---

Sean:
“He added more.”

Eljara:
“I can see that.”

Sean:
“He didn’t stop.”

Eljara:
“No.”

---

Sean:
“They told him to slow down.”

Eljara:
“They always do.”

Sean:
“He didn’t listen.”

Eljara:
“No.”

---

Sean:
“The first step never looks dangerous.”

Eljara:
“No.”

Sean:
“It looks like ambition.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

---

Sean:
“And then?”

Eljara:
“Commitment.”

Sean:
“And after that?”

Eljara:
“Necessity.”

---

Sean:
“And then?”

Eljara:
“You stop naming it.”

---

Silence.

---

Sean:
“He knows.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

Sean:
“You sure?”

Eljara:
“He’s past guessing.”

---

Sean:
“They told him the risks.”

Eljara:
“Of course.”

Sean:
“And he did it anyway.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

---

Sean:
“Why?”

Eljara:
“Because it works.”

---

Sean:
“That’s not enough.”

Eljara:
“For you.”

Sean:
“For anyone.”

Eljara:
“No.”

Pause.

“…but it is.”

---

Sean:
“What did it take from him?”

Eljara:
“Less each time.”

Sean:
“What does that mean?”

Eljara:
“You don’t lose everything at once.”

---

Sean:
“Then how?”

Eljara:
“You trade.”

---

Sean:
“For what?”

Eljara:
“Control.”

Sean:
“And what do you give?”

Eljara:
“Whatever slows you down.”

---

Sean:
“Pain.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

Sean:
“Fear.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

Sean:
“Hesitation.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

---

Sean:
“And after that?”

Eljara:
“Dependency.”

---

Silence.

---

Sean:
“He can’t stop now.”

Eljara:
“No.”

Sean:
“Because he doesn’t want to?”

Eljara:
“…because he can’t afford to.”

---

Sean:
“What happens if he does?”

Eljara:
“He drops.”

Sean:
“How far?”

Eljara:
“All the way.”

---

Sean:
“And he knows that.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

---

Sean:
“So he keeps going.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

---

Sean:
“That’s not choice.”

Eljara:
“No.”

Sean:
“That’s a trap.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

---

Pause.

---

Sean:
“You’ve seen this before.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

Sean:
“Same ending?”

Eljara:
“Always.”

---

Sean:
“How does it end?”

Eljara:
“They break.”

Sean:
“Body.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

Sean:
“Mind.”

Eljara:
“Yes.”

---

Sean:
“And before that?”

Eljara:
“They change.”

---

Sean:
“Into what?”

Eljara:
“Something that keeps going.”

---

Sean:
“That’s not better.”

Eljara:
“No.”

---

Silence.

---

Sean:
“You ever see someone walk away?”

Eljara:
“…once.”

Sean:
“And?”

Eljara:
“They never got it back.”

---

Sean:
“The strength?”

Eljara:
“No.”

---

Sean:
“What then?”

Eljara:
“The part that wanted it.”

---

Long pause.

---

Sean:
“So what’s worse?”

Pause.

“…losing yourself…”

“…or not wanting yourself back?”

---

Eljara:
“You don’t ask that early.”

---

Sean:
“And him?”

Eljara looks ahead.

---

Eljara:
“He’s past that.”

---

Silence.

---

Sean:
“So what happens now?”

Eljara:
“He keeps going.”

Sean:
“Until when?”

Eljara:
“Until there’s nothing left to take.”

---

Sean:
“And then?”

Eljara:

“Then something else keeps him moving.”

---

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