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People appeared anew, from scratch, the resemblance was there, she had seen it with her own eyes a few times. She had seen the Storm swallow those she loved and regurgitate new versions, she had seen her mother swallowed, her existence slipping through her fingers.
But she couldn't contain her hope... or was it fear? Schneider. She had seen similar people she had to restrain herself from checking every person they saw on their travels, she had to restrain herself every time she saw hair like hers, a red dress, or even when she smelled oranges. She knew it was useless, it was just setting herself up for disappointment. Mr. Duncan only looked like Mr. Karson physically, she wouldn't recognize him if she didn't look at his face, deep into his eyes.
And what if Schneider was out there? Would she be able to save her this time? Would she be able to prove to her that she had never forgotten her, even though now she was the one being forgotten?
How would she act? How would she feel? She couldn't even imagine it. She remembered Sotheby's tears and took a deep breath.
Would she cry? What if Schneider wasn't like Duncan, what if she didn't believe her story, what if she didn't want to get close, what if she was completely different?
It was obvious that she would be completely different. Schneider was one of a kind, her memories, her feelings, her efforts.
But still.
What if...
No, she couldn't go on with this selfish desire! She wanted Schneider to be happy, even if it meant having her existence erased from her mind.
She wanted... no, she couldn't bear having to start over again.
She felt a lump in her throat as she looked at the documents, seeing several faces that she couldn't think of what was scarier... the idea of never seeing them again or of meeting them again.
Why did she have to start over? What would she do with the memories she had been keeping? What would it mean to these people?
She could tell them their whole story back to them and get no reaction at all.
They would be right, no one is responsible for what another person has done, even if they are essentially the same matter.
But...
The Storm was also slowly swallowing her, even if she remained there.