Screen Capture: Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Roy knew he had to see this through.

He alighted by that busy intersection overly familiar to him for years on end now. He looked around, crossed the street, and hastily walked towards a cafe. He sat down, ordered his usual, and began his séance.

As he recited the first few lines, the dimensions of the place slowly began to shift; he soon found himself in a dimly-lit graveyard. A familiar figure appeared before him and brought his coffee.

"I thought you wouldn't come back here."
"Lieutenant, I-"
"It's okay, you don't have to say anything —for now."

"How are you?", Riza asked.
"I'm doing fine. Four years have passed since I last visited, huh?"
"Yes. And despite that, you can still see me. You're not gonna escape samsara at this rate, you dolt."

"Huh", Roy chuckled as he sipped his coffee. "I was just thinking when you will return to the cycle. Funnily enough, you're still here."
"I kind of became the gravekeeper by default, you know? Who's gonna check on the tombstones here when I'm gone?"
"I will. Don't worry. I might do things differently - and the tombstones may not be as maintained — but I'll do it."

"The thing is, Colonel," sighed Riza, "I want to take care of this place by myself."
"But I-"
"It's okay, Roy. Really. You don't need to. Not anymore. Continue to walk in the living world. You're not dead yet."

"I... understand. If that's the case, I have one last request."
"What is it?"
"Let's visit Hughes's grave."

"Ah, looks like it's beginning to rain", said Roy, his hands fixing the cap on his head in place.
"No, I don't think so."
"No, it's raining all right."

"You're right", Riza sighed. "Let's go back."

———

"I'm sorry, Riza. I'll visit our graves... from time to time. All of our graves."

Photo credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-beanie-hat-walking-asian-street-at-night-21345039/

I've been trying to put myself to sleep because of work resumption tomorrow, but for some reason, I just couldn't sleep. Something told me to get up and walk, so I did.

I trudged along the empty streets of the neighborhood with keys, umbrella, and phone in tow. Just as I was about to make a left turn to Street X, I saw a dog without a leash. It immediately growled and made a beeline for me.

"Okay, this is happening", I said to myself. I put the umbrella in front of me and assumed a defensive stance as I backed away. Thankfully, my makeshift strategy worked — I got scot-free.

I let out a big sigh of relief as I went the other way to continue walking. My blood was pumping, and I needed to calm myself down.

I went to 7-Eleven to buy a cold drink. As I opened the door, the employee greeted me with his usual "Good evening po!" followed by an unusual "Sir, ba't gising pa kayo?".

"'Ewan ko rin e, 'di ako makatulog. May VitaMilk pa kayo?"
"Opo, sir, sa likod."

I snatched the beverage from the fridge at the back and paid for it.
"Salamat", I said as I went out.

I saw Eldrin waiting outside.
"Uy, Daryl, mukhang naglakbay ka, ah", he said.
"Oo, haha, ewan ko ba, kahit may pasok bukas, napalabas ako", I replied.
"Maglalakbay pako, actually. Kitakits na lang."
"Gew, lakbay!"

Daryl continued his walk from there.
Eldrin faded into nothingness.

As he should.
You see, he's already dead.
And I have been carrying his body ever since.