《Faded Souls》


 Misplaced Memories

    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.