Some time before their journey began...

Two friends drank coffee by a campfire. One had eyes that absorbed the light, the other, eyes that made it look dull in comparison.

"I'm worried," the one with bright eyes said.

"About?"

"Forgetting."

"Forgetting what?"

"Who I am."

"You're with you all the time, how could you forget."

"I'm not really."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm with you all the time. The more I'm with you, the less I feel I'm with myself."

"I see."

"Do you ever worry about forgetting? Now that I'm here."

"No. Not really."

"How?"

"I don't feel as if I have anything to forget yet. I'm still looking for it."

"You have been alone a long time."

"I think that might have been the problem."

Silence enveloped them.

"Do you think I'll forget?" The friend with eyes of glass broke it.

"No, I don't."

"How can you be sure?"

"I can't quite explain it yet."

"Can you try?"

"I can but I won't."

"That's not very helpful."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I trust you."

Silence.

"Do you remember being a child?" The one with eyes the color of grief asked.

"I thought you weren't going to explain."

"Just a bit. Do you want me to stop?"

"I remember bits and pieces."

"So you've forgotten already."

"I don't think so."

"Explain."

"It's like a ship. Losing some pieces doesn't sink it."

"Don't bring Theseus into this."

"It is like that though."

"Not really."

"Well, I think it is."

"You aren't a ship, my friend. You are a ship builder. You worry if I help you build it, the ship won't be yours anymore, and maybe it won't. Maybe it will be ours. But there is a difference."

"A difference?"

"Yeah, between a life and a person. The ship is your life, but the one who makes it, that's you."

"That's us."

"If you want help."

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"Maybe we can build a nicer ship if we work together. A prettier life."

"I don't expect it to be pretty."

"But it will be grand."

"It will certainly be different."

"Good. I want it to be different."