IC Inbox

[spoileralert]

12:34

Friday, May 4

Verizon

▶ VIDEO ✆ AUDIO ✎ TEXT

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Comments

night of 185; audio

[armoured]

[She's the first person that he calls, she has to be after all they've gone through. His voice is quiet and barely audible above the hiss of the wind in the background.]

We didn't make it inside in time... I'm so sorry.

1/3

[spoileralert]

[ Steph feels her world heave under her. It's a physical thing that would have knocked her off her feet if she wasn't already sitting down. ]

2/3

[spoileralert]

[ She takes no more than a minute to shove that feeling into the deepest, darkest hole she can find in her mind. She shuts everything that won't help them both get through the next couple of hours down. ]

3/3

[spoileralert]

[ What's left is a quiet voice and a dull ache in her chest, the lingering echo of world shattering grief. ]

Oh, Al... What happened?

[armoured]

[He hears the broken undertone to her voice and it just washes him in guilt, makes his voice crack with distress.]

We were examining the gate, we just-- it was later than we realised, we just made a mistake.

[spoileralert]

[ He went back, after he said he was coming to meet her-- no. If she thinks about that now she'll break down.

She's so far from her own emotions she doesn't feel real. Nothing does. ]

Who else? Is Ed with you?

[armoured]

Yeah.

[That single word is so heavy, so full of regret. He blames himself for this, and it's so much worse that this means Ed's death too.]

I just-- I wanted you to know that I love you, in case I don't come back. You're one of my best friends, Steph, so-- so thank you.

[spoileralert]

I love you too, Al. All this time... you were the one thing that kept me together.

[armoured]

You're so strong, one of the strongest people I know, you'll... you'll be fine without me.

[spoileralert]

[ No, she won't. ]

I'll be careful. I'll... I'll keep going. I won't ever quit. I promise.

[armoured]

...Goodbye, Steph.

[spoileralert]

Good-- [ She tries, but she can't. She just can't. ] Good night, Al.

[ She turns off the tablet before the wave of emotion that's been hanging over her head crashes down on her. ]