The Bar at the End of the Universe

I think this is the lesson I was supposed to learn. I think I was supposed to know where my memories of Susanne came from, and why. I think that was what was keeping me here. And I think I hope this is not just wishful thinking.

All the times he's opened that door, he's seen nothing but a void, a swirling mass of darkness and destruction and he's not been anywhere near desperate enough to try to walk out into that. It would be a leap of faith far beyond his bounds, far beyond anything he could think of doing or actually bringing himself to do.

But this night... it feels... different, somehow.

And so he decides to try the door, see if the Bar will let him leave now that he's relived his nightmare with Tom's assistance. Bill takes a deep breath.

Ready, Bill? Ready.

The doorknob feels somehow cold, and he's not sure if it's reality or his own expectations making it that way.

Confidence, Bill. Why wouldn't it let you leave now?

That's more like it. He shakes back his long hair, touches the dragon fang earring for luck, and opens the door... and it's different.

No swirling void.

Bill looks through, then steps back into the bar, his face pale. This was not what he expected. Come to think on it, he's not sure where he expected to see: Cairo? The Burrow? Gringotts? London? But certainly not this.

Not the dungeon room from which he escaped.

He closes the door quickly. He is not going back to captivity. He'd rather be stuck here for all time.

Walking quickly to the bar, he orders a cup of tea. 3 sugars, fresh cream.

That, Bill, is the universe's way of saying Fuck You! loud and clear. He grins, and the grin widens into a smile, and he laughs. He doesn't care who hears.

( upstairs, this morning )

Bill has taken a table near the back of the bar, away from the bulk of the crowd, and he's writing.

Furiously.

There's an untouched cup of tea at his side, and an equally untouched plate of biscuits and cheese. All his concentration is on the parchment; his writing is an absolute flurry of blue streaking across the page.