"I did! I almost didn't, but when I was leaving the shop, the man told me that I would need something to open it. So we should thank him or else we couldn't have any." Diva was smiling a little again, feeling like she had won the argument enough to at least just get him interested in the beer instead of what was going on.

Even though death wasn't the same for Diva as it was Gene, she was worried, too. When time ran out, what would happen? Would they just suddenly drop dead? Or would it be slow and painful? She could only hope that when time ran out, it would be peaceful for both of them.

Diva let Gene take the tin and knelt on the tablecloth as she dug through the basket. She pulled out the necessary tools, holding them up for Gene to see, but nodded to the tablecloth.

"Well, let's sit, then. And you should care because we're friends, of course. Ne, you might not think so, but I think Gene is my friend."