《Graveyard of Memory》


 Prologue

    ¡°You¡¯re going a little too slow,¡± Maya says, shooting me a glare. ¡°Walk a little faster. She might be dead by the time we even get there.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not something you should be joking about,¡± I frown, looking up the cobblestone pathway to the Wayward Clinic. ¡°And you should calm down. There¡¯s no rush,¡± I open my arms wide, showing Maya to the green trees and the lush grass. ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful day, she¡¯d want us to enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°I guess you¡¯re right,¡± Maya smiles then shrugs. ¡°No point in getting frustrated.¡±


    ¡°See?¡± If she knows there isn¡¯t a rush, then it¡¯s fine. ¡°We don¡¯t want to be wasting our youth.¡±


    Maya sighs, ¡°¡®Wasting our youth¡¯? What does that even mean?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I just felt like saying it,¡± if Maya was thinking I had some deeper meaning behind that, I¡¯m not sorry I disappointed her.


    She throws a black strand of hair out of her face as she walks in front of me, ¡°Maybe you should give it some thought.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°What does it mean to waste your youth?¡±


    ¡°Uh,¡± I place a hand to my chin. ¡°Never going after opportunities?¡± If people never chase after what¡¯s in front of them, they¡¯re never going to get where they want to be. When people are young, they¡¯re in a better position to take advantage of those kinds of choices. When I apply that to myself, what does it mean? I chuckle. ¡°It probably isn¡¯t so bad.¡±


    ¡°What isn¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°Just wasting away. I¡¯m content with how things are now,¡± I overtake Maya¡¯s brisk pace, turning back with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Things are fine now, but what about the future?¡± she says, trying to match my speed. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything you want to do?¡±


    Do I? I¡¯m fine with school, I don¡¯t really need to study. The school¡¯s promise of a ¡®lifelong career¡¯ isn¡¯t really something I¡¯m sold on either. If all they do is raise people to fight in some far off war, then that¡¯s not something I¡¯m interested in doing. I¡¯m through with that. ¡°No, I¡¯m content just living and doing what I do now.¡±


    ¡°Until the day you die?¡±


    ¡°Of course. I¡¯m a man of simple pleasure,¡± I place my hands on my head and turn to Maya.


    ¡°I¡¯m not even sure you know what that word means,¡± she shrugs.


    ¡°Simple or pleasure?¡± I quirk a brow.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you figure it out,¡± she says with a grin.


    ¡°Oh, I got it!¡± I snap my fingers. ¡°It¡¯s ¡®man¡¯, right?¡± Maya leaves me behind, circling around to the front of the clinic. I follow behind her, looking down the path we just walked. The natural view is nice, but the walk itself might be the reason this clinic isn¡¯t particularly popular. For people like Maya and myself, it¡¯s some nice exercise. For people with physical disabilities, getting up this hill just isn''t feasible.You could use a wheelchair, but again that¡¯s going to run into its own difficulties. ¡°I could probably do something about it,¡± I mumble under my breath.


    ¡°Hiroshi?¡±


    I perk up, ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°You coming?¡± Maya keeps the screen door to the clinic open.


    ¡°Right,¡± I take her invitation and step into the building.


    I¡¯d like to say that I smell the ocean¡¯s breeze when I walk into the room, but the only thing I¡¯m getting is cheap off-brand air freshener. I hold my nose on instinct and turn to Maya. She stares at me like I¡¯m an idiot. Her opinion of me is noted, but I still can¡¯t stand the scent. There really isn¡¯t a need for this since we live right on the coast. ¡°Just open the windows, Doc.¡± I step over the creaky floorboards to the main desk.


    I¡¯m half-tempted to just burst into the patient¡¯s room, but even I have enough knowledge to act with restraint in a clinic. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± I give the serving bell a ring.


