SAY YOU CARE: The Things We Cannot Express - Major Composition (Dialogue)

//SAY YOU CARE: A GAME// The last time I saw you was 4 years ago. You kissed me on the cheek, stepped past the gates, and told me that you hoped to see me again one day. But deep inside, I knew that if you ever did it would mean the worst had happened... And yet, when I picked you up from the airport, you still smiled. I felt bad that I couldn’t smile back. Now, it’s 2:31AM. We’re sitting on the hood of your mom’s car, watching the cars and trucks on the highway coast by in the warm glow of the street lamps. My heart pounds. Yearning. [[“I missed this,” I say.]]

“Me too… How’s it been without me around?” You laugh. [[“Bold of you to assume I needed you.” I laugh back.]] [[“Honestly? Kinda lonely at first.”]]

“Oh please, you’re such a bad liar!” You punch my shoulder, playfully. [[“You got me!”]] [["Shut up!" I punch her back.->“You got me!”]]

"And then?" [[“I got over it.”->A1]] [["Then I got better... slowly."->A1]]

You giggle as you clutch your knees closer to your chest and turn to look back at the highway. Your smile fades into a vacant frown. My heart sinks. I need to know that you’re okay. [[I want to say it.]]

[["I guess I figured some people were worth missing... yaknow?"]]

In the dim glow of the street lamps, I notice a small glint around the corners of your eyes. I hear you sniffle softly. [["How are you feeling? Are you okay?"]]

"I've been better," you say through a half-smile. [["Do you want to talk about it?"]] [[I stay silent.->"It's okay. I'm here for you."]]

[["How are you feeling? Are you okay?"]]

"I don't think I know how." [["Then we don't have to..."]] [["It's okay. I'm here for you."]]

"It's just..." you take a deep breath, "when I wake up in the morning, they're not there. But every now and then, when I move the sheets, I find a hair or two and it's like..." [[I stay silent.]] [["It reminds you... of before?"]]

"Thank you." [[I offer you a hug.]] [["It's just... I care about you."]]

You take it. As we hold each other for that brief, beautiful moment, all my anxiety washes away... ...and I know that you know I care. If anything, I’m glad you’re safe with me. FIN

[["I've always cared... thought about you... the whole time."]]

"I know," you say. FIN

"Sometimes when I make breakfast, I accidentally break four eggs instead of two. I forget it's just me... and I just cry to myself... over an amount of eggs that's too much for me to eat." [[I stay silent.->A2]]

"Yeah... when everything was good. When I could home after a long day and have them waiting for me, ready to let me sink back into them and have all my stress and worries sink away." You pause for a moment, your lips trembling. "I just want to be okay with everything going on. But now, I gotta learn to be alone again..." [["Give it time."->"You're not alone."]] [[I stay silent.->I stay silent.]]

"That's why I had to come back. I don't know if I'll ever be okay..." [["You will be. One day."]] [[I stay silent.->A3]]

"Thank you." FIN

Tears start to run down your cheeks. You put your hands to your face. "I'm not okay," you cough out. [[I turn to hold you.]] [["It's alright."]]

You hold me back in return. I want to tell you that it'll get better... that you'll learn to live again... that I'll be here with you, the whole way. Because I care. But for now, I'll just hold you. FIN

[["It's alright, to not be okay."->"You will be. One day."]]

"I know. I have my parents. My brother. I have you... I'm not alone. I'm getting my old job back too... it's all very okay." [["But?"]] [[I stay silent.->A5]]

"But truth be told... I'm not okay. I'm just not. I guess... I just need time." [["Take as much time as you need."]] [[I offer you a hug.]]

[["And I'll be here, so as long as you need me."->"You will be. One day."]]

"I'm not okay at all." [["I don't know what to say..."]] [["I'm here for you."]]

"It's okay... you don't have to say anything..." You pause. "Thank you." FIN

[["I care about you."->"It's just... I care about you."]]