Echoing within the wells of silence, crackles of disembodied raindrops coexisted in harmony with the weeping of the rainclouds above. A sea of umbrellas – most of them black – became targets for the drops to splatter against. Driblets of water would cascade their way down the fabric, before taking yet another plunge towards the earth. Sporadic puddles of water would continue to evolve with the progression of the rainstorm. Plumping the leaves with crisp and clean water, the raindrops soaked any square inch of the terrain below. Ironically, the plump, turgid, and green grass sung harmonies of fertility, beauty, and prosperity; all of which were rather neglected. Any concrete exposed to the storm began evolving a dreary shade of dark grey from collecting raindrops, analogous to Jasiri's comfortably numb mindset.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me down to lie in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Bogo's jet-black jacket did little in reducing his exposure to the elements of mother nature. Even with an umbrella to assist in his journey across the block, with Judy by his side, his leathery jacket, engraved with the ZPD's logo on the front, did little to protect him from the blasts of sweet, brusque air that floated throughout the city. He didn't mind the wind necessarily, but rather what it was carrying. Any one of these occasional gusts would whisk miniscule rain droplets right into his face or onto his fur, efficiently draining his reserves of heat. Some of the water integrated right on his balmy cheeks, condensating into small water drops. The kinetics that accompanied his strides permitted these globules to stream down his face.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Differentiating tears from rain would be a fruitless and futile task to investigate within such an atmosphere. Jasiri couldn't help but differentiate the striking similarities between his urban environment and Yerupajá; the more he thought about it, the more uneven the street appeared as he cast his vision downwards. He recalls the descent of the casket, which was consolidated with a putrid and unnerving stretch of the bands that suspended it. Trailing its descent were the arcs and paths of crimson-red roses. The flowers amassed inside the grave alongside the casket, enveloping it in a weary shade of red. If Jasiri looked closely, he could observe many pedals that were branched form the rose's bulbs were pierced with rigid and sharp stalks of the beauty's counterpart.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Waltzing past the Flora and Fauna shop on his right, where he had to assist with an investigation regarding vandalism recently, Jasiri payed careful observation to the beautiful arrangements of the roses on the right. Aligned in a beautiful and paralleled matrix, the flowers sat peacefully in the rain along the shelf. Jasiri's eyes were drawn to their beauty, like two opposite magnets destined to marry with each other. His walking pace slowly decelerated, until he paused himself right in front of the arrangement.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
The sea of red whispered and spoke to him: a disarrayed collage of turgid flowers, many of which have been torn of some pedals, spoke of nothing but pain and adversity. These encryptions tapped into his mind and soul, casting him into the same trance all over again. He would have to relive that same day all over again. Yes, the flowers knew; they know of agony, bedlam, and heartbreak. They knew of tragedy, sorrow, and anguish. They described weeping, silent or pronounced, along with the tear-stained eyes which refuse to reconstruct. They understood his pain.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
"Uh…Chief?"
Jasiri continued to stare at the flowers, disregarding Judy's comment. Only when she gently tugged at his jacket did she snap him back into reality. He turned and looked at her.
"What are you doing? The tower's still a short walk away," she commented.
"Err…Right. Sorry. It's just that these roses just caught my eye. They…They bring back some bittersweet memories. Could you do me a favor and wait here?"
"Uh-"
"Splendid!" exclaimed Bogo as he gave the umbrella to Judy, "I'll be right back out before you can say carrots!"
Judy rolled her eyes.
Bogo hustled his way into Flora and Fauna, sliding his wallet out of his back pocket while gliding into the store. Perplexed at his behavior, Judy stayed put, investigating his silhouette jetting its way around the shop. Despite the raindrops on the window masking and mutating her views of a clear picture unfolding inside, Judy managed to distinguish his black silhouette surrounded by several golden, blurry lights scattered about inside the shop. It squiggled through a couple of aisles, past several customers, and eventually made its way to the cashier, with a rather large assortment of flowers, or at least that's what Judy assumed they were. A brief transaction later, and Jasiri walked out of the shop with a beautiful arrangement in his hand.
