Alte Liebe Rostet Nicht

An Overdue Promise

Back then... What was it all like back then? It was hard for Ann to pinpoint down. Ever since when little they would describe themselves as a 'misfit' in one way or another. Maybe as a kid they didn't let it get to them is all. After all, life seemed easier at the early stages. Worry about the little things in life, focus on playing and just enjoy the time. It was how they lived in the end: Enjoy the moment. Nothing more, nothing less. It may be the inexperience and temporary ignorance, making them not think about such details. That's why when still a little child, they could ignore these things altogether.

Sure, almost everyone looked at them weirdly and made fun of them, but back then they could just laugh it off. ' Haha, that's funny~ ' they would always tell the other kids when they were making a joke at little Ann's expense... Solely because they did not understand the severity of their words. And it was unlikely that the other kids had understood. Besides, they were too busy being all over the place and playing all sorts of games. Pretend, catch, hide and seek, climbing trees, soccer, drawing nonsense on concrete with chalk— There was no time to think about it. They were having fun. But when thinking back, it was never in a set group like the other kids. They just bounced around,like some ball being thrown. And yet, they did not understand it. It might be because of their lack of understanding when it came to the world. They were so naive that they managed to live a life in ignorance. And maybe that would have been a life for the better.

They wouldn't mind being alone then if it was just that. Not like there was anyone, really. Even as a kid, when they thought that they had found someone to play with for some time, the boy just vanished— Or rather Izumi vanished. Someone they noticed they had grown close to, at least a little. Sure, he was a bit of a crybaby and seemed to be overwhelmed with Ann at points— Heck, he barely talked (unaware at the time that he could not communicate with them in the same language) but they somehow managed to communicate something. So they had to be close, right? Or so this little, naive kid chose to believe at first.

It was a fun few weeks, sure, but one day he just stopped showing up. What did they think about it back then? Well, it felt like a blow in their face back then once having come to that realization. ' Did I scare him? Or was he just bored of me? Or did he never like me to begin with? ' It hit harder than they would like to admit. They never wanted to admit it. Luckily other kids approached them shortly after and invited them over for a game of jump rope and they accepted. They thought it was forgotten ever since yet it was the first of many blows.

Because there was one thing Ann learnt when growing older: You will be alone. Something like friends does not exist. Family is the only thing which will stay with you. So not even Ritsu was a friend to them but 'family', all thanks to Nyeli. However, for everyone in your family you will be alone. Or at least that was Ann's fate. No one had proven them otherwise after all, Izuzu was just the beginning. It was something they learnt to accept. Never meant that they liked it, it was just how things were for them. It has always been that way when reflecting back on it.

They were always an outsider yet the bitterness didn't manifest until years later, when becoming more aware of the world and its surroundings, learning how cruel everything can be. No one really liked them and they learnt of that in no time. Everyone had things to say about Ann, in a not flattering way.

"Hey, that girl's a weirdo. Don't get any closer to her, alright? She doesn't really talk much anyway."

"Imagine still being into those kid shows. Haha, couldn't be me~"

"Does she have any other hobbies? All she does is sit at that table with their notes and write. Boring. Besides, who reads these days?"

"Look at her clothes. They look kinda ugly."