stars & moons - jean kirstein

part 5

TW: this chapter mentions suicide; remember you are loved and wanted <3

Lunar

Sweat seeps down my forehead and streaks down my cheek as the boxing bag flails around in front of me. The sun's rays don't aid my efforts to get a workout in after the craziness of the festival, having consumed probably my whole body weight in new cuisines. The moisture build up around my torso has caused my white shirt to cling to my body, chiseling my soft stomach muscles.

I hurl another punch at the bag as it begins to halt its swing, releasing a series of jabs and hooks in a combination, only pausing my action to change my position and circle around the bag. 

Reiner's words from the other night are still fresh in my mind. What made him get so defensive so quickly? What would he have said had he not been in the position he's in? What is it he knows? I let out another punch to the bags gut, my inner dialogue fading away from focus as I keep my hands close to my face in defence.

I know better than to push him, I never would want to put him in the position, but it feels like a constant itch I can't quite scratch. 

I land one more punch to the bag before I succumb to the sun's taunting heat, pulling a towel and my water bottle out of my nearby workout bag. I pull the spout out of it's place and internally sigh at the feeling of cool liquid running down my throat. Marley is always like this at this time of year.

Still drinking out of my bottle, I look to my watch that I clip back onto my wrist, observing the time. 9.36am. Plenty of time to get home to shower before the meeting with the warriors.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and pull on my military top, doing up the buttons feeling like agonising effort as the sweat becomes trapped under the material.

I quickly head for the gate towards the exit of the military centre, firmly locking it as I step out into the streets. The cool breeze begins to settle as the waves crash along the ocean shore. Many people are still hurrying around, making use of the final delicacies that the festival has to offer. I smile as I see a young Eldian boy with his hand clinged onto an Elephant balloon, his mother instructing him to not let go. He giggles as he watches the balloon flap in the wind; she smiles at him too, like he's the most precious specimen in the world. I can't help but look away from the display, pushing the thoughts of longing out of my head. 

I weave my way through the crowded streets and take a detour past the hospital. They've been completely over run after the outcome of the war, many soldiers coming back battered and bruised from their efforts. I turn my head to the gate that holds all the patients inside, only to be surprised by the familiar face of Falco talking to a brunette man with long hair, a bandage wrapping around his head and a singular crutch resting at his side. I momentarily look away to take in a few more sights of the festival to turn back and see Falco running out of the hospital. He looks left and right before making his way towards where I'm standing.

"Hey, Falco!" I call to him, waving. He looks surprised when he sees me, a hand scratching the back of his neck, the other waving back at me. He runs the rest of the way towards me, stopping breathlessly when he gets to me, a hand resting on his thighs as he bends over. 

"Woah, steady on tiger. Where are you headed in such a rush?" I ask, shifting my bag to my other shoulder, chuckling at him. He looks up at me still sucking in deep breaths, "I thought=.... I left... something at the....hospital yesterday so... I went back to get... it." 

My eyebrows knit in confusion. Why would he be at the hospital? I shrug briefly, deciding to let it go, "Right, do you know that man?" I ask him, ushering towards the man he was just in conversation with. I can see his side eye that looks in our direction. His expression is unreadable. Falco turns to look in the direction I'm directing him in, and gulps, "Kind of, he's one of the soldiers that got injured in the war, I was just chatting to him. He seemed like he could use some company." He says, adjusting his satchel, "Anyway, I have to go to training, bye Lunar!" And with that he runs the other way.