The bouquet was one of the most astonishing ones Judy had ever encountered. A fresh-cut batch of roses highlighted the piece, but several small daisies smiled at her. Blushing lilies were also dotted throughout the arrangement. The steady rain added an augmentation to the colors, which torched the flowers with natural, raw hues. Not necessarily a torch of fire, but more so a torch of beauty.
"Sweet cheese and crackers! I never knew you were so good at doing floral arrangements, sir! That…That's absolutely incredible!"
Jasiri chucked. "Well, I actually bought these. If you're impressed with the flower arrangement, talk to Ethan inside; he was the cashier that made this. It was just a featured bouquet that was on display inside, so I figured why not buy it?"
"Why exactly did you get those? They better not be for me…"
"Oh, no. These…" trailed Jasiri while stroking a few pedals, "Are for Justin."
Awkward.
"Jeez, you guys do have weird family traditions. Sage leaves, bouquets...Are all buffalo like this?"
"Eh, I have my doubts. These are things that I just do whenever I decide to pay him a visit. Like I said: family traditions."
"Huh…"
"I'll explain when we get there. Let's get a move on."
The two resumed their rainy journey to the Amazon Tower, whose foundation was around a half-block away. Seeing the structure up-close continued to take Judy's breath away every time she saw it. Its sheer height, infrastructure, and aesthetic beauty, even in dreary weather like that day, would continue to mesmerize her. Her favorite part about the structure, however, were the crystal-clear glass panels that coated the tower. The thousands of glass sheets that were lodged into the building were each dyed with assortments of colors to complement both the city and its surroundings. Some were purple, which reflected the city's wealth and development. Many others were blue, symbolizing the city's strength and stability throughout the times it was established. Finally, hundreds of turquoise-green panels were scattered about to establish the growth and harmony of Zootopia.
Or, at least, that's what Clawhauser told Judy. Occasionally, she had no choice but to take his trivia with a grain of salt. The poor cheetah was probably the most gullible animal at the department; which is perhaps the main reason why he was working as the ZPD's concierge. She heard one time that Bogo suggested Clawhauser a desk job after he let a DUI suspect drive off because the driver claimed he was sober. But then again, Nick isn't always reliable with his information either.
The two eventually reached the front entrance of the building. As they sought refuge from the rain, Bogo compressed the black umbrella he held, and carried it by his side like some sort of cane. Because he was a much bigger animal than Judy, Jasiri could walk through the revolving door that served as the tower's entrance with ease. Being a relatively small rabbit, however, Judy had no other choice but to bust a jog in order to make her way through without being crushed like a toothpick. Upon entering the lobby of the well-maintained building, a gust of warm, sticky air pelted the two, contrasting the biting chilliness outside. Judy's ears flapped like loose cloth in a windstorm. As a matter of fact, she had to fight the force of the wind to prevent her being a tumbleweed. Once the gusts calmed down, Judy nostalgically surveyed the lobby once again, still in complete awe at the amount of beauty and professionalism it withheld.
One could loosely define the lobby as being a massive glass canopy; a gigantic room which occupied about half of the space defined as the first three floors. It was as if somebody cut out half of the first, second, and third levels, allowing the jaw-dropping views of the nearby skyscrapers speak for itself. The boundaries to the space were limited to just the glass plates that layered the tower and the second and third floor balconies which overlooked a farfetched bronze statue of the city's first mayor, Doctor Simba. This mayor ruled the city with an iron fist over two hundred years ago, governing each of the established boroughs to ensure that predator and prey lived in harmony. A fountain surrounded the statue, establishing even more credibility of both the importance of the mayor and the complex size of the Amazon Tower. Each balcony that overlooked this statue was separated vertically by about twenty feet of curtsey space, which probably allowed the lobby to peak out at about sixty to eighty feet high. To top off the superb lobby? A chandelier that paid tribute to the fascination of biology: a double helix. Hundreds of strings aligned each lightbulb into the phenomenal structure, with an entire spectrum of colors to accompany it. The work of art was one of Judy's favorite parts of the city.
