Destiny's Blades: Realization Part I

Chapter 6 - Shattered Memories

Mari was curled into a ball on the floor, bawling her eyes out.

The room became crisp, as an unforgiving frost lingered in the air.

"Snowflake—Hey, it's—it's okay," I was getting choked up, trying to reassure her.

I sat down next to her, squeezing her shoulder.

She was crying so hard that she started to gasp for air.

"I'm sorry!!! I-I'm so sorry!!!!" She shouted over and over again.

She grabbed my arm and latched onto me, sobbing into my shoulder.

I could feel her tears seep through my blazer as I gently ran my fingers through her hair.

"I know, it's okay. It's not your fault," I was trying my damnedest to lift her spirits. "There's nothing to apologize about."

I was doing all I could, but really though.

What could I do?

This was something I was not counting on. All of this was too much. Even I was struggling to keep myself together.

I need to stay strong. For her.

We've run from our past for as long as I can remember.

But yesterday, we ran into Rose. This fact alone was enough to bring Mari to tears.

Now though?

The ghosts of a past we put far behind us, finally found us. Not to mention all at once.

Yesterday's situation with Rose. Today's incident with Hayato.

But this?

This hurt her. This hurt us.

It's bad enough that seeing Hayato was all it took to send me over the edge. And that nearly cost me my life.

But now The Table Trio.

They now have their suspicions. Suspicions that I know are true, but just don't want to accept.

Suspicions that we are people that died almost a decade ago.

Mari gently pushed me away, head down with her hair draped over her eyes.

"I'm going to bed," she was barely able to get out.

My eyes stung from the tears that built up.

I nodded at her and whispered, "Okay."

She trudged to the glass stairwell, bringing the bitter cold with her.

She took a left and entered her room. The sign on the door clattered as she closed it.

"Maria's Room" was scrawled on a small wooden block, a smiley face was on both ends of the sign.

Once she was finally gone, my composure broke.

I punched the vinyl flooring of our kitchen and cursed.

"Damn it!"

After a moment of reflection, I slowly shuffled to the couch and closed the blinds.

Small bits of light broke through, but was completely drowned out by the depressing atmosphere that filled the room.

As I sat, I buried my face into my hands.

"This isn't good—" I found myself muttering aloud. "This isn't good at all."

There was a tightness in my chest.

I hated seeing Mari like this.

Completely devastated, simply because those days; the days we once had; we're long gone.