others."

"What about those who don't die? The immortals you told me about."

"I'd rather die than be immortal. Living a while is all fine and good, but forever? That's not something I wanna do."

"How long would you want to live then?"

"I dunno. A few hundred years more seems good."

"…"

"Yeah. I won't get that far. But half a dozen more years is good enough for me."

"Is there anything you wanna do for that time?"

"Nope. Maybe I'll find love. Fight a few more people. Watch you grow up a little. I won't have any regrets either way. I've lived a good life." I had everything I ever truly wanted.

"What do I do when you're gone?"

"…Find more people I suppose. Do what you want. Live well."

"Alright."

Looking back at the kid, I again saw their always empty face. Perhaps something was a little different, the rain streaming down their face.

Drenched in rain, I looked away. Back to the stars.