Elick gave a long sigh and felt defeated. He didn’t want to expend the energy to argue with Mallard or startle his parents. Instead, he followed Mallard into his tiny room and sat down on the bed. Elick patted his hand along the bed sheets and beckoned for Mallard to take a seat.

            Mallard smiled pleasantly and looked like a happy puppy walking towards the bed. If he had a tail, it’d be wagging. “Why must we sleep apart?” he asked.

            Elick rolled his eyes and flopped back onto the bed. “You have to realize; I’ve never slept with anyone before. I don’t know what to do with a strange man. Let alone in front of my parents.” He rolled away from Mallard and ran his finger along the bed spread.

            Mallard placed his hand along Elick’s waist. “But I’ve known you since you were small. How can you say I’m strange?”

            Elick rolled over and brushed Mallard’s hand away. “Are you really that dimwitted? How can you not understand how I feel?” He sprang up from the bed and stared into Mallard’s eyes. “I—I don’t regret what we’ve done together, but I knew better.” He looked away with a frown creeping across his face. “This is all so confusing, but when I look at you, I feel comfortable. I can’t explain it, and I know I keep repeating myself. But what person claims to be a pet fish, has sex with a stranger, and then acts like they’ve known someone their whole life?”

            Mallard clasped his hands around Elick’s hands and pulled him close. “Look at me.” He nudged Elick’s chin towards him. “I’m sorry.” He brushed Elick’s cheek and wiped his eyes.

            “I’m not crying.”

            “Listen, I—I can’t relate. I’m sorry. It’s all such a blur.” Mallard looked down and his silvery hair fell across his face like a curtain. “I just feel an overwhelming sense of desire to be with you. It’s as if when I look at you, distant memories stir within me.”

            “Like my grandmother?”

            “Yes, there were things we use to talk about and do together. She was there when I needed her…”

            Elick fell to his knees and laid his head along Mallard’s legs. He gave a half-hearted chuckle. “I don’t understand. First, I learn my grandmother is missing or dead…or something. I don’t care. Yet, you remind me of the time when I used to feel hopeful and not alone.” He looked up with glassy tear-filled eyes. “We can’t let my parents catch us, they’ll be angry and kick us out.”

            “Is that why you can’t stay with me?” Mallard brushed Elick’s hair away from his face.

            “I want to know more about you.” Elick rubbed his cheek against the palm of Mallard’s hand and smiled. “It may not be the smartest thing I do, but I’m drawn to you—as much as I hate to admit it.”

            “That’s good though.”

            Elick chuckled and looked back at the bedroom door. He was relieved to see it closed and didn’t want his parents barging in on them. “I want to figure this out. I think we should start to figure out who you are and how you knew my grandmother. Perhaps, there’s something locked in your memory that could give us a clue.”

            “I will try to remember…”

            “Well, maybe as we get to know one another it’ll help bring out those memories. I’m assuming when you finally remember, you’ll be able to tell me how you met my grandmother and ended up as a goldfish.”

            Mallard pulled Elick up and wrapped him in a warm embrace. “I would be happy to remember who I am because then I can give you my truest self, Elick.”

            Elick pushed away and stared back at Mallard with a confused expression. “What if I don’t like your truest self? Or what if you don’t like me?”

            Mallard chuckled and hugged Elick again. “You don’t have to worry about that. Something within my body stirs like a fire…there is no way I could dislike you.” He nuzzles his cheek against Elick’s chest. “It’s like I’m drawn to you as if you’re my destined soulmate.”

            Elick scoffed and laughed. “That’s so cliché—even for me, and I’m a writer!” He jerked his head towards the door and ran towards it. “That reminds me, I need to update my web novel. I try to write on it a few times during the week.”

            Mallard reached for him. “Wait, does that mean you won’t be back?”

            Elick fumbled with the doorknob. He ran his fingers across the lock and pressed it. “You know, there may come a time when we’ll have to be apart.” He took a deep breath and unlocked the door. “But for now, you can join me and sit quietly as I try to type up a new chapter. I can tell you all about it later.”

            Mallard stood up straight and smiled like an eager child.

            Elick eased the door open and looked out into the hallway. He turned his head back and forth, hoping his parents were in bed. “I’m sure it’ll be alright if we go back and forth into each other’s room. However, if we spend too much time together, they’ll get suspicious, maybe.”

            “Then, what’ll we do, Elick? I…I’m afraid to be away from you for too long. What if I turn back into a fish.”

            Elick sighed and grabbed Mallard by the hand. “Quiet now.” He tugged Mallard close and tried to whisper. “We’ll just have to lock this door when we’re together and watch out for my parents. In the meantime, we need to make sure you’re well hydrated, so your tail doesn’t come back.”

            Mallard trembled; he had a grim look across his frowning face. “I…don’t want that to happen again.”

            “Well, I don’t really understand it, but we’ll do what we can to keep you stable. Remember to drink plenty of water and shower—whatever helps, I guess.”

            Mallard shrugged out of confusion.

            “If you don’t know what’s going on, I don’t know either. I guess we’ll just have to figure things out together.” Elick led Mallard into his room and sat him on the bed, near his computer. “Let me do this for a little while, then we’ll go to your room and sleep.”

            “But what about tomorrow, and the next day? Then, all the time after that? What’ll we do? Where will we go?”

            “One step at a time, Mallard.” Elick shook his head and rubbed his forehead. “You look like the mature one, and you even act like it, sort of. However, these questions—feel so needy and kinda cute.” Elick shook his head vigorously to get rid of those thoughts. “We will just go about our days, trying to get along, and search for anything to startle your memory.”

            Mallard nodded.

            “I know it sounds silly to repeat myself, but I don’t know a more detailed answer. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. I don’t like that but that’s all we can do for now. We’ll see where your memory leads us.”