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Kyoko, one of the few doctors— perhaps the only one in turitopulis— was stretched thin. People left and right came in with illnesses, injuries, and especially poison. She found herself comforting these people, “it’ll all be okay! You got this!” With a big grin on her face. She was often a beacon of light for the town.
But this light was artificial.
She wasn’t really happy with this life. It was the one her parents wanted. A successful one.
She twiddled with a cigarette in her hand, something she never thought she’d hold. But nobody could find her in this little spot of hers, just beyond town.
“Woah! You? Smoking?” A familiar voice popped up, making her jump from her little spot
“WAH!! Parker! Hi! Uhm. Sorry! Sorry! I’m not… actually smoking.” She put the cigarette back into its little box, “it’s…yours. You dropped it before leaving for the heights.”
“Oh, that? It was a gift from my ex.” They climbed behind the trees big roots, sliding down the small ditch to sit with her. “You can keep it.”
“…I don’t think I want to.” She handed them the box which they pocketed. “How was your ventures getting the….” She paused, “you already told me how you got the windforce.”
“Yeah.” They nod. “You don’t need me to retell you anything!” They smile before wincing, clutching their chest
“Parker—“
“I’m okay….” They exhale, the pain gone. “Just something I gotta live with, until my soul gets restored.”
“…parker… you…..” she sighs, turning away.
The avian hero stared for a moment before tapping at her hand.
“?” Kyoko looked up at them, seeing them gesture a hug. A request for physical affection…. She nodded, leaning on them.
They wrapped their arms around her, laying back in the dirt with her on top of them.
“Aren’t you scared your feathers would get dirty?” She mumbled, staring at their chest feathers blankly
“Nah. More reason to shower, really.” They looked up, the foliage covering them both from the noise of town. “I like the water. I like rain too.”
“…I like the rain too.” Kyoko closed her eyes, listening to Parker’s weakened heartbeat. “It’s a wonder you’re still standing….” She whispered
“I know… I’m just an anomaly, huh.” They rubbed their thumb on her shoulder. “…. Your so tense, sunflower…”
“Sunflower?”
“Mhm, you’re as pretty as one.”
“You are too…” she smiled, leaning into them more. “….sometimes I don’t want to be here.”
Parker blinked, “…that’s heavy.” They looked at her, seeing the ways her hair fell over and past her face, “what’s got you saying that?”
“…if I’m honest. It… it’s you. You travel the world. You meet new people— *different* people! And I’m stuck in this village full of— of— morons!” She buried her face in their feathers, feeling their stifled laughter
“Oh yeah I get that big time…it’s why I got a busted up RV and moved all the way out to the big beach cities.” Parker stretched out their head wings, using one of thems to rub their eye, “it was the best decision I made. I met my best friends, I changed my life around….” They paused, not wanting to mention all the bad that came with it too.
“That sounds lovely.” She lifted herself up to look at them, “it makes me think… what if I did that with you? Traveled the world— did all the fun and stupid things? We’d have all the freedom from expectations!” She smiled, rambling on excitedly.
But the more she fantasized, the more Parker’s heart, whatever was left of it, sunk. It pained them to see her so excited, only for them to not be able to stay and be with her for 15 whole years! They yearned for the day they both were happy and in love and maybe married….. but for now, they had to bear the pain of temporary happiness. Was it even worth it? Would she simply love another? Or would she never love again? Whatever the case was, Parker knew they couldn’t control it.
They felt the world shake a little, their eyes shot open as they looked at her. “Kyoko—“ they interrupted, “I-….i can’t…. I can’t travel with you.”
“….oh.” Kyokos face fell as she turned away.
“…I’m… gonna be gone for 15 years.” They explained. “And you can…uhm…. Fuck. I’m not gonna tell you to forget me— that’s just counterproductive…. But I am gonna tell you that it *is* okay to find someone else to love because of my absence.”
“…is it okay if I don’t?”
“Don’t ask me” they scoffed playfully, “I’m not the one whose joyfriend is going to be gone for 15 years….”
“….god you’re such a dork you know that?” Kyoko attempted to laugh, tears rising as she tried to compose herself. She had done so well— why was this the thing that broke her?
“I get that a lot.” They softly said. Sitting up, they pulled her into another hug.
The embrace was warm, yet cold with the knowledge just bestowed on her. They held her silently for some time— only the sounds around them had accompanied them. The animals, the wind, the river….. it was serene…. Yet Kyoko felt so much pain knowing she’d lose yet another person.
She broke down. For once since her sister went missing she cried— sobbing into her partners jacket. They didn’t care about the tears. Only her. Only….her.
“God. God!” She weeped, “am I cursed? Am I— am— …! I can’t…. I can’t lose you! I’m— I’ll change! I’ll be— no! I just—! FUCK!!” She cursed.
They gently lowered her to the ground where she laid on top of them, her sobs still echoed in the rainforest. And all they could do was hold her.