"Good day, sir and ma'am! My name is Josh. Welcome to the Amazon Tower! How may I help you?" asked a wombat in charge of greeting guests at the door.
"Thank you. Would you mind escorting my friend and I to the Yerupajá Terrace please?" asked Jasiri.
"Yerupajá…?"
"Yes, please. If we could."
"I'm sorry, but unfortunately we have the terrace closed due to the bad weather. You'll have to stop by when the fog and rain rolls out."
Bogo glared at the employee, and slowly revealed the bouquet that he had hidden behind his back.
"Ooh…My apologies. Please…Follow me."
Josh led the two through the lobby, directly past the statue of Simba and the concierge.
"How did you do that?" asked a curious Judy.
"Well, let's say that I'm an exception to visit this place."
Judy cast her vision towards the ground in front of them as they continued to journey their way through the lobby, which was relatively empty; a few business professionals and tourists were all to be seen.
"Jasiri…"
"Hmm?"
"Is…Is Justin alive?"
Bogo took a deep breath as they continued to walk, and let out a sharp and muffled cough.
"No."
Judy's ears flicked up in surprise.
"Oh…I-I'm sorry for your loss, sir."
"Thank you, Hopps, but there is no need to be sorry. The only reason why I'm taking you here is to explain myself."
"Just curious…How did Justin…Move on? If you're okay talking about that, of course."
Jasiri took another deep breath to recollect himself.
"Justin committed suicide around thirty years ago, back when I was only in elementary school. Despite how long ago that was, such an event was traumatic enough to still affect me to his day. His gravesite is right out here on this terrace. That…That was the one thing that I didn't want you to know just yet. Putting something like that in the file...It just felt wrong."
"My goodness, chief! I can't imagine how painful it must be to go through something like that…"
"You're right; you don't know. And I hope you never have to go through something like that. These things…They change you. One day, you might be living an utmost perfect life, full of bliss and harmony, and the next, you're battling depression, anxiety, and a whole cluster of mental issues. It's not fun."
"Well, even though I don't know how you feel, I know how to make you feel better. If you ever need someone to talk to…You come straight to me. Promise?"
Bogo glanced over at Hopps and gave her a warm smile.
"I promise."
Towards the back of the lobby, lodged between two gigantic acacia trees, rested a pair of glass doors, with the word Yerupajáengraved in the granite above it. Despite the thick layer of fog outside (with complements from the storm), Judy could make out the start of a terrace as the three animals approached it. Despite feeling sorrow for Jasiri, Judy also felt intrigued to see what was behind the glass doors; she had never seen them before when visiting the tower. The wombat waved his key card in front of a nearby scanner, which activated the unlocking mechanism. He politely opened the door and permitted them to step back outside. Jasiri and Judy exchanged farewell glances as they encountered the stuffy, brisk air outside. The rain seemed to calm down quite a bit, but Jasiri opened up his umbrella nonetheless. The two began their journey to the terrace, with mounts of fog steamrolling past them as they step out in the open.
"How exactly do you say this place? Yoro-pay-gah? Euro-pah-ja?" asked Judy.
"Euro-pa-ja. Close."
"What does that even mean?"
"Well, in some foreign language, I don't know which one, it means a summit, or the highest point…An overwatch."
"So this place is essentially a cemetery then."
"Eh, sort of. Only ten animals are buried here."
"Just ten? What kind of cemetery is this?"
"It's one where some of the city's most important animals are buried."
