Chapter 1 : The dream
He reaches for my hand and squeeze it lovingly, his steady gaze catching mine, there´s sorrow within those emerald orbs, something I can't quite put my finger on. A single tear flow down his cheek leaving a wet trail beneath it. Something bright shines on the horizon behind his back, it rushes toward us with increasing speed and brightness until it's blinding, threatening to swallow us whole. He warps into his dragon form and loops around me, holding me tight while whispering "I promise we'll meet again, now go! don't look back!". My eyes burn from the intense blazing heat, pain surges through my body forcing out an anguished scream.
I wake up in cold sweat on my soft soaked sheets, gazing around my one-bedroom apartment, slowly returning to reality. I force myself to take deep breaths while desperately clutching the small glass vial hanging in a chain around my neck. Many have asked about said strange trinket, but I've never told the truth, it's too personal, somewhat embarrassing. I've had it ever since I was eleven, when I persuaded my parents to visit the Kohaku river again. I'd brought the vial and filled it with a bit of water from said river, strapping it around my neck with a leather band. Over the years the simple trinket became a necklace, I changed the strap into a chain and added a small silver plate engraved with his name. While wearing it, he feels always near, giving me the courage and strength that I sometimes find lacking.
The early morning sun sneak through the blinders, turning my walls a mellow shade of orange. I remove the blanket and plant my feet on the cold vinyl floor, running my hands through the tangled hair and slowly rise from bed. While opening the fridge I find it just as empty as I left it yesterday, though there's still enough for a meager breakfast.
I lean against the rugged counter chewing on my stale piece of toast, waiting for the coffee boiler to bring me the well needed nectar. It sizzles as it sucks up the last drops of water, signaling that the coffee is ready. I pluck down a large mug with the words "My alone time is for everyone's safety", it's so fitting that it can't even count as sarcasm anymore. People like to snicker about my preference for 60/40 coffee/milk, hinting that I'm more like a calf than an adult, but I simply desire the creamy aftertaste more than the bitter. I down the beverage so quickly it almost scorches my throat, leaving me coughing and wiping my mouth with the end of the sweater sleeve. I dump the empty mug in the sink and saunter towards the small entryway, pulling on my fake leather boots and stumbling along as I try to squeeze my feet into the cramped shoe. I fling my backpack over my shoulder and wave goodbye to my cheap and shabby rented apartment.
My feet scrape against the steps of the stairway as I launch myself down one after another until I reach the bottom. The blue bike that's been my companion since I was young wait for me in the bicycle stand. I unlock and mount it, paddling in a steady pace towards my destination. The same familiar trees, the same landscapes and buildings zoom past. It's like I've seen them a thousand times and will probably gaze at them as many times more. Though that doesn't bother me anymore, it's not so much about the journey as the finish line. Every Saturday and Sunday for years I've traveled this track with only one goal at the horizon. To be closer with the only entity in this world that has any meaning in my miserable boring life.
I breach the bushes at the end of a thin path, before me lies the crystal-clear river that flows through our landscape.
"Haku" I whisper lovingly "I'm back…"
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