“…. I’m sorry.” They whispered.
…
…
Who knows how much time passed…. Both of them still awake in the early hours of the morning.
Parker dared not to speak. Dared not to move. His beloved had already been through so much. Why say goodbye now? Why leave her to her grief and sorrow?
It was only going to hurt more when they do finally leave.
“snff.” Kyoko stood up, wiping her eyes before going over to sit at the riverbank. “You can go.”
“… do you insist?” Parker sat up
“…” she nodded, her throat burning as she tried not to cry again. “Yeah.”
Parker stood, hesitating to leave her in such a state. But he didn’t want to impose after she insisted.
“I’ll…. I’ll be in town if you need me, Kyoko.” Their voice flat and unreadable for once as they climbed out of their little spot, using the roots of trees to aid them.
She sat by the water, hoping the noise of it would drown out her sobs as she pulled her hat down from her head and onto her face.
What a mistake. To fall in love with someone so temporary. ….. her heart burned with fear and grief. Grief for her friend whom she lost and only just returned to her life. Grief for her older sister who was presumed dead until *they* came along.
She hated it. She hated herself for being so useless to the people she really cared about.
Kyoko too her hat off her face, looking into it like anything would be there only to be disappointed once more. Had she always hid her face like that? Or was it their influence…. She didn’t want to copy them just to be happy. But…. What did she even want?
“….i… I want….” She wipes her tears from her cheeks and eyes, “I want to be free. Free from here, free from responsibility…”
She looked up at the “entrance” to her little hidden cove. She hoped nobody would come looking for her right now— especially for help…. She couldn’t be the only person in town who knew anything medical.
But there was no noise. Nothing to tell her she was needed. Nothing to tell her she was cared for except for the notion that Parker loved her. But did they? Even after she told them to leave like she did?
“Fuck.” She cursed, scrambling to get up and climb out of her place of comfort.
She ran back to town, speeding past her friends house to go to Parker’s hotel room where she knocked on their door
“Parker! I’m—!” She froze once they opened the door, seeing them half awake in their pajamas.
“Is….everything alright sunshine?” They blinked, rubbing their eyes. Their mascara had run down their face, now dry.
“I… I didn’t… I’m sorry.” She sputtered out.
“For what?” They moved, letting her into the hotel room.
She walked in as he closed the door behind them. “I’m sorry for pushing you away…. And I’m sorry for….”
“It’s okay.” They sat on the bed, patting the spot next to him which she complied, sitting next to them. “You needed space, or some time to think. I can respect that as your partner.”
“…” her eyes remain downcast as she listened to them.
“And yeah, I was upset.” They breathed in, “I didn’t know what to do with myself for a while so I just changed my pants and cried until i passed out.”
“Are you okay?” She asked, finally looking at them.
“I’m fine, mostly. ….but this isn’t about me. This is about you.” Parker offered his hand to her, which she takes. “Are *you* okay?”
“…” her face remained almost stoic, “no.” She finally admitted. “I told you before I’m not happy with my life. For the longest time I lost my friend, then my own sister….”
Parker nodded, listening carefully
“Then I was thrown into my studies. If I was a doctor I’d make my parents proud…. But I don’t think I care anymore.” She looks at the closet, “I’m an adult. I don’t need my parents to pat me on the head and tell me how smart I am.”
Parker put their head on kyokos shoulder. She breathed out quietly, resting her head on theirs.
“You make this so hard…. How can you expect me to get over you when you’re so…kind?”
“I hear that a lot.” Parker frowned. “I hear that I’m understanding and kind. That I don’t judge people for things they tell me but…. Isn’t that the standard people should be held at?”
Kyoko laughed— it was bittersweet to see this earnest side of them again. “It would be good if that was the case but… alas. The world has to be cruel, doesn’t it.”
“Yeah.” They sat back up, “off topic… do you wanna stay the night?”
“…yeah, I do, actually. I’ll go grab my bonnet.”
She stood, only to be stopped by Parker, whose eyes were now lit up with a bit of….excitement? Pride? Before they immediately started digging in their bag and brought out a pink bonnet that had bunny ears on it.
“OH MY GOD!?” She covered her mouth before taking the bonnet, “and its silk too! Oh Parker you didn’t have to…. This is so sweet…”
“It was meant to be a birthday present but…. You know….ya boy can’t wait to see their girlfriend happy” they winked
“You’re so corny!” She playfully shoved them, putting on the bonnet and making sure her hair was perfectly tucked into it “…how do I look?”
“Like the princess of sleepytown” they smiled adoringly at her. Their eyes were practically hearts if you stared long enough.
“Well as your princess, I decree we go to sleep!” She took off her shoes and laid down
Parker followed suit and wrapped their arms around her, “who am I to say no to the prettiest princess?” They kissed her cheek, giving her pecks along her jaw before they both relaxed.
Maybe this temporary-ness wasn’t so bad. Besides, there’s still the good to be had in it.