"Wow…"
At the end of the corridor, the pair set foot to a beautiful terrace which branched out of the tower, suspended on pillars that kissed the ground about fifty feet below them. The patio bared similarities to a wild savanna: Golden stalks of tall grass whispered with the fog in distributed planters, while a stream ran from a small pond to a mesmerizing infinity pool that cascaded over the edge of the terrace. Acacia trees, scattered about the balcony, provided shelter to many flora and birds that called Yerupajá home. Three ponds, one of which was the source for the river to the infinity pool, were placed across as well, unifying the ecosystem with their aesthetic and natural beauty. Water lilies and cattails enveloped their crystal-clear waters, giving shelter to plenty of dragonflies and fish. Completing the fragile set was a set of glass handrails that wrapped around the deck, with a couple pairs of benches accompanying them to overlook the city.
That is, if the fog would ever clear up.
"Wow…This is incredible. It's so…Peaceful," mumbled Judy as she slowly wandered aimlessly to the right. Jasiri gave her time to explore some of the features about, observing her from a distance while she soaked in the beauty. The thick fog eventually wrapped around her, and she disappeared like a phantom into the night.
"Follow me, Judy," cried Jasiri as he stepped out into the open.
Judy eventually reemerged, shuffling her way back to the center of the terrace. Once the two finally met up, Bogo directed them to the opposite edge of the balcony. Gently tucked in a corner between the enormous tower and a concrete wall that eventually merged into the glass balcony was a small opening of fresh and sweet grass, with daisies and tulips surrounding the meadow. On the wall of the building, ten plaques were drilled into the concrete, each constructed from striking jet-black marble. Gold letters were embedded into each one, depicting what appeared to be very formal memorials for whoever's name was on that wall.
A splatter of rain drizzled onto the two. Judy hustled to seek refuge underneath Bogo's umbrella, which was echoing crackles throughout Yerupajá. As Judy began to study the memorial sight, investigating the impact that these ten mammals must have left in order to possess such a legacy. Once the spout of rain calmed down, Judy stepped back into the open and began investigating the tablets, starting with the rightmost ones. She minded caution and gave plenty of space between herself and the wall. Some of the names that she saw struck her as very familiar, while others were complete strangers.
Teddy Mercury
Born: 5 September 1946
Died: 24 November 1991
Famed singer, songwriter, and lead vocalist of the Queen Bees.
Andy Worthog
Born: 6 August 1928
Died: 22 February 1987
15 Minutes of Fame as a beloved artist and photographer.
Judy closed in on the middle tablet. About ten feet away from the wall, she suddenly halted, looking straight at the plaque. Jasiri stood from afar, and eventually walked beside her as she looked straight at the words encrypted on it. After joining her in front of the plaque for about a minute, Bogo finally collapsed to his knees, suppressing the flow of tears that were desperate to escape his body. The roses he was holding fell to his side, coating themselves in droplets of morning dew on the ground. Judy forced herself to reread the raw, powerful message that was encoded on the tablet.
Justin Roger Bogo
Born: 6 March 1949
Died: 25 December 1967
Justin,
The most painful goodbyes are the ones that are never said and never explained.
On this very day, Heaven gained an angel cast with golden wings. Yes, there are two paths you could've gone by, but in the long run, there was still time to change the road you were on. Despite how brief it was, your life was a beautiful journey that will never be forgotten. We'll see you again soon…
Someday.
-With love,
Mom, Dad, and Jasiri
A boxing glove shoved heaved straight into Judy's abdomen, nearly sending her down to her knees as well. Heat started to cascade throughout her entire body as she became overwhelmed with an epiphany; surges of warm blood streamed through Judy's body, flushing her face with a pair of rosy cheeks underneath her layer of fur. A stone felt like it was directly lodged into her throat, interfering with her ability to maintain a steady breathing pace. Trying to mask her struggles as much as possible, Judy whisked out quiet and quick breaths, hoping that Jasiri would not notice her physical breakdown. Judy's sense of mobility shattered upon her name being called.
