oblivion [druig]

17

PRESENT DAY
AMAZON RAINFOREST 

AURORA 

I'm in Australia. 

The arid wind blows through my hair softly. 

I stare at the house in front of me, one I had called home not so long ago. 

Dread seeps into my system. I look around the desert, the wind picking up dry dirt in the distance.

The front door open. 

"Aurora!" His voice booms through the silence, filling my heart instantly with comfort. 

"Gil!" I shout back in his same enthusiasm, breaking out into a smile and running up to hug him. 

He envelops me in a bear hug, picking me up from the ground and twirling me around. I hug him back, laughing at his energy as he puts me down again. 

"Look at you!" He marvels, smile flashing his white teeth. "You haven't aged a day" 

I roll my eyes at his corny joke, but I can't help but admit that I'd missed them. 

I'd missed him. 

He picks up my luggage, hoisting it up like it's nothing and leading me into the house. 

"Come on. Thena's at her tree, but she'll be back in half and hour" He puts my suitcase on the entrance of his house, motioning around to the inside. 

It was the coziest place I'd ever been in. Decorations lined the walls, and I could see a fire going on in the living room. Even though it was probably a hundred degrees out there, in here it felt cozy and warm. 

"Gil, your place is beautiful" I admire in amazement, taking everything in. 

"I try" He shrugs, making a beeline for the kitchen. He opens some drawers, searching for something. "Have you eaten?" He asks. 

I shake my head, my stomach rumbling on cue. He looks at me, raising an eyebrow. 

"I'll take that as a no. You're just in time. I'm making dinner" He explains. He points to the dining table with a spatula. "Go on, sit" 

I pull out the chair, sitting on the left side of the table. 

"How's Thena been?" I ask, looking up at him as he takes food trays and places them in front of me. 

I grab a fork, the reality of how hungry I actually was sinking on me as the smell of the food hits my nose. I don't waste another moment, taking one of the plates and digging right in. 

"She's coping" Gil says. I nod, continuing to eat. "You know, she hasn't been the same since you killed me" 

I go still, my fork filled with food pausing before it enters my mouth. I swallow, frowning before turning to look up at him.