The Shifting of Her Life: Part One

She didn't know anything except that she could feel. She certainly could feel the cold pavement against her body and the wet drops lay on her back. Like tiny needles they fall and seemly melt into a large liquid. They drop and drop making a noise she couldn't understand. It soothed her flesh and perhaps even her heart to feel. Except, she is alone and it feels like something is missing beside her -to interact with her flesh. The emptiness around her drift in the air and mind. She lays there and reaches out to grab something -in hopes of finding her missing touch.

It reacts, startled and then still. She pulls her lump of weight and then ever slowly look up. She quirks her mouth to the left and stares at something hat she couldn't comprehend.

She could feel herself shifting her fate. She also realizes that the something that was missing is still missing.

-

She steps out of the shadow and look up to George's aging hair.

"Saya, it's your first day back since then," he says, trying to cheer her up. Saya glance down for a moment before feeling pain in her chest.

"I can stay here right?" she asks warily and scared. George goes,"Hmm?" despite hearing what she said. He meant as it: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT GIRL! OF COURSE YOU CAN STAY HERE! THIS IS OUR HOME. MEANING IT'S YOURS AS WELL!

But Saya takes it incorrectly and mumble a short,"Never mind."

She scurries out of the shadows and heads for school. George stares at her back remembering how small it is and always will be that size.

-

"Saya, there is something I want to show you," George says, staring into his daughter's eyes. Saya blinks, wondering what he wanted to drive to her school for. She waves to Kaori and walks to the other side of the white van, getting in. George presses into the gas pedal with his foot, driving off.

'I wonder what Dad wants to show me?... Can it be about my past?' Saya ponders as George passes the airport.

Her father stops in front brick stairs, gets out of the van, and heads up. The sun setting on the ground is behind Saya as she follows him up. Once George leads her to the top he stops.

"A grave?" Saya asks, stopping shortly behind the big fellow She looks up to him, looking for answers.

"The grave where the Miyagusuku family's ancestors sleep. My mother and father, my wife and daughter who all died in an accident, are all resting here. Something akin to the proof that I lived in Okinawa here as well," George says, his eyes narrowing down by the second. He pauses before stating," You and I began here."

"Here?" Saya asks thinking, 'In a GRAVE?'

Saya turns slowly to the grave with a main corridor and sectors branching off it. The sunlight reflect off the normally gray stones.

"That's right. As the daughter of George Miyagusuku who lives in Okinawa. And today, something new will begin. The tomorrow you must now live now," George finishes, glancing down towards his little girl.

"My tomorrow," Saya starts solemnly," Is David-san taking me away?"

"You heard?"

"Yeah, I heard you and David-san talking about it in the hospital," she confirms.

"You probably don't know this, but I was in something called the Vietnam war," George starts, closing his eyes to replay the memories," There, a man who saved my life asked me as he died to watch over you, Saya Otonashi, until you awakened."

Saya's face darken as George reminisces his past.

"I was standing in the night shortly after the Vietnam war alone here in this grave temple. I stood there thinking of when you would awaken and what I should do when you did. Burdened with my doubts, I decided to live in Okinawa to watch over your awakening. I was going to go back to America but...I really liked it here. I left the army, opened a shop, and even got married.

"But then my wife and kids died in a car crash. I came here again with a goal to die here where my family was. I reached for my gun from my pocket, glaring at the stone door. I walked in the tomb and sat there with a gun to my head, ready to fire. Then, I heard your heart beating as you were sleeping. It was like telling me to let us live. From there, I decided to live my life to the fullest. I adopted Kai and Riku, spent time with them, watched them grow up. You were still asleep.

"I though of what to do when you woke up... I had plenty of time to think it over, yet I never got an answer. One year ago, I saw you awaken right here. I had my gun pointed at you, and I was shaking with fear. You smiled at me,and something changed inside me; I swore I would raise you as my child," George finishes as they both hear a light ringing. Saya only stare at the tomb as George takes the phone.

"Hello?" The Father asks.

"Time's up," the voice on the other line says. George's eyes flicker as she lowers his eyes.

"Understood."

He lowers the phone and pocket the silver thing. He faces Saya and suggest" Let's head back to the shop."

"What should I do?" Saya asks about the moving. At the third step down, George stops and sighs," That's not for me to decide. It's for you to figure out, Saya."