"Judy…?"
"Y-yes…sir?" she replied while managing her turbulent and irresolute gasps of air.
"Can you please pass me the sage?"
Swiveling her hand around to her back right pocket, Judy's paws felt the plastic wrap that enveloped the delicate green leaf. She took extra caution upon sliding it out. As she delivered the herb to Jasiri, Judy rested a paw on his shoulder, hoping that she could be a source of comfort and support.
Jasiri accepted the leaf and carefully unwrapped it. The message that was written on it before could still be clearly deciphered, despite the small text and sloppy handwriting.
…I wish heroes, heroes like you, would continue to help me find true happiness…
"Th-thank you," he muffled while stroking his hooves across the brittle surface. Taking her paw off his shoulder, Judy gave Bogo some space for himself.
Jasiri gently folded the leaf into quarters and set it on the ground beside him. He then began to unearth a small part of the dirt before him, creating a small depression in the ground. Bogo handled the leaf once again, and gave it a light kiss before resting it inside the hole.
"Imeandikwa," he whispered.
Finally, Jasiri scrapped the dirt around the hole back to where it originally belonged, restoring the neatness and organization set around the memorial. Once there was little to no trace of disturbance of the soil, Bogo stood up and rested the flowers right in front of the covered cavity.
"Bogo, sir…I…I don't know what to say. I'm very sorry for your loss. I can't imagine having to go through something so painful," squeaked Judy, cautious as to not further upset him.
"Come with me."
Jasiri directed Judy across the canopy to a bench which overlooked the city. A pond laid right beside the wood-crafted furniture. The thick blanket of fog that continued to surround the two was finally beginning to show signs of weakness. Clouds began to dissipate, slowly revealing beams of sunlight and hints of the vast horizon in front of them. Golden stalks of grass surrounded the two, isolating their view to the beauty of the city revealing itself. TundraTown was visible on their left. The white-capped peaks that defined its outer boundaries were indistinguishable and integral to the beauty of that area. Sahara Square also stood out like a sore thumb; the Palm Oasis casino and the cascading dunes that bordered the sea was the signature beauty of the borough.
"Judy…I need you to understand something," fretted Jasiri once the two sat on the bench.
"I've been alive for long enough to see terrible things happen to this city. I've seen assaults, robberies, and even murders happen right in front of me. I've seen blood being shed, bones being broken, and consequences of the drug trade unfold right before my eyes. But nothing that I've had to go through, not one thing in my entire life, will compare to Christmas night of nineteen sixty-seven. To say that such a happy day back then was the worst day of my life would be a drastic understatement. That night transformed me from a happy, carefree, bright buffalo to the dirty, messy, and depressed sack of shit that everyone in the ZPD now looks up to. No matter what I have to go through, no pain or trauma I have or ever will see will ever compare to having to undergo the adversity surrounding my brother's suicide. Every time I have to hear his name, celebrate Christmas, or visit this place…I have to relive ever second of that horrible, gruesome day. I've often felt like my happiness just shrivels whenever I learn, or rather dig-up, more information regarding his death.
"Justin wasn't just a brother to me. He was an integral part of my life. My personality, curiosity, and influence were all guided by his love and support for me. Not only did he teach me, but he protected me. If Justin ever got word that I was being toyed with by some of the children at my elementary school, for example, he would do everything in his power to take the twenty-minute drive from his high school to make sure I was okay. If I was home, sick with the flu, he would give me enough medicine, chicken soup, and ice cream to choke a hungry, hungry hippo. I'd be lying if I didn't say he would give up a limb for me; even his own life. Justin was one special buffalo; but he didn't focus his love on just me.
