Just then, I heard Lizard whisper, “Good night.”
I opened my eyes, a bit surprised. I’d thought she was already asleep. Looking down I could see that her eyes were shut.
“Good night, my love.”
She said sleepily, her eyes still closed, “I bet I’ll go to hell when I die.”
“You worry too much.”
“I’m not worrying.” Lizard protested. “I was thinking that I’d probably like it even better in hell because there’s bound to be lots more sick people for me to heal.”
And with that she fell asleep, her face like a little girl’s, breathing softly. I watched her for a while and cried for several minutes, mourning our childhoods.

Banana Yoshimoto, Lizard —