Branches of Time.

miracles overhead.

(july 20th, 9:25am)

"Heya, Marky, come outside with me!" I called out through an open window. "It's a bright sunny day, come on! You're not a vampire, are you?"

"Hey... I can't risk others seeing me, then they'll know I'm not one!" he complained, trying to pull the blinds - but he couldn't, heh!

"Aww come on... do it for your sister!"

"Fine..." he sighed, walking out of sight.

"Yay!"

...

Why can't we go back to when he was happy?

Crayon leaned up against that very window, only now on the side Marker was in that memory. She looked out at the blue sky, brightened by a yellow ball of sunshine... something Marker used to be like.

Standing back up straight, Crayon gently opened the window, and let in some nice (surprisingly) cold air, before sighing to herself. Then came the footsteps down the stairs, something she only heard nowadays if they were her