"You're not Ria?" I said again, somehow feeling dizzy in dreamland.
"Stop parroting me. A girl can only throw so many lifelines into the conversation before she runs dry and gets bored, say something else, contribute - talk!"
"Okay!" I raised my arms, conceding to the madness unfolding. "Question!"
Not-Ria beamed. "Now that's more like it!"
I cleared up the non-existent lump in my throat. "Do you know me?"
"Yup."
"Know Ash?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"Irene?"
"I love Irene!"
"Then you're you, Ria! The hell are you talking about?"
"But I'm not me!"
"Well, if you're not you, then who are you?!"
"I'm Ria!"
"You are making me a very confused man!"
"I know, right?!"
It's gotta be a joke. This has to be just one convoluted long-winding big middle finger to my mental physique and any moment she'll pull the gotcha from right under me and she'll go laugh about it to death right in front of my face as her master scheme falls rightfully into place.