    A thud sounds from the next room over. ¡°Are you alright?¡± I approach the wall while calling out.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± a disgruntled voice sounds from the other side. ¡°You can come in.¡±


    ¡°Save yourself the trouble and stop leaning on your chair,¡± I hold the door open as Maya walks into the doctor¡¯s office. ¡°You¡¯re going to end up hurting yourself.¡±


    ¡°Nothing I couldn¡¯t fix,¡± the doctor looks up at me from her comfy seat on the floor. I extend my hand down to help her up, but she dismisses me with a flick of the wrist. She stands up and brushes herself off. Her long, pink hair is tangled up around itself. I have to resist the urge to reach out and straighten it. I wouldn¡¯t even have to if this woman actually took care of herself.


    ¡°How¡¯s Aishi?¡± Maya asks while moving toward the patient¡¯s room. ¡°Is she eating at all?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Alonso gives a straight answer with her typical monotone. ¡°I can¡¯t force her to either.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not trying hard enough,¡± I say, pinching the bridge of my nose.


    ¡°I¡¯m doing what I can,¡± Alonso bites her lip.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it like that.¡± I place a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Is she choosing not to eat, or is it because she can¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s shown signs of nausea,¡± the doctor grabs her clipboard from the floor and starts flipping through it. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything to her that might¡¯ve caused it.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± I sigh, scratching the back of my head. ¡°So it¡¯s her emotional state?¡± At times like this I wish I had more power. I can protect people, I can fight¡­ but what good is that if people are still dying? Shields can only do so much. I¡¯m envious of people like the doctor here who can at least attempt to save someone. ¡°Then I guess we have to cheer her up,¡± I work up a smile and drift on over to Maya. ¡°Want to go in?¡±


    Maya stares at the door. She reaches for the handle. Her fingers curl around it, but her grip slips. Her arm dangles limply at her side. ¡°I don¡¯t know now.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you know?¡± I place a hand on Maya¡¯s shoulder


    ¡°I know she¡¯s in pain,¡± Maya tries to fight back tears. ¡°I know she¡¯s alone.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s fix that,¡± I crack a smile.


    She shakes her head and closes her eyes. ¡°Anyone would be scared in her position,¡± she balls her hand into a fist. ¡°So that means we have to be there for her.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I move my hand from Maya¡¯s shoulder to her wrist. When I do, her hand uncurls. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you can show her a face like that,¡± I guide Maya¡¯s grip to the door handle. ¡°Try to smile, okay?¡±


    The door creaks open. ¡°Could you be any louder?¡± Aishi says, staring at me with a wrinkled brow.


    ¡°I can be if you want, but that wouldn¡¯t be very courteous of me,¡± I look to her bedside to see a fallen chair. I stroll over to pick it up, but stop midway. There are cracks running up and down the legs, and claw marks on the seat. I sigh and pick it up. ¡°How are you feeling today?¡± I say as I sit down.


    ¡°Worse with you here,¡± she tosses her sketchbook onto the nightstand next to her bed. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°We came to see you,¡± I motion for Maya to come over with a hand. ¡°She won¡¯t bite,¡± I glance at Aishi then slowly back to Maya. ¡°I hope,¡± I speak in a hushed whisper.


    ¡°What was that?¡± our patient moves her head forward. ¡°I can¡¯t really hear you.¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± I throw my hands up in surrender. ¡°Nothing at all. So Maya, you wanted to talk to Aishi?¡± I don¡¯t want to make her worry more than she has to. I¡¯m fine if she hates me for it later.


    Maya blinks in confusion, trying to figure out what I just said and why Aishi reacted that way. ¡°Well, yes, I did. I just wanted to see how you were doing.¡±


    ¡°You do this everyday,¡± Aishi says, taking a deep breath. ¡°Why? I¡¯m not worth it.¡± She timidly crumples the bedsheet in her hands. ¡°You¡¯re better off studying.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really need to study,¡± I correct her with a grin. ¡°I¡¯m the type to just get good grades!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you,¡± Aishi reprimands me. ¡°Why do you hang out with him, Maya?¡±


    ¡°You already know the answer to that.¡±


    ¡°That you have terrible taste in men?¡±


    I laugh a little bit. I want to say something, but I don¡¯t want to ruin their fun.


