Chell stared out the window at the moon. It was full, and she could only think of little Wheatley. He'd gone overboard. Had too much power. She missed him, though. She missed GLaDOS too. After all she had done to her, GLaDOS let her leave. Maybe she was desperate. Or maybe she just didn't want to be killed or put into a potato again.
Chell climbed onto the floor and grabbed her Companion Cube. She hugged it tight, and a silent tear fell from her face, onto a heart.
-------
GLaDOS was staring at the moon also. Her eye zoomed in enough to see holes and...WHEATLEY! She backed away in surprise then remembered the zoom. She began to zoom out, b
is winged.
And has passed two tests.
One of patience, one of determination.
This winged man, bird, loving creature.
Has one more.
He has tryed to think,
think of what it may be.
101 times,
he has.
He sees the brothers,
the sisters.
Being granted the power to be,
where the Gods roam watching.
Loving their beings.
They say this is the most special test.
"One you shall must figure out, on your own." they say.
To the winged man, bird, loving creature.
Eyes watch, watch in silence.
Silence, except for the man.
Man talking.
"Yes, I'm willing."
Stand, look back.
Back at the heavens.
Back at the narrow, shaky edge.
"I. Am. Wil
is winged.
Yet he has no balance.
Balance, from his 12 feet wingspan.
This winged man, bird, loving creature.
Nor balance from his arms.
A sad sight to see him
try, oh so many times.
101, in fact.
Along the narrow, shaky edge.
Left, blackness. Right, whiteness.
He watches the brothers, the sisters.
Walking, walking freely to the other side.
Where the Gods roam watching,
loving their beings.
Another special purpose.
Shh, can't tell.
"You must live it!" they say.
To the winged man, bird, loving creature.
Standing, he walks in silence.
Silence, except for his wings.
Wings balanced.
Straight, straight, straight.
"Balanc
is winged.
Yet he can not fly.
Fly free, into the heavens.
This winged man, bird, loving creature.
A sad sight to see him
trying desperately to fly.
He has tryed,
101 times.
He shall try no more.
He sits and stares at the brothers,
the sisters.
Flying high and free, into the heavens.
Where the Gods roam watching,
loving their beings.
They say he was made for a special purpose.
A purpose, they shall not just tell yet.
"You must live it!" they say.
To the winged man, bird, loving creature.
Fetal position, he woes in silence.
Silence, except for his wings.
Wings flapping.
Flap, flap, flap.
"Fly my creature. As you were ma
I just want to be me
free
no lies
and no secrets.
I just want to be free
me
no secrets
and no lies.
How can I say this?
Gently
No, I want to say it right.
Curse at them?
No not that either...
Maybe use a strong word?
Alright.
Go on.
I hate you world. And you hate me. I know it. But why, oh why? Can I not just be me?
Free?
No lies?
And no secrets?
and grabbed me by the wrist
then the palm
the
SNAP
that sting
that second of numbness
oh what fun
living free
in control
for a while that is
then obsession
beginning to make me crazy
making me hungry
for more
couldn't stop
couldn't flee
just wanted to once again
then again
and again
and a thought
scissors
cut
red liquid
no
too gruesome
for me at least
I'll just stick to this
SNAP
that sting
that second of
numbness...
What is this word 'love'?
what is this phrase 'I love you'?
we say it to family, friends
the ones we want to keep close
but why?
why?
isn't there something more special
than 'I love you'?
I don't want to say that to others but one
I want a special phrase
for everyone
a singular title
to keep many close
I want that single phrase
for you
and that other one
for you
and others for everyone
else
I don't want you to have 'I love you'
but maybe
something deeper
or less
I cautiously let my head rest against the back of the chair. My eyes close and I see darkness. "Iceon. You there?"
"Yeah. What do you want?"
Myself appears in my mind, along with Iceon. "You know what. I've been ready forever. Just, afraid."
"Well fine. At least I get to go home for a while."
---
Trees surround me. The forest is dark, though the moon shows through branches. Stars line the sky in beautiful ways. "This is what you wanted," Iceon gestures towards the far end of a clearing. "That's where the edge of the forest is," his eyes fixate on it, "Home." He walks towards the edge, and I follow. "Are the others here?" He doesn't answe