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Meg wouldn't have even thought to stop by Andrew's door . . . if she hadn't seen the sign while on her way to Lilly's apartment.

When your ex-boyfriend puts up a notice telling everyone to go away - well, there's really only one logical thing to do.

Meg steps up to the door, frowning, and knocks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

stilljustandrew

*There's no response.*

*Maybe he's asleep.*

From:

balletrat

Or maybe he's ignoring the world.

But there's always the chance that three years of romantic history and a tragic death have earned Meg the right not to be ignored. It's worth a try, anyways.

"Andrew?" she calls, through the door. "It's me - Meg."

From:

stilljustandrew

*Still no response, at least no spoken one -- but there's a tiny sound that might be a sharp inhalation.*

*And then the silence takes on a slightly different tone, as of holding one's breath.*

From:

balletrat

"I can go," Meg says, after a moment, "if you don't want to talk to me - but if I do, you ought to know, I'm taking the sign with me."

He ought to talk to someone.

From:

stilljustandrew

*Another long pause.*

*And then, muffled:*

It's open.

From:

balletrat

"- eh bien."

Meg pushes the door open - more hesitantly than might be expected from her words a moment ago - and slips through.

"I saw the sign," she says, by way of explanation.

From:

stilljustandrew

Did it open up your eyes?

*Andrew's lying face down on the bed, fully clothed except for shoes. He doesn't quite look up when she comes in.*

From:

balletrat

"How long have you been in here like this?" Meg says - not recognizing the quote, but guessing that the line can be safely ignored in any case.

From:

stilljustandrew

I'unno.

*He pushes himself up, blinking a little.*

Time is it?

From:

balletrat

Meg shakes her head, a little ruefully.

"I wouldn't be the right person to ask."

She looks around - can't sit on the bed, obviously, moving the chair would be too conspicuous - and settles for leaning back against the desk.

From:

stilljustandrew

*Andrew curls into a hunched sitting position, arms folded on knees, and doesn't look at her.*

So I guess you heard.

From:

balletrat

"- heard? Non."

Meg blinks at him. "I told you - I saw the sign and thought - well, I guessed something must have happened, but -"

From:

stilljustandrew

...no?

*He looks up, exhausted dread struggling to life in his eyes.*

From:

balletrat

She hasn't seen him this bad in a long, long time. Years.

Her hands are folded together in front of her, fingers tightening and loosening on each other.

"Whatever it is," she suggests, in a small voice, "it would probably be easier just to tell me now and get it over with?"

From:

stilljustandrew

*His head sinks again, and his eyes close.*

I already told it once, I don't --

From:

balletrat

There would have been a time, Meg thinks, when she would have been the first person he told.

But that was over a long time ago.

"- it's okay," she says quickly.

"It's okay, you don't have to, just - is there anything I can do?"

From:

stilljustandrew

No, I should tell you.

*He looks up.*

I should tell you.

From:

balletrat

There is no way that can be good.

Meg holds his gaze, and folds her hands tight, and says nothing.

From:

stilljustandrew

Because you were right.

*He gives a short laugh, a terrible lost sound.*

You were right the whole time. And I shouldn't have -- I almost did it to you, I would have, except you wouldn't let me and you were right, Meg --

From:

balletrat

Usually, 'you were right' is a wonderful and heartwarming thing to hear.

Not this time.

Her voice is barely a whisper. "How was I - what was I right about?"

From:

stilljustandrew

Being dead.

And trying to get your l-life back.

From:

balletrat

"- what's happened? Andrew, please just say it -"

She sounds really frightened, now - there's far too many people she knows who could fit that description.