Comari

Fatigued Sunlight

It was quiet when Sunny opened his eyes. He didn't feel like moving, but hunger gnawed at his stomach. He shakily got out of bed and looked at the clock. The numbers were blurred in his vision, he assumed from the hunger, and he couldn't make out the time.

Sunny walked out of his room and to the kitchen, the fatigue strong enough to make him ignore the stairs. He searched the fridge and cabinets but found them mostly, if not completely empty. Grumbling as he once again grabbed some bread to put in the toaster, Sunny made a mental note of anything that would be easy to make. He threw away the now-empty package of bread as the toast popped up. There were usually sticky notes and markers in one of the drawers. Sunny found which one and started writing things down to remember them better. His handwriting was shaky from hunger, tiredness, and the fact he hadn't written or drawn in a while.

He ate the toast as he jotted things down, then started looking around the house for money to pay for said groceries. At first, he looked in the drawers in the kitchen but had no luck. He went back upstairs and into his room, guessing that he might have some allowance left. Annoyed when his search turned up unsuccessful, he realized the light on his phone was flashing, meaning he had a voicemail.

"Hey Sunny, we're running low on food in the house, I think. I'm gonna be away for a few more days, but I left some money for shopping in the drawer on the end table in my room. There should be plenty for a few weeks worth of groceries and even a treat or two for yourself. Take care, and do your chores. Love you!"

Sunny put the phone back on the stand and cautiously went into his mom's room to get the money, which he found, then grabbed his list and headed back to his room. He had been wearing the same white shirt and dark grey-ish brown shorts for a while, but he finally changed into something else. He threw his old clothes into a small hamper, and out on shoes for the first time in weeks. He grabbed the spare key from the top of the shoe rack by the door and headed out.

It was bright outside, which made Sunny wish he had sunglasses. Maybe he'd grab a pair at the store. He shook his head slightly remembering he had more important things to grab than sunglasses, like food, wood glue, some tape, and new strings. He walked down the road a bit and paused a few feet away from Kel's driveway. Kel was in the front yard laying on the grass next to Hector, Sunny almost mistook him for being asleep until he shot up and started beaming at Sunny.

He put a hand up before moving it back to holding the sticky note. Kel ran inside for a moment, still grinning ear to ear. Sunny started to continue on his trek when Kel yelled behind him. "Sunny!! Waaaaaitt!!" A tired-looking Hero followed behind Kel and they both caught up to Sunny. "Huff, you're finally, huff, out of your house! Huff.." Sunny just lightly nodded and motioned to the sticky note. Hero and Kel nodded back and walked with him. "Groceries? Easy peasy!" Kel seemed as energetic as usual, and although Hero looked tired he kept up and acted how Sunny remembered for the most part.

"What do you need from each store Sunny?" His voice was a little raspy, which he explained when Sunny gave him a confused look. "College prep, finals are kicking my butt." Kel nodded in agreement and looked slightly annoyed. "He has to stay up reaaaaaaallyyy late sometimes–" He stretched out his arms to emphasize before folding them across his chest– "which is fine if it helps his grades and all, but neither of us can sleep." Kel let out a dramatic groan, and Hero laughed a little. Sunny was focused on his list. Going over it time and time again in his head as they walked to the small shopping center in Faraway.

Kel and Hero went into Hobbeez while Sunny headed to Othermart to get food. He gathered the items on his list, paid for them, and then waited at the door of Othermart for his friends. He still had plenty of money left so he headed to Fix-It to get the last few things on his list. Wood glue and tape were easy to find, but he was having trouble with the strings. They didn't seem to have any so Sunny went over to Hobbeez and found Kel and Hero.