"Our family grew up in a very poor farmhouse, about twenty-five due west of Sahara Square. My father, thanks to a childhood injury, was bound to a wheelchair for life, and my mother had no choice but to work part-time in order to care for him while paying the basic bills for the house. Just when it looked like my mother couldn't take it anymore, Justin stepped in, and worked part-time as a janitor at the ZPD Precinct One Station to assist my mother with her financial debt, despite his load of schoolwork. As he brought in a small source of income for our family, he began forming stronger bonds with my family, which strengthened our relationships. He also made strong connections with none other than the officers of the ZPD, where he worked. When he wasn't scrubbing toilets clean or polishing windows, he sole purpose would be assisting officers: Organizing their paperwork, typing out case files, even starting off press conferences! But during his time at the ZPD, Justin became very close friends with the police chief back then: Leodore Lionheart. Kind of like how I admired Justin, Lionheart was a big role model for the latter. He'd help him with anything from schoolwork, to family issues, to things like coping with any stress that would arise. In all honesty, things just couldn't get any better for our family and for Justin. Life was perfect. That is, until Marie arrived.
"Marie was the goddaughter of Lionheart. She would often pay visits to the chief in his office at least once a week to kill a little time. Because Marie was homeschooled, there were scarce opportunities for experience what a normal high-schooler would. She had very few friends, no cliques to join, and lived a relatively low-key life in general thanks to her overprotective parents. But Lionheart…Lionheart was special to her. He was one of the few animals her parents could reliably trust on to watch over her. Therefore, the two could spend hours upon hours with each other. Some days, you'd catch them playing gin, even poker if a few other officers joined in. Other times, Lionheart would be teaching her how to draw from his background as a police sketch artist. From what he told me, Leo and Marie were essentially like father and daughter.
"So, thanks to Justin constantly working at the station, it was inevitable that Justin and Marie's paths would intersect. And once they did…There was no force in the universe that could separate them. At first, they were simply friends, with Leo serving as the medium between their conversations during some of the poker rounds. As time grew on, their bondage only grew stronger and stronger. Within a few weeks, they labeled each other as best friends. And many months later, they were in one of the healthiest and most beautiful relationships that both Leo and I have ever seen. Two buffalo, linked by a friendship that caught fire, had cast off on a ship that looked like it was never going to return. If I remember correctly…Yes, they were together for about a year and a half. Sounds about right.
"So, as the file that you and Nicholas looked over suggests, all good things must come to an end. As for Marie, her life was tragically cut short when she was involved in one of the gruesome accidents that Lionheart has ever seen. She was exactly eighteen years old on the day she died. Justin was incredibly happy to celebrate her birthday, so he invited her over one chilly winter evening. The couple spent a wonderful evening together at my family's house. There was a lovely dinner, a fun movie that we all watched, and a quick photo shoot by my mother. Those photos that you saw of Justin and Marie in that file? Those were taken by my mother on that very day. In all honesty, the evening couldn't be more perfect for the two.
"As snow began to sprinkle down on the ground, everyone began to grow nervous as to how Marie was going to get home safely. Marie had very little experience driving in snowy weather, and was uncomfortable driving home. My brother, being the kindest and most supportive animal in that very room, contemplated the best way to make sure she was safe. He practically fought with my parents, trying to persuade her to spend the night with the bad weather, which was only going to get worse. But my mother and father refused, stating that they felt rather uneasy with a girl spending the night at the place. Plan B was for Justin to drive Marie home, but that suggestion only heated the debate in the room, which Marie got involved in. By the end of the night, Justin and Marie were butting heads as to who was going to drive, each citing their other's safety as a reason. Marie didn't want to pose Justin's safety, but my brother insisted that he could do so. So this continued on, and on, and on, and on…The night ended with Marie storming out with her keys, convinced that she would be fine to drive home herself.
