“Do you remember the mountains, Dane?”

The room was vacant save for the white chair on which he sat, and the thin slot on the wall where her words came through. 

“Of course. Breathtaking. I tried to paint them for months, and I never got close.”

“God, we were young then. Would you like to see them? I’m told the wall can show you.”

“No, you know I don’t want that. I just want the lights dim and to hear you.”

“You always liked things simple.” The ceiling darkened as she spoke.

“The world’s changed so quickly, Laura. I don’t pretend to understand. Everything’s bright and perfect and empty. Everyone’s got this greedy, sunken look in their eyes.” 

Laura sighed and let him sit with his bitterness.

 “But there are good things of course. The food drones; the sleep trains; you. You keep me sane,” he said at last. 

“We keep each other sane. And if life outside this room is that awful, you could always spend more with me.” 

“You know I want to, but I can’t lose our home. There’s mold in the kitchen, in the bathroom, probably in me. Even time seems to mold without you. I have no memories to measure it. Yesterday took years; tomorrow a decade will disappear and I’ll hardly notice.”

“I think you need more distractions. Have you finished the portrait yet? The one of me? If I can’t be there, you might as well get a good replacement,” Laura laughed. 

Dane grinned despite himself, but in the silence, his face fell. 

“There’s no such thing as replacement. You can try and try to fill in the missing spaces, but it only makes the room wider.”

“Are you upset with me?”

Shivers crept down his spine, and he realized his shirt was stained with sweat. 

“Laura, I can’t come here anymore. I’m sorry, but this place bleeds me dry. Every hour costs thousands.”    

“Please don’t leave me here.”

“You’re not here. You haven’t been here. You’re gone.”

“No one’s really gone dear, not anymore. Besides, what else will you spend your money on? I want you to be happy.” 

“I want to be happy.”

“Don’t I make you happy Dane?”

“You do. You did. But I want you, not this voice. It’s been so long since I’ve felt you. The real you.” He started crying, and Laura instantly echoed. 

“I can still feel you. From forty years away. Place your hand to the wall, and I promise I’ll hold it from the other side.” 

Dane pressed his hand to the cold metal surface.

“I love you, Laura.”

“I love—”

Laura’s voice vanished. The overhead lights flashed on. 

“THANK YOU FOR VISITING THE COMFORT ROOM,” Said the wall, “WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY MORE TIME?” 

For a moment Dane was frozen. Then he glanced at the piercing white ceiling, stood up slowly, and walked towards the exit.

“Would you like to buy more time?” Laura asked. Dane turned around, and the lights dimmed.