This Is How You Lose the Time War

The abandoned bones tumble and tumble and fall and fall.
But don’t worry. The seeker catches them before they land

has her excuses ready: Since her disobedience she’s been a better agent, more meticulous.
But no reply has come.
Perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps her enemy does not care, after all.

Did her adversary—did Blue—ever read her letter? Red liked writing it—winning tastes sweet, but sweeter still to triumph and tease.

leaving my note to spin its fractal math inside you

When Blue wins—which is always—she moves on to the next thing. She savours her victories in retrospect, between missions, recalls them only while travelling

apart, she reads it again.

This letter was meant to be read once, then destroyed.
In the moments before the world comes

She has won, yes, she has won. She is certain she has won. Hasn’t she?

They bring daughters of earth back down to the land of death—but death does not claim them.

But when I think of you, I want to be alone together