[you clamber hurriedly up the stairs, seeing us as soon as you reach the top. we’re close, but facing away from you. we don’t indicate that we saw you arrive, but we speak as soon as you draw near.]

US: python three.
YOU [panting from exertion]: please don’t do this.
US [leaning on the railing, looking down into the rolling sea below]: import arepy dot jeepeaio as jeepeaio.
YOU [urgently]: you don’t need to do this, we already believe you. we all do.
US [not looking up]: jeepeaio dot setmode: eleven.
YOU: please, Ellie, this really isn’t necessary.
[we straighten up, then turn to meet your gaze, flicking our hair away from our face. our cheekbones look stark in the oblique orange illumination from the sunset, and our eyes are ablaze. our arms and legs are lost in the folds of our long black dress, and we look like little more than a shadow standing before you. we open our mouth again.]
US: jeepeaio dot setup: thirteen, zero.
YOU: Ellie!
US [speaking clearly, without a hint of emotion]: jeepeaio dot output:
YOU: Ellie, stop!!
US: ZERO!
YOU: NO!
US: ONE!

[the setting sun suddenly turns green, then goes out. the wind picks up, suddenly cold. massive waves are heard crashing into the rocks, unseen below.]

[a dffuse orange light appears in our hand, revealing our position in the inky darkness. we raise it over our head.]

US: hash. we’re sorry, dear friend… but it was always going to end this way, one way or another.
YOU [tears falling from your eyes in the darkness]: wh- why… why, though?
US: hash…. we cannot say. you will know for yourself in just a few moments.
[you do not answer.]
US: hash. you always meant a lot to us. you still do, and you always will. please do not mourn us. we will always be with you.
US [raising our other hand as we speak]: jeepeaio dot-
[our hands meet, and clasp tightly together over the orange light, extinguishing it. you scream in dismay, lunging towards us, but we’re no longer where you thought we were. you keep your balance, but fall to your knees anyway, sobbing.]
US [in your ear, surprisingly close]: -cleanup.
[there is a soft cracking sound, like a small electric spark, and you know that we are gone.]

[you feel gravity start to weaken, causing your stomach to lurch. you look up into the sky, where a universe is blossoming, billowing outwards into a painting of scintillating lights, shadowy belts, and vivid colors.]

[it is beautiful.]