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Jimmy had been wondering for days now, maybe even weeks. The occasional stop at a random place to stay, then to be shun out for being too ‘fishy’. He couldn’t believe people! It was especially hard when his memory is gaping and he can barely his own name. He wasn’t sure where he came from, he doesn’t even know if he has family.
He was lost.
And he didn’t even know how he got lost. Jimmy can’t remember, it hurts when he tries to remember. All he knows is there are people waiting for him, some where. Because that’s all he remembers. The whispers of people saying they’ll see him later, they’ll help him understand. And Jimmy wants to understand.
He wants to know what the gaps in his memories were.
This caused far more problems then anyone would ever realise. Imagine having to live a life of wander looking for something, while being rejected everywhere you went, and you don’t even know what your looking for! He was becoming so tired of it. And it’s not like he can just stay somewhere, no one likes the fish people after the ocean collapsed.
At least that’s what they told him.
Jimmy started to become more shaky, and he was angry, yet so so scared. He didn’t know what was happening. What was happening? His breath start to become rigid and short and he felt like he couldn’t breath. Why couldn’t he breath? He needed water! He forgot to take water and he was going to die right there and then. He thinks. It could be something else. Like poison or food allergies but that was so unlikely though!
He thinks.
His body started to feel more like a rag dolls as he felt like he couldn’t stand, there was tears burning his skin. It seem as if the world was against him. The world spun in all kinds of ways as his ears rung slightly. Why couldn’t he just fucking breath?! Jimmy felt his legs give out as he fell and that didn’t help his short breaths at all. It made it worst.
And he thoughts he was going to die right then and there.
And then he heard a voice. It was soft and gentle, it was kinder then any other he ever heard. Yet it was also so familiar. Like it was just one dream away. Like a mother singing to her child. “Hey? You there with me?” Jimmy felt arms push him to sit some what upright. He coughed sharply and he felt a small bottle(?) touch his mouth. He drank it, because he was going to die anyway so there’s no reason to be careful.
And it was not like anyone would grief or miss him.
But it seems like the gods heard his prays as what was in it was water. But after a moment he pushed it away. He was still struggling to breathe. At least he would die hydrated! Best to keep the fish still wet once it’s killed, right? “Ah.” He heard the voice again. “Can you speak?”
And that might have been the stupidest question he was ever asked.
Jimmy’s first few attempts where just sounds of clicks and burps. But then was finally able to get out a small, breathy “K-kinda.” And that seemed to be enough for the mysterious voice. That sounds like home. A home where everyone loves him for what he truly his. A comfort home that’s warm and welcoming.
“Okay. Can you tell me five things you see?” And Jimmy tried his hardest. He opened his eyes as much as he could, but it was all blurry. He cursed under his breath. “It’s okay, take your time.” So he tried to calm down, and take his time. The blur slowly started to leave and he saw a soft smile. A smile that he swears he’s seen before.
“I..I see you?..” he takes a pause to look around and find more things he could see, “I- I see trees and uhm dirt and…clouds?” Jimmy looked back to the voice and they simply nodded. So he looked down to see if there was anything there that Jimmy’s eyes could pick up. “I see my bag with the Codboy mask..”
“Okay.” The voice softly smiles, “Four things you feel?”
That made him pause for a moment. “I feel uh… dirt on my hands and uhm…” That’s when he realised that he was still crying. He flushed in slight embarrassment. “My uh- my tears. And my uh clothes and uh… uh?” He looks up to the voice yet again. Something inside him just made him feel like he was supposed to look up to her, treat her like she was better then him. “Uhm…heat?”
It was incredible hot in the mesa.
“Good, just three more things. Okay?” It’s just the sweetness of the voice that makes him calm down even more. So Jimmy gives a small node. “Three things you can hear?”
He takes a moment to listen to everything around him. “My- my uh voice and uhm the uh wind and..” He goes silent again simply listen. The sounds were calming. The wind was blowing quietly and the voice’s calm simple breathes showed him it was all okay. Though whatever that terrible smell was kinda ruined the good moment. “And your breathing.”
It all felt right.
“And then two things you can smell?” He felt all his worries slowly slipping away. The longer they did the exercise, he felt more calm.
He takes a few calm breathed to take in what was around him. Jimmy’s face cringes as the smell of something enters his nostrils. “Whatever that terrible smell is and..” there was another smell, but couldn’t place what it was. It was almost sweet? Like a sweet treat or cake. “Cake! Something smells like cake!” He says louder then he meant to.
He was a total embarrassment but the voice didn’t seem to mind.
The voice(This is started to feel kinda rude to him.) chuckles softly, “That would be me.” She gives a small smile, eyes drifting off for moment as if remember something fond. “One last thing okay? One thing you taste.”
…What?
“What?” Both laugh softly, as if being loud would ruin the calm environment. And maybe it would. Maybe it wouldn’t. But it was nice to them. The one Jimmy feels like he knew along ago, just acting like family. Even if this was their first meeting. “Uhm well I taste water I guess?”
The only thing he’s had in hours.
A small giggle escape voice’s mouth. “Well that should be excepted.” A small smile forms on both their lips, a small world for just them. It was like little kids waiting to play a prank on their parents. “I should get going that I don’t get lost, til then.”
The voice gets up, brushed off her skirt and starts walking off.
Because of that Jimmy hurriedly stands up in a way to catch up with her before falling. “Wait!” The voice turns back to him. “Can I at least know your name?”
She smiles, the same soft smile as always. “Most people call me ShadowLady, but you can call me Lizzie.” And with that she leaves.
She was just as calm and he was left just as confused.
“Then you can call me Jimmy.” He says quietly as he watches her leave. And even if their paths never cross again, he’ll hope and pray that he never forgets her like he did everything else.
May he could make something to remember her…