I Fell in Love with Hope

by Lancali

“Illness is temporary,” he explains. “Injuries borrow our blood, infections use our cells, but our illnesses are different. In a way, they’re self-inflicted. An error in the code. This kind—well—it owns us, it hurts us, because it just doesn’t understand.” Language is flawed. That’s what he means. We don’t have diseases. They have us. They found a home in us. “Why can’t we make it understand?” Sony asks, fear trembling from her throat. Neo bites his lower lip to keep it from shaking. He’s grown attached to Sony. So much that he tucks red strands behind her ear and pretends he isn’t holding back tears. “We have soldiers in our blood,” he whispers, like the start of a bedtime story. “They’re ruthless and unbiased. To them, there’s no difference between who they’re meant to protect and an enemy.” The metronome slows. Sony’s lung matches the beat of her heart. “They’re blind. You can’t convince them of their wrongdoings,” Neo says. He continues to pet Sony’s hair. “The irony is lost on them.” Like an apology for the sins of our sickness, Neo drops his head to her shoulder and holds Sony till she falls asleep.