Short Stories

Find Me

*Warning, mention of harm and death*

A small girl lies on the ground, hugging her knees to her chest, head bent inwards. Her skin is pale and smooth, with straight locks of blonde. But it looked grey in the dusky light. There is no sound, not even the ripple of a breeze. She is alone. Until from what a person can only assume is from shadows, a figure appears. A sexless build, making their way across the black plains. The ground moves like both sifting sands, and a shallow river as the black cloaked figure walks towards the small girl.

They stop inches away from her, just standing. Suddenly, a shift. The girl slides her hands across the dirt, stretching her legs so that she may swivel around. Eventually sitting up, the girl rubs her eyes. Her vision blurs before settling. When she looks up to see the tall, thin stranger, she just blinks. The figure bends down, their face a mystery from the shadow cast by the black hood. Crouching, the figure cocks their head. Timidly, and weakly, the girl smiles. " Hello."
" Hello." The figure replies, tonelessly.

Their voice is deep, yet soft. It is as gender-less as their shape. " Child, what is your name?" Pausing, the girl leaves them in silence. Slowly dissolving from her deep thought, she responds. " I don't know."
Her answer is blank. Not panicked, or upset. Just questioning. The unfamiliar person does not react strongly. " That's alright. What do you know?"
She ponders this. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath. But she doesn't feel her body grow bigger from the air. Nor the need to breathe again. Most of all, upon pressing a hand to her chest, she cannot feel the beat of her heart. " I think- I think that I'm dead."
The words are quiet, only slightly wobbly. She looks up into the shadow of the figure's face. " I died."
" Yes. Yes, you did." There is only a little sorrow in their voice. Undetectable to the confused child.
" Did you die too?"
They shake their head, sadly. " I was never alive."
" Oh. I'm sorry."
" It's okay."

Looking around at the dusky air and cracked ground, she wonders where she is. " Was I bad?" She asks, " was I bad, and that's why...."
" You're here?" The person finishes her sentence.
A slight nod. " No. Not at all. When you die- there's no good or bad place. Not really. Depending on who you were when you were alive, you feel a certain way. Those who were- 'nice' get to feel at peace. Those who were 'bad' have trouble accepting their fate."
It somewhat made sense. But things still felt unclear. " What about me?" The girl asks, " I don't feel at peace. But I'm not mad. I just feel-"
" Lost?"
" Yes."
She feels disorientated. The realisation finally hitting her. She would never breathe air again. Never be able to feel her heartbeat again. Struggling to keep herself composed, she swallows the tears that threaten to spill. " Don't cry, little one. Don't cry. It's alright." The stranger tries to soothe, " would you like me to show you something pretty?"

Sniffling, the little girl nods. Shifting, the figure lifts their sleeve, and produces from their covered hand, a little glimmer of light. It grows, brighter, and brighter, bigger, and bigger. Until it stops. " Blow." They instruct.
The girl blows, and the ball of light erupts into falling stars. She gasps at the beautiful, delicate stars. They shimmer all the way down, landing in sparkles on the ground. The girl giggles. " See? Now wasn't that pretty?"
The girl eagerly nods her head, the sadness fading once more. " Can I have a name?" She suddenly  asks.
" Of course. What would you like your name to be?"
" I think- Lola."
" Lola. That's a nice name. It's nice to meet you Lola."
" What's your name?" Lola asked, happy with her newfound name.
The figure hesitates. Quietly, and slowly, they answer. " Well. I don't have a name."
Lola furrows her brows. " Why not?"
" I was never given one."
Lola thinks about this. " Do you want a name?"
Again, the stranger hesitates. This child is different.... " Why not? My name.... is Adaliah."
" Adaliah," Lola echos, " I like it. Nice to meet you Adaliah."

Although Lola didn't know it, Adaliah smiled, hidden by the hood and shadow. And secretly, Lola was glad that her new friend had picked a name like that. It comforted her. To hear a name that sounded- female. And she didn't know why. She also didn't know that Adaliah could sense her ease. " Do you want to go somewhere else?" Adaliah asks Lola.
" Yes please."
Lola stands up, following Adaliah as they walk. " Can I-" Lola starts, " can I hold your hand?"
" Of course." Adaliah smiles.
As Lola reaches out to grip her small fingers around Adaliah's, she doesn't notice her friend's hand morph into a more feminine hand. More feminine than her previous form, which had only been bare bones.