    Maya shakes her head, ¡°No, it isn¡¯t that.¡± She places a hand on her chin and starts sizing me up. ¡°No, it definitely isn¡¯t.¡±


    I¡¯m wondering if I should take that as an insult or a compliment? Regardless, this is probably payback for the walk up here. It makes sense that if I keep spouting bullshit, karma is going to kick in. ¡°And here I thought I was just being a good boy,¡± I say while looking out the window over Aishi¡¯s bed. ¡°You have a pretty nice view here.¡±


    ¡°Then maybe you¡¯d like to be the one in the bed?¡± she turns to me with an angry glare. I consider my options.


    ¡°Aishi,¡± I run a hand through her disheveled brown locks. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t really take after the doc here when it comes to taking care of your hair. Maya, go get me a sponge and some water.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s a good idea?¡± Maya steps forward. ¡°If you¡¯re going to have someone do that for her, then let me do it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, just go get me a sponge. Oh, and a comb,¡± I look over to the far side of the room. ¡°I think there¡¯s one in that cabinet.¡± Maya nods to me before heading to the bathroom to fetch the water.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Aishi throws more venom. ¡°Let go!¡± she tries to pull my hand off. Her touch is light as a feather. There¡¯s hardly any strength in the tug. It¡¯s almost like nothing is there. If I could do anything, I would. If I could end her suffering, I would - but I can¡¯t. This is all I can do for her. ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± I pat Aishi¡¯s head. ¡°Just let me clean you up, okay? It won¡¯t hurt. I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± If I put too much pressure on her, I¡¯ll probably leave bruises. She¡¯s already in enough pain as it is. I get up from the bed and grab the comb from the cabinet. ¡°Do you have what I asked for?¡± I look to Maya as she heads back into the room.


    ¡°Yes, here you go,¡± Maya hands me the bucket and sponge.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± I sit on the edge of the bed. ¡°Aishi, can you scoot up? I know it¡¯s probably hard, but I need some room.¡± She moves forward without a word. Her head hangs down, and her hair falls around her like a veil. Of course, it¡¯s tangled here and there on the scalp and close to her shoulders. I dip the sponge into the warm water and start washing her hair.


    ¡°Hiroshi, are you sure you don¡¯t want me to do it?¡± Maya reaches for the comb sitting on the nightstand.


    ¡°No, I got this. I do your hair all the time. This isn¡¯t so hard,¡± I don¡¯t look at her. I stay focused on Aishi. ¡°Her hair is a little thicker than yours, but I can work with it.¡±


    ¡°I tried to thin it out,¡± Maya takes a seat on the far edge of the bed.


    ¡°You mean my brother tried?¡± I correct her.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what I meant,¡± she sighs. ¡°Point is, it just didn¡¯t turn out well.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re fine the way you are,¡± I continue combing Aishi¡¯s hair while trying my best not to bruise her scalp. I¡¯ve got some control over my strength, but I never know if I¡¯ll slip up. It¡¯s best to always be cautious. ¡°Aishi. Are you hungry at all?¡± There¡¯s no reply. Her eyes are downcast. ¡°I¡¯ll fix you something up after we¡¯re done here. That sound good?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not?¡± I rub the wet sponge through Aishi¡¯s hair. ¡°You sure about that? I think I can hear your stomach growling.¡±


    Her arms curl up around her belly and she leans forward. ¡°It hurts,¡± I hear strain in her delicate voice. ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat. It hurts too much.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I place hand on her shoulder to help her lie upright. ¡°Where¡¯s the pain?¡±


