Ihavelongsensedsomethingamissintheworld.Attheedgeofmymindsomethingfrolicked,changingmyverycore.Howcanthesetoeventberelated?WouldIbetheonetoputthingsinthereplace?Ifthatisthecase,amIworthyofthetask?


    YearshavepassedsinceIgainedtheanswertothequestionIhadconstructedsolongago.Thereisstillsomethingnaggingatthebackofmymind,doIrememberthemall?


    “Heatherwehavebeenfriendsourwholelife.”Myfeetcatchtheautumnleavesbeneath,astherubberIamsittingonhasyettoreachahigheraltitude,andthemetalchainsbegintocausethepalmofmyhandstoache.(Pumpthoselegsharder!)Ithinktomyself.Iambroughttoanabruptstop,asHeatherclutchesherhandsjustabovemine.Itrymyhardestnottothrowup.“Wellofcourse,althoughthatisonlyaboutfifteenyearsnow.”


    Ileapofftheswingintoapileofleaves,whichformedaftermyfeetpushedthemforward.Heathershieldshereyesfromtheirsuddenlaunch.“Doyounotfeellikeourmetingseemedslightlyoutofplace.”“Outofplacehow?”Heatherasksmeratherannoyed.Myeyessearchherfromheadtotoe.“Likesomeoneelseshouldhavebeenthereaswell.?”Heathershootsmeareallystrangelook.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Wefoundourselvesalongadirtpath,Heatherhadsuggestedwetakeashotcuthome.Thelosesoilalmostmademeslideoffthehillwenowfoundourselvesupon.“Careful,thereIan,Idonotwantmybestfriendtogosplat!”Heathergripstightlytomyhandasshepullsmetowardsher,Icanfeelherwarmbreathagainstmyeyelids.(ShouldIletherdropme?)Iamonlycontemplatingthisbecausethesensationistostrange.“ThankyouHeather,butcouldyoubackawayalittle?”“Fine!”Heatherslumpshershoulderstogetherandquicklymarchesahead.


    IsometimeswonderifHeatherisjustafigmentofmyimagination,butifthatisthecasewhywouldmyheartbethumpingsohardwheneversheisnear.Somewherealongthelinewemusthavetakenawrongturn.“Isthatawaterfall?”IstareinthedirectionHeatherispointto.EventhoughIamnearlyoutofbreath,Imakethemistakeofgasping,thislocationissurreal.Flowerpetalsseemtofloatupthewaterfallwheneveracurrentofwindpassesby.Withmybreathheldin,Ienduppassingout.


    IawaketoHeathersplashingcoldwateronmyface.“Ianareyoualright?”Iamabouttoanswerher,whensuddenlyHeatherdisappears.Iambaffled,butIamsoonovercomewithmemories.FlashbacksofwhenHeatherandIfirstmet.


    “HellomynameisCrystal,andtheshygirloverthereismyoldersisterHeather.”AndjustlikethatyearsofmylifewithHeatherandCrystalcomeflashingback.