"We got the phone call about thirty-five minutes later. My mother was the one who answered the phone, and after soaking in about thirty seconds worth of information, the phone dropped out of her hand, and she went straight to the bathroom to throw up. Justin, evidently concerned as to what was going on, was the next one who picked up the phone. On the other end was Chief Lionheart, in deep distress as to what was happening. I was just innocently drawing pictures by the fireplace when I heard the panic in Justin's voice. I don't remember very much of what he said, but 'Is she okay?', 'Is she alive?', and 'Where?' were the three phrases that I will never forget. The rest of the night was a haze, but I specifically remember Justin running out the door with his car keys in hand, hyperventilating as he hustled his way out.
"Marie's funeral was a week later. Amongst the animals that attended included both her close and extended family, about three-fourths of the ZPD in Precinct One, and my parents and I. Justin was the only close contact that didn't attend. He locked himself in his room and held himself hostage in there for about a week. He couldn't stop grieving in anguish, nor could he find any spark of motivation to carry on with life. One of the things he said was that her death was his fault; if he never fought with her and tried to negotiate, then maybe she would still be alive. Seeing the girl that he loved so much in such a small casket would've completely destroyed him. Despite what my parents said, and despite everything I said, he stayed in that room for as long as he could keep himself insane. Once he did build up the courage to leave his room, a completely different animal had remerged back into reality.
"He was much more provocative, hostile, and angry with my parents. Even the smallest pet peeves could send him over the edge. If I had to guess, I'd say roughly four nights out of a week ended with a broken coffee mug, muffled sobs, and slammed doors. It was like the keystone was dislodged, and our family was falling apart, getting worse day by day. Everything climaxed on one cold, dark day in February, when my parents decided they had enough of his hostility. They emitted him to a mental hospital on the outskirts of Zootopia, which you know as Cliffside. He was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, with a side of maniac depression to go along with it. Justin pleaded with my parents to take him back home, stating that there were "bad animals" and "voices in his head" which were tormenting him at the facility. But my parents refused. They've had enough of him. The one time my parents suggested that he could make an arranged visit was on Christmas Day. December twenty-fifth, nineteen sixty-seven."
Bogo stroked a tear away from his eye.
"That day only plunged our family into more sorrow and despair, symptoms that would drag on for years. I developed a social anxiety disorder and isolated myself to my bedroom to battle my inner demons. My mom began to show signs of depression herself. But the one that was most affected was my father. Losing a son was one of his worst nightmares, and the only way he could deal with the loss was a heavy dependence on alcohol. Unfortunately, because of my family's heritage, alcoholism has always been an issue; any one of us were susceptible to it. But because of the grief my father was undergoing, he felt like whiskey, vodka, and rum would help. But the alcohol only exacerbated his pain and sorrow.
"Despite being in just a wheelchair, my father became even more hostile than Justin ever was. He didn't let his mobility restrict him to a wheelchair. He would thrust his way into any argument he could and tormented my mother and I. Screaming, yelling, blaming…They all became normal parts of my life. My overprotective father that I once knew became someone of a distant memory; someone I knew I would likely never encounter again. The last day I ever saw my father was after a climatic argument with my mother. He…He left bruises on her, and even spilled a little bit of blood. After witnessing such a horrible event, I gave in and called the police, despite the ongoing threats that he would do the same to me if I did so; I just couldn't hand it anymore. I had to…Defend myself with a knife while talking to Lionheart to ensure my father wouldn't get too close. Once he said someone was dispatched, for one brief moment, I thought I saw my old dad back. For just one brief moment, I thought that these things…Perhaps they were just a horrible dream. But before I could say another word or think another thought, my father began burning bridges. He took the keys to the family sedan, some important family documents, pulled out of the driveway, and drove away. I never saw him again.
"Cutting to the present, I received a parcel in the mail a few weeks ago. It was from my mother, who is currently in deteriorating health. Doctors say the cancer is eating her insides out; she has a few more months at most. Since that awful last day with my dad, she too has never seen nor made contact with my father. But to my dismay, she recently was able to obtain his will; apparently, he died four weeks after leaving us due alcohol poisoning. But somehow, we didn't find out until many decades later, when my mother mysteriously received the will from an 'unknown friend'. Enclosed in it were a few documents that revolved around Justin's death. And one of these documents was his suicide note. It was just a little poem that he wrote, a common practice of his back when he was…Normal. Reading the damn thing just put me through this calamity that I couldn't get out of. The day after I read the poem, I started drinking heavily and puffed several cigars per day, hoping that it would ease the neurological pain. But because a certain fox is in the hospital…Clearly that strategy isn't the right way to go."
