Panel 1: We
now return to Universe A in the months following Iz A's breakdown. In
each panel, time has progressed by two or three weeks. In the first
panel, in a scene taking place about three weeks after the
breakdown. Iz A is standing in his bathroom, looking into the mirror as
he prepares to shave. He is still a little dishevelled and
shattered-looking, and he has lost weight. His phone, on which he is
listening to a message from Rose, is beside him on the counter.
Caption: January 13, 2023
Rose [via voice message]: Just checking in. Call me when you can.
Panel 2: Two and a half weeks later, Iz A stands in his bedroom with his shirt off. He is clean-shaven,
but his hair is longer than usual and is definitely approaching "emo"
territory. His shirt is off, and he is gazing down at his pants, which
are clearly several sizes too big for him and are going to need some
drastic belt action. He is not exactly thin, but he has slimmed down a
lot. His phone is sitting on top of his dresser.
Caption: January 31, 2023
Rose [via voice message]: I know you don't want to talk to anybody right now, but here's a limerick I wrote about a squirrel.
Panel 3: Two
weeks later, on Valentine's Day, Iz A sits at a table and opens up a
box filled with a random assortment of things. We can't see all of
them, but we know there are, at the very least, a yo-yo, a small
plastic animal skeleton, a gnome in a red hat, and a toy that seems to
consist of a round yellow happy face with blue hands and red feet. Iz A
is reading a note that has come with the box.
Caption: February 14, 2023
Rose [via note]: Hi, Iz. This box is full of things from the dollar store. I couldn't stop buying them.
Panel 4: Iz A stands in his apartment, holding his phone.
Caption: March 6, 2023
Rose [via voice message, extremely loudly]: ISRAEL
Iz A [thinks]: Well, I knew that was coming.
Alt-Text:
Rose is capable of being patient for only about two and a half
months. After that, you just know she's going to be screaming "ISRAEL"
into her phone.
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