A soft hum could be heard throughout the room as a man moved about, shuffling through the rooms. He swatted at the gathering dust as best he could before letting out a chuckle.

???: Good as new!

The man set down the duster and moved to take a seat in his chair, in front of the tv.

Mr. Oda: My name is Mr. Oda. I have lived in this building for quite some time and I say... it is terrible. Too much dust and it smells like old people. Then again maybe that is just me.

The old man spoke to himself as if he were a stranger, chuckling at his own jokes as he turned on an older movie to watch. He let out a soft sigh as he heard his neighbors through the wall.

Mr. Oda: Youthful love in bloom. I think you would like them, Lillie.

The man spoke as he glanced over to a picture on the end table next to him. 

Mr. Oda: Lillie and I, well we are a long story. Youthful love bloomed and managed to keep the spark for as long as we humans could handle. 

The male looked at the movie on the screen but did not find it as entertaining as it used to be, moving to turn off the tv. He clumsily reached over and picked up the framed photo, shuffling with it to the kitchen table.

Mr. Oda: My goodness Lillie can you believe what those two kids in the next apartment did? They let their son go on a date the other day and he got sick!

The frame glistened softly in the light, the dust floating in the beam of light as the male seemingly waited for a response.

Mr. Oda: Still he should have been more careful! Getting sick like that for a girl.

He paused once more.

Mr. Oda: Lillie if you bring up those darned pocky sticks one more time I swear!

The male spoke once more with a chuckle, standing up from his seat. 

Mr. Oda: I'm don't think I'm losing my head, truthfully. I think that if everybody were sane then there would be no interesting people in this world. No me, no Lillie, no kid next door. We are all losing it in the right amount to bring out a little joy for another. 

The older man seemingly narrated his thoughts as he moved from the kitchen back to the living room.

Mr. Oda: Lillie what did you want again? Hrrr...

The male searched through the room with his eyes and found his target, moving over to pick up a pair of glasses. 

Mr. Oda: I swear Lillie you need to stop losing these things.

He carefully placed the glasses in front of the frame and sat back down.

Mr. Oda: Lillie and I well we lived our lives together. We created a life that no one else can have because... well it's ours. Lillie and I bought a home and had a family together. Sure we weren't always peaches and strawberries but who really is?

Mr. Oda chuckled softly as he once more got up from his chair, moving to the panty to pull forth... well he didn't really know... pudding! Yeah, the pudding will work for now. 

Mr. Oda: Lillie you want anything?

He paused to look over his shoulder. The male seemingly got his response and chuckled.

Mr. Oda: I'll go out and get your pocky tomorrow, dear.

The male sat down with a spoon and heard another noise through the wall.

Mr. Oda: A shame what's happening to them. I wish them all the luck in the world and yet I don't think it will change what is going to happen. They should get to be like us, Lillie. But fate is a cruel thing, huh. 

Lillie seemed to have said something to him.

Mr. Oda: You could be right. I think she will be just fine with some love and maybe that son of theirs can enjoy his life. Find love of his very own. If I was a betting man I would put money on the short brown-haired girl, haha.

He chuckled as he opened his pudding cup, taking a bit of the substance with a soft sigh.

Mr. Oda: I... gah when did I start getting into the love lives of others. I'm becoming like you Lillie.

The male took a few moments to snack on his pudding, glancing at the picture every so often.

Mr. Oda: Who knows. The choice is up to him in the end, Lillie.

Mr. Oda finished up his treat and tossed it into the trash, picking up the picture as he shuffled into the living area once more. He put Lillie and her glasses back on the table facing the tv. Mr. Oda promptly sat in his chair with a grunt. He switched back on the tv and pulled out the drawer to the little end table. From inside, he pulled out a little pen and notepad.

Mr. Oda: Lillie and I talked about the neighbors today. She really needs to stick to her dramas instead of trying to pair up the neighbor boy. Or was that me?

The older man chuckled and set the paper back inside.

Mr. Oda: I always write down what Lillie and I talk about. It can be easy to forget sometimes and as long as I don't forget what we talk abut I won't forget Lillie! Then... I won't have to remember how much I miss her. But at the same time, I know how much work we put into this life and I would never change a thing. 

The male swallowed back something as his eyes began to glisten softly.

Mr. Oda: Ah Lillie you got me going again.

The older man rubbed his eyes, taking in a long inhale of air before puffing it out in a quick exhale.

Mr. Oda: I promised I'd stop crying Lillie but it's so hard. Hard to live this life without you. Even among all our creations and things... all I want is to hold you in my arms one last time. But I'll try to still my tears, Lillie. Because I know... I'll be able to hold you again real soon.

Mr. Oda picked up the picture frame and rested it over his heart, kicking back in his chair to shut his eyes. 

MR. Oda: My name is Mr. Oda. I have lived in this building for quite some time and I say... I wouldn't change a thing.