Judy felt brainwashed upon hearing Jasiri's story. Behind his bold attitude, his bark, and his love for pop music, there was an inner child; one that was trapped in a steel cage constructed by depression, grief, and trauma. Her lips moved, but she couldn't hear a word she was saying.
"Anyway, that's my story. A life full of trauma drilled all these holes into my heart, and these scars…they just don't heal. Yet I don't feel the pain. Now I feel nothing."
"Cheese and crackers…Chief, err, Jasiri, I never knew about your tragic backstory. I'm so sorry that this had to happen to you..."
"Well, it's not your fault. You don't need to be sorry. In all honesty, I should be getting over it myself; tears sure as Hell won't bring him back."
Judy smirked.
"So, what do the sage leaves have to do with this visit? Just out of curiosity?"
"Well," trailed Bogo while glancing at the dancing snowflakes and clouds in TundraTown, "That all relates to my family heritage. There is a belief that my parents taught me which involves sage leaves."
Jasiri noticed a sage plant growing right beside him, squeezing through a separation of the glass ledge of the balcony. He leaned over and gently picked a reasonably large leaf. He also pulled a thread of wheat out of a nearby planter.
"If you write a wish down on a sage leaf, or rather sketch it in," he cooed while handing the flora to Judy, "And place it under your pillow at night for three days, then it will come true if you envision that wish in a dream."
"Whoa…"
"But, if you don't envision that dream, then you must bury the sage leaf, for it can give harm if you don't do so."
Judy gazed at the sage leaf she was holding, fingering the microscopic hairs that grew across its surface.
"You buried your sage leaf at Justin's grave…What exactly did you wish for that was never meant to come true?"
"I wished that he would continue to teach me how to be happy…To be like he was before this adversity struck."
"Wow…I-I don't know what to say. I suppose that I should feel sorry for you, I guess…"
"Well, you're not the first animal who told me that upon this very explanation."
Judy's ears flicked up in surprise. "Wait-This isn't your first time doing this sage leaf thing?"
"This is my thirty-third time doing it. Once a year, on this very day: February twenty-fifth, the anniversary of the day I joined the ZPD. I joined the police because of his influence, you know. He very well may be the reason I get to have a badge, something to label me as a police officer," trailed Jasiri, "But no wish would be greater than to see his smile and his happy personality just one more time."
Without warning, Judy spontaneously wrapped her arms around one of his gigantic, muscular arms. She squeezed as tightly as her small anatomy would allow her.
"Thank you," she mumbled through his jacket.
"Thank me? For what?"
"For telling me that," she spoke while releasing the hug. "That means a lot."
"Well, it feels good to say it to someone who at least cares about it even a little bit. Clawhauser, Delgado, McHorn…I put them to sleep when I took them here."
Judy let out a warm chuckle.
"Say, while we are here, why don't you write a little wish on your sage leaf? Try it out; perhaps you'll be luckier than I will," reiterated Bogo.
"Well, I'm not big with superstition, but…Why not?"
Grasping the stalk of the wheat, Judy scanned her mind for ideas, concepts, and wishes that she has always desired to have. Several contenders ran by: an unlimited supply of carrots, her family moving to Zootopia, and the penthouse suite of the Amazon Tower, to name a few. However, Judy sparked a satisfying and fun wish, and wasted no time transcribing it onto the sage leaf.
"Well? What does it say?"
Judy smirked again. "Well…I'll tell you if it comes true. How 'bout that?"
"Alright, fine."