    ¡°It burns. It hurts just to swallow,¡± she clears her throat. ¡°But if I have to eat, I will. You¡¯ll keep bugging me about it if I don¡¯t.¡± Aishi takes in a deep breath and pulls herself up. ¡°You can stop now, Hiroshi,¡± she reaches a hand up to stop me from finishing her hair. I concede since I¡¯m satisfied with what little work I was able to do. ¡°I¡­ appreciate it,¡± her voice lost what venom was left. ¡°I¡¯ll eat something soft. It¡¯ll just hurt if you give me a full course meal.¡±


    ¡°Does Dr.Alhazred have a blender?¡± Maya sits up from the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll go check.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t need a blender,¡± I get up and crack my knuckles.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re hygienic, but I¡¯d rather we not,¡± Aishi shuts down the idea with a giggle. ¡°Fruits or vegetables will do.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Maya says with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± springs up and goes for the door. Just as she puts her hand on the lever, it creaks open. ¡°Oh, Doctor. You have a small kitchen here, right?¡±


    ¡°Down the hall,¡± Alonso points out the door. ¡°Use whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Maya bows respectfully then shoots out of the room immediately after. I hope she doesn¡¯t trip on anything on the way there. Actually, I should do something about that.


    ¡°Mind if I clean this place up?¡± I ask Alonso.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she scowls at me. Where did this vehement voice come from?


    ¡°Nothing?¡± I throw my hands up. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything.¡±


    ¡°No, what do you want?¡± she draws closer to me, our noses touching. ¡°No one offers that without wanting something.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± I surrender. I did have an ulterior motive after all. ¡°I¡¯d like it if you took care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°No time for that,¡± she pulls back. ¡°Saving lives.¡±


    ¡°You only have one patient,¡± I point to Aishi who looks unamused by all of this.


    ¡°Studying,¡± Alonso walks over to Aishi¡¯s bedside.


    There¡¯s another excuse. I try to stifle my laughter. ¡°Fine, I guess that¡¯s part of your charm.¡± I look at Alonso¡¯s finger tips as a blue ethereal energy pours out of them and into Aishi¡¯s body. She didn¡¯t even ask her if she was ready for a check-up yet. ¡°Does she always do this?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Aishi pushes her covers away and lies down on the bed. This must all be routine. ¡°She never warns me.¡±


    ¡°Pretty irresponsible,¡± I muse with a sigh. Alonso, of course, doesn¡¯t reply. She puts all of her attention into the magical procedure. The energy hardens into solid blue wires connecting her fingers to the rest of Aishi¡¯s body. Sparks of ¡®electricity¡¯ run from Alonso¡¯s finger tips through the lines joining into the patient¡¯s body. After a few seconds, the connection between the two snaps. The wires disappear into nothing.


    ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary,¡± she grabs at an invisible clipboard in her hands. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s in the other room.¡±


    ¡°Do you feel alright?¡± I slip the discarded covers up to Aishi¡¯s hands. She pulls them back up to her neck. ¡°Can¡¯t be healthy getting injected with all that mana.¡±


    ¡°I trust her,¡± Aishi manages to speak through a yawn. ¡°I¡¯ve always trusted her.¡±


    ¡°Why are you talking like I¡¯m not here?¡± Alonso says, finding herself a seat at the end of the bed.


    ¡°You were?¡± Aishi manages a sleepy smile.


    ¡°Maybe you should sleep?¡± I say with a furrowed brow. ¡°Eating is important, but that can wait.¡±


    ¡°I am kind of tired,¡± Aishi seems like she¡¯s already losing the fight to stay awake.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let Maya know,¡± I pat Aishi on the forehead while I head toward the door. ¡°Sleep well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°What about?¡± I look over at the bed with my hand on the door.


    ¡°About earlier. It¡¯s hard. It¡¯s just--¡±


    I stop Aishi her short. ¡°No reason to apologize. You didn¡¯t do anything wrong,¡± I sigh. ¡°Just get some sleep, okay? Watch over her, Alonso.¡±


    Maya returns and hands the food in a plastic container to Alonso. We say our farewells as I close the door behind us.