The sidewalks are full of people tonight, I instinctually take note of how the people around me look. Most are dressed in the usual soldier uniform, most are alone. A couple passes me, they both have big grins on their faces as they laugh at each other's small talk. Even though I smile at the sight of two human beings in joy, it reminds me of the dull ache that I have learned to ignore over the years. Stop it June, I should be happy he is free of the grief that I placed in his eyes. I near the station that will take me to the Ruby Sector where Tess and Pascao are currently living. The crowd thickens making it harder for me to navigate through it. Then I see them. A medium height boy decorated with soft wavy hair and thick glasses. His eyes are still the purply color that must continue to blind him. He seems deep into an explanation of some sort of theory. Another boy walks beside him, he is more like a man than a boy. His long knotty bleach blond hair had been trimmed to a common Antarican style. His hands are casually laying in the depths of his trouser pockets. He listens quietly to what the other boy is saying. Day. I feel myself gravitate towards them hoping they will notice me. I silently scold myself and continue to walk in my previous straight line. When they are within fifty feet of me Eden notices me. He stops in the middle of his sentence and tilts his head ever so slightly. My emotions try to break through onto my face, but some part of me is keeping my emotion at bay. They get closer, twenty feet, fifteen feet, ten feet. They pass me without a word. I keep my head down because I can't stop the tears from coming to my eyes. My heart is racing, I fight with myself to keep walking in the same direction. I need to get out of here, I focus all my energy on walking away from them. And I do, I hear their footsteps fade, I let go of a breath I subconsciously was keeping in. All the sudden I feel a hand pull me back. His eyes catch me off guard, the two blue oceans, one untouched the other blessed with a slight ripple.
"Excuse me," His voice has gotten deeper. "Do I know you?" I look into his eyes desperate for him to remember.
"No, sorry." I try to bring myself to pull my hand away from his, but my willpower is depleted.
"Oh, I'm sorry to bother you. You just," My mind feels like it's tearing itself apart. I should go, but a part of me is still wanting to hear what he has to say. "Look so familiar… Wait. I do know you, or I have at least. I don't know where, but I think I know why." Leave, I should leave, I need to leave. All the barriers I have put up around my emotions have grown weak from this meeting. I shouldn't cause a scene. But, Day is back. Can I bring myself to leave him once again? Maybe he would be better without me. Yeah, he would.
"I'm sorry I have to go meet some friends." I say. Just as I am about to leave replies,
"Oh, I do too actually. I have an old friend in Ruby I was about to go see." Day is about to join up with Eden to leave when my whisper of a reply slips from my lips.
"Tess?"
"You know her?" His face is full of confusion, of dreadful hope. "It is you.
"Is it?" I can no longer keep my face from hiding the emotion inside of me. I think a tear spills onto my cheek, but I don't care anymore.
"Your-" He is trying to remember my name. But he doesn't know I am trying to remember it too.
"Hi, I'm June."
"Hi, I'm Daniel."
Day and Eden accompany me to Tess's. Turns out they were going there anyways, they just got a bit turned around.
"Yeah, Daniel is better with the streets, but he hasn't remembered everything yet so it's a bit hazy." Eden takes care of most of the talking. Day adds a comment in every once and a while. I just nod and stare at the pavement. A small bit of me still tells me to leave, but I am to far into this. We turn onto the block where Tess's apartment is. Eden is the first to open the door, but he makes a point of closing it in Day's face which makes me laugh.
"Even though he is twenty-one," He says through the glass at Eden. "He still hasn't seemed to learn enough manners." Even though he is saying it to me, I think it directed more at Eden, who is running up the stairs laughing, than me. "Here." He says opening the door for me to come in. I awkwardly duck underneath his outstretched arm that props the door open.
"Thanks." My voice is small, smaller than usual.
"June," Day says behind me, I stop in the middle of the lobby. "June, why did I leave?" I stare at him. Why did he leave?
"Eden went to school in Antarctica and they were going to treat you. That was the official story." I say to him.
"No," He says. I am about to ask what he means, but he answers me. "Why did I leave Lake Sector?" Day, I'm so sorry about this.
"I don't kn-"
"Don't lie to me." His voice is not loud, but it is firm. "I think it has something to do with my family, with you." I shouldn't have come, I should have left the moment after he grabbed my hand. But it's too late now.
"Day- Daniel," I remind myself. "Don't make me do this." I am shaking my head begging him to not push me.
"Please June." Now both are voices are whispers. "Please." I can't control myself. I am full out sobbing. I keep telling myself to pull it together June. But I can't. While my sobs are silent, but face contorts and my eyes are red. My legs have given in so I know lie on the floor.
"Day." My hands are shaking. "Day." A louder sob escapes me. Then all of a sudden I stop crying. I am pressed against warm fabric. His arms wrap around me. "Day," My voice manages to croak out.
"It's okay." He whispers. His hand comes up placing itself on the back of my head. He presses his hand into my hair, pushing my head against his warm chest.
"I'm sorry."