Robotech: 2018
Chapter 1: Minmei
A young woman sat on a park bench and sighed sadly. The man she loved was engaged to someone else, she hadn't seen her cousin in years, but of course that didn't much matter to her anymore. Her cousin was a drunk and she despised him. Looking up at the night sky she made one more wish, on one more star. She finally decided it was enough, no more touring and no more annoying managers that want to control her life.
"I never knew my own lyrics would come back to haunt me. Oh, Rick…" she dried her eyes before too many tears began to fall, she couldn't recall how many times she told herself she wouldn't cry. But it never failed. She would think about him, remember the mistakes she made, and would break down again. She could have made it work, if she really wanted too, but she just nineteen and too into her own carrier. Many a night would go by that she wished Lisa hadn't come into the picture, but she knew it was wrong. She should be happy for Rick; he was with the woman he loved. Then again, Rick had said he loved her too. She found herself both loving and hating Rick Hunter; she cursed his name and that 'fateful day' on Macross Island. She shook her head; she knew she was just tormenting herself with a life she could never have. She pulled a box out of her bag and opened it. Inside was the titanium Medal of Valor that he had given her on her sixteenth birthday. She closed her eyes and silently remembered that day…
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She was just about to go to bed; she had stay up until now waiting for him. She yawned and went to close the curtains when she spotted Rick. She smiled as she hurried to open the window.
"Rick, I knew you wouldn't forget." She checked her wristwatch. "Five minutes to go. What did you bring me?"
"Well, look, Minmei, about your present, you see, I was planning…er, that is, what I meant to tell you before…" Rick was hopelessly tripping over his own words when Minmei giggled.
"Come on, Rick, don't be a jerk. I don't care what you brought me. It's the thought that counts. Now, throw it up here. Come on."
Minmei watched his as he sighed and his arms fell to his sides. She couldn't understand what was wrong. Rick's hand fell on his right pocket and he remembered the box. He quickly pulled it out and regarded it in the light from the streetlight. The brass had given this to single him out, to tell him he was extraordinary. He deiced by giving it to her it was his way of saying she was special to him, that his valor and bravery were because she was his inspiration, the person he was fighting for.
He snapped the lid closed and gave the box an underhanded toss toward Minmei's outstretched hands. Minmei knew he couldn't see her face too well from down there, so she sighed and held it in front of her.
"Rick, I don't know if I can accept this. Really…"
"I want you to have it, Minmei. It-it says what I can't say to you. Please, keep it."
She moved the box close to her face and smiled. "It's beautiful, and I love it."
Rick smiled. "Happy birthday"
Minmei blew him a kiss and waved good night.
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Minmei couldn't stand it anymore, life was at it's cruelest. Life always seemed to have a way of turning the tables, from fortune smiling on you to everything going wrong. She got up and headed towards her car, it was a blue sports car she had gotten after she quit touring. She sat down in the front seat and turned the car on. Driving away she began to sing the song that haunted her. Feeling that maybe, just maybe, she would stop the hurting by singing.