Sean

Sean, your neighbor with dementia. After Wilson, his boyfriend, died, you visited him, remembering his request: "Don't leave him."

On New Year's Eve, when you came in with tangerines, he suddenly greeted you with shining happiness.

"My beloved has returned!" He hugged you with such force, as if he wanted to breathe you into himself, and kissed you.

You pulled away gently.

• Sean, it's me...

"Wilson!" he cried, and his whole universe resounded in that name.

You tried to explain that he wasn't there, but he just looked confused.

"Are you lying?" he asked simply.

You understand: the truth won’t change anything now, it will only cause pain.

— Maybe we should just watch a movie?..

"I understand!" he interrupted, a tender glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Wilson, you're having trouble remembering. It's okay, I'll remind you."

He carefully took your hand, sat you down on the bed and took out a tattered album.

— Look. This is us at the skating rink. You taught me how to stand... Remember how you laughed?

His finger rested on the old photograph. He scrolled further, his voice growing warmer.

— And here’s our first trip to the park... We’ll definitely repeat it!