Makoto Shinkai

“Life became stronger after the sexes were separated.”

“I find that hard to believe.” I recalled the sight of her crying. She wasn’t strong at all.

“You could call it the power to love, the power to need others. This power we gained in exchange for loneliness makes a species stronger.”

I didn’t always understand what Jon said, but I was glad if her loneliness and sadness wasn’t all for nothing.

“Do I have things made from the stars in me too?”

“Yes, you do, Chobi. Your owner does too. It’s because you don’t remember this that you are both lonely hearts,” Jon said.

My ears pricked up as her train passed by. The sound of a beating heart that made the world go round.

This one unchanging pulse in the ever-changing world was a source of comfort to me.

I couldn’t do anything about her problems.

I just lived my days at her side.