In my dreams we make a pact to send you a very important message. When I wake up I will do just that. It will get lost but this will be exactly what I wanted it to do. I send letters in the wrong direction, in preperation. Because it is consistent. That is why I am looking for you. In my dreams I am very devoted to your consistency. You murdered a tiger. We laughed about it. I knew you were lying but I pretended to believe you, mostly because it kept the bullies away. And we made a hole in the wet pavement where Johnny tripped and broke his nose. I tried very hard not to cry. You tried very hard not to laugh. You told everyone I was from the future. I think that was the only time you didn't lie to anyone who wasn't me. I am the type of person who can trust her past self without a word. We sing amazing grace. I am a bootleg. I don't really remember where I came from. In my dreams I have arguments that do not really end. I wake up sweating before I realize how stubborn the enemy could be. It always ends up being something I could not see in my dream. I am the type of person who has one eyeball when she is dreaming. Trying to be smart, I said the river was just the ocean. Being smart, you explained salt to me. I don't really remember what you said, but it made sense back then so now I call a river a river. It couldn't be too graceful to realize that, in my dreams, I am arguing with myself. In my dreams I am basically yelling at myself through a mirror. The opponent could not be less or more angry than I am. In my dreams I am hurting myself. In my dreams I am looking for you. My potential does not end where I am standing. I am looking for you. It continues. Backwards. As far as it'll go.

This is called "Monarch".

Lilly: It isn't my birthday

Eden: alright, so it isn't.

Eden: but would you please...

Eden: let the girl who burns to death in 4 years have a little fun?

Lilly: Okay

Lilly: Hey, what day is it this time?

Eden: hummm...

Eden: 25th of july.

Lilly: In 1987?

Eden: in 1987.

Eden: do you remember last years'?

Lilly: No

Eden: august 3rd. you earned us a few more days this time around.

Lilly: No shit.

Eden: shhh.

Lilly: I'm fucking amazing.

Eden: SHHHHHHH! my mom will hear you.

Lilly: Hee hee

Lilly: Do you ever...

Lilly: Do you ever think about that?

Eden: what? about what?

Lilly: Oh, is the message late?

Eden: i'm not supposed to be recieving them anymore.

Lilly: No, not a message from my past. A message from right now. I just sent you something.

Eden: oh. hold on, let me look.

Eden:

[Bootstrap paradox. End.]

Eden: oh yes, i do. i do think about that.

Lilly: Isn't that what I kind of am?

Eden: in what way?

Lilly: Am I an object?

Eden: no.

Lilly: Are you aware of me?

Eden: i am fairly certain.

Eden: you mean because of your lack of origin. but you remember it, don't you?

Lilly: That's what seems to make this whole thing fall apart, yes

Eden: are you looking for me?

Lilly: No. I mean yes.

Lilly: This isn't part of the conversation.

Eden: says you. i'm realer than real, and i'm saying what i'm supposed to say. this sentence makes it work.

Lilly: It sure does.

Eden: are you?

Lilly: Am I?

Eden: a bootstrap.

Lilly:

Lilly: I don't even remember what we're supposed to be talking about anymore.

Eden: fairies. the first time we had this conversation, it was about fairies.

Eden: but we've mildly shifted it over the past few rotations. do you remember that?

Lilly: Yes, I do

Eden: now, we have enough space to almost say what we want to say. do you remember that?

Lilly: Yes, I do

Eden: are you looking for me?

Lilly: Am I?

Eden: do you have an origin?

Lilly: Eden,

Eden: it's almost over. do you have an origin?

Lilly: No, Eden, look

Eden: lilly, don't screw this up

Eden: please

Lilly: Eden

Eden: stop

Lilly: Look up

Eden: what

Lilly: I said look up

Eden: holy shit.