Title: Remember
Author: Luna
Genre: Introspective, confusing, friendship-angst
Word Count: 361, disregarding author's notes.
Beta-read/Edited: No
Dedicated to: Nobody, though I suppose Bea might like it...
Warnings: Mentions of drugs and alcoholism, maybe? Haha, you'll have to decide yourself
Author's notes: See bottom.
The door is old. A small, dirty window sits near the top, too dirty to see through. Behind it, I can smell a foul mixture of soap and urine.
"Oh. There you are. I've been waiting since Tuesday."
I frown. "You called yesterday."
"Yes. But I've been waiting since Tuesday." The crimson eyes are dull now, but she smiles nevertheless. "I want to go out. Come with me? I'm allowed to go to the gate if I ask nicely."
Haku still has slight remains of make-up on one eye, while her left foot is clad in a way-too-big-slipper. She glances briefly at a seventy-something old lady ambling towards us. "Don't mind her," Haku tells me. "She's crazy."
We don't go outside. Haku sinks down in-between two worn wooden chairs while rolling an unlighted cigarette between her fingers - probably one of Dell's. Then she frowns. "Are you missing a tooth?"
"No."
"I don't see it."
"They're all there."
"Oh. I'm glad you came."
Haku retrieves a small ink sharpie from her pocket. The ink is black, and I now understand why she has black lines - tally marks, almost - decorating her hand; she's been counting the days - since when? But then she speaks.
"Do you remember, Neru? When we sat in the grass underneath the cherry blossoms? It was springtime, when I was still going to become a singer, just like Miku-chan... Do you remember?"
"I do."
"I want you to draw some of your small figures again." She throws the sharpie at me, and I catch it with numb hands. Then she continues. "I want you to draw a story. A story about what happens when a girl like me grows too depressed and drinks too much and starts ingesting too many drugs." Haku looks up, and it's the first time she's met my eyes since I came. The crimson eyes are brimming with tears waiting to be shed, but she doesn't let them fall.
"And, Neru... Could you maybe give it a happy ending?"
- x -
Her name isn't Haku.
I don't know where she is.
I just hope it's better than here.
- End -
Author's Scribbles: If you're confused, I've done my job.
Ahem... I have no idea what inspired this. I just wanted to write something, is all. I'll upload Bea's Christmas gift later today, or maybe tomorrow. I dunno.
Constructive critisism welcome and appreciated.