She sat in the hospital, hand clasping hand.
Her lips bitten raw and her eyes painted red.
And the man beside her played on repeat, "What is this? It's the same air from yesterday, it's the same atmosphere. Why, it's still Monday!"

***

"Things were much more magical before I started taking science class," Amy sighed.
"Really?" Donnie placed his arm around her, "Name 3 things science class ruined for you."
"For one thing, rainbows."
"I thought prisms were kinda neat though. I mean to divide white light into multiple colours? You find nothing magical in that?"
Amy stared at the horizon. "It ruined pillows," she joked, "Now whenever I'm sleeping I think of all the chemicals oozing into my brain."
"Maybe that's what causes dreams," Donnie pondered.
"It also ruined the sun," the starless cloudy sky overwhelmed her as she clutched her legs, "It doesn't seem as special now that I know it's just any old star. And the moon doesn't seem as mysterious and unique now that I know there's tons of others that are far more majestic."
"That doesn't stop it from being special. They're not any old star or moon. They're ours."

***

The first time he said goodbye she was up all night crying.
That fatal Monday she ripped through her poetry book, discarding any memory of him.
She wasn't his star anymore.
So she wasn't special anymore.

***

The second time he said goodbye it was formal and painless enough. She smiled sweetly and he cracked a joke. It wasn't meant to be.
That morning they both woke up to the same song on repeat.
"I'm not sorry I met you.
But I'm sorry it's over."
"It doesn't have to be."

***

The third time he started avoiding calls.
That fatal Monday she ran to his house and knocked on the door.
"CHRIS. OPEN THE DOOR."
He opened it, eyes painted red.
"I can't continue this cycle anymore Chris. It's killing me."
Then he closed the door on her face.
Blood ran down her nose.

***

"I'M SO SORRY ARE YOU OKAY."
"I'M FINE IT'S JUST A SCRATCH. JEEZE." Amy rolled her eyes and stuffed two q-tips up her nose. It stung a little but she had handled worse.
"I didn't want to hurt you. I'd do anything so that you'd be happy."
"Seeing you makes me happy," Amy whispered.

***

The fourth time, he drank himself to sleep.
Night after night. 1 shot, 2 shots we'll make more sense.
And then he became certain, he wouldn't hurt her anymore.
"If there's nothing left to burn, you have to set yourself on fire."

***

Amy glanced at the hospital television. A woman on the screen intoned "Excuse me. Excuse me!!! If you lose something and you can't find it again, it's lost at the bottom. Oh my dog, I'll never get it back. Best dog anyone could ever ask fo-"
And the man beside her repeated again, "I didn't think it'd be possible. But it's still Monday!!"