I Fell in Love with Hope - Lancali

“I’m not allowed to leave,” he says.
C frowns. “What? Why not?”
“I haven’t eaten.”
Neo’s head droops, not in shame, but in preoccupation. C notices
then, the pills and food tray that have gone untouched on the side
table and he isn’t tender as he usually is.
“Then eat,” he bites.
Neo stares at C, a glaze over his eyes, subconsciously forming a
loop around his wrist. He becomes a statue, untouchable. He looks
like if you touch him, he will combust, the tightly wound knots of his
muscles will snap, and he will come undone.
“I need to find Hee,” he whispers. Then, he goes back to searching
the same places yet again.
“Neo,” C says. “This is important.”
“It won’t make a difference. I can’t leave. We went too far this time,
and I can’t go. There’s nothing I can do–Hee, where are you? Come
out.”
“Neo–”
“I have to find her!” Neo’s voice cracks. He spins around to face us,
his breaths short and fast, the marble of his statue cracking. A glossy
layer of tears pools at his waterline.
“Neo.” Hikari.
C and I both turn to see her standing at the door, picking a wobbly
cat up in her arms.
“Neo, she’s right here. Look,” she says.