The wide world

It had been nice, to for a moment, sit in the feeling that someone found him in any way anything other than a burden. Nice to feel like anyone outside of his family could like him, though he expected the majority of his family didn't even like him, simply put up with his continued existence. But when the question fell from Pontifex's lips Emile knew it was over, knew this was going to be the moment where it all fell down into where it always did. It was almost so tragic that he had to chuckle to keep himself from sobbing, it was a soft, painful noise.

"Almostttttttttt everyone I know is somewhere out there-there-there." Emile turned his gaze towards the land bridge again, beyond it. "Everyone e...ventually leaves, they escape mmmmmmmme." His voice had a sort of calmness to it, a confidence he rarely showed, even his stutter seemed to calm some though it never left. Then he did something he hadn't done in years, he turned to face Pontifex, not hiding the scarring around his eye as he looked at the man and spoke with an assurance he never showed, because he knew he was right. "Iiiiiiiii chase everyone awa-awa-away. That was what he was mourning, his own loss, his own loneliness.

Pontifex would see it, he'd see who Emile was for real this time, of that Emile was sure. He'd see the burden Emile placed on everyone, he'd see the space he wasted by taking it up. He'd see the coward who knew the world was better off without him but who couldn't even do everyone a favor and take himself out of it. He'd look at the twisted, puckered skin around his eye and he'd see that Emile had been marked, he'd see that it was a sign for everyone to keep away. Emile stared for a moment longer, then he started to move, spun on his toes, knowing it was his duty to leave, his duty to get himself out of Pontifex's sight now that he had seen who Emile was. Emile had to make sure he stayed away from everyone, because they didn't deserve to have to be around him.



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