Tea?

“Thank you so much for coming.”

“Of course.”

“It means a lot.”

“How are you holding up?”

“I’m fi-”

“Is that Maggie bloody Jones? I haven’t seen her in donkey’s years. She’s looking old.”

“Me neither. She is a bit.”

“Good turnout though, dear. Good turnout.”

“Yes. He would have appreciated it.”

“Yes. He always liked people.”

“He did. Always so much more extroverted than me.”

“Can I get you something? You look a little pale. Tea? A nip of sherry?”

“No, no thank you, I’m fine.”

“There’s coffee. Over there. Or a sandwich?”

“I’ll get something in a minute.”

“You should sit.”

“I’m fine standing, thank you.”

“He hated when people hovered.”

“Sorry—did he tell you that?”

“He mentioned it once.”

“Did he mention anything else?”

“Not much.”

“No. Were you…?”

“I’m sorry?”

“From work?”

“Yes. Mostly.”

“Mostly?”

“We shared a project.”

“Ah. Of course. Serena.”

“He was very dedicated.”

“He was.”

“Too dedicated, sometimes.”

“That’s what made him tired.”

“That’s what made him good.”

“Do you need a chair?”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re shaking.”

“It’s cold in here.”

“They keep it like that.”

“Yes. For preservation. Funny that, really.”

“Funny?”

“Yes. Funny. They’re going to burn him.”

“Ha. Yes. Funny.”

“He always complained about it.”

“About th- the burning?”

“No. The cold.”

“Oh.”

“Yes. He said. Sorry. He used to say he’d be warm for the first time at the crem. Ha! He said it jokingly, of course. Funny.”

“Of course. He joked a lot.”

“He did.”

“Do you remember his trip to Prague?”

“Yes.”

“You were there, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“He said it was work.”

“It was.”

“The conference ended early.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Then, there were delays.”

“There always were.”

“Flights.”

“Yes.”

“He was so happy. He swam every morning.”

“In the morning?”

“Yes.”

“He couldn’t swim.”

“He could… I’m sorry. Are you ok?”

“No, just—Yes. It’s his… ”

“I shouldn’t have said that. I should leave”

“No. It’s fine.”

“You don’t have to—”

“Stay.”

“…Okay.”

“I need some air.”

“Of course.”

“Can you—”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“I can stand over there.”

“That’s fine.”

“They’re bringing food.”

“I should help.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I do.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want tea or coffee?”

“Tea.”

“Milk?”

“Yes.”

“Sugar?”

“No.”

“He took sugar.”

“I know.”

“…I didn’t.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s just—”

“It’s fine.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you for coming.”

“Of course.”

“Serena…”

“Yes?”

“This is how people survive each other, isn’t it?”

“…Yes. Yes, it is.”

“John. My dear, John. Thank you so much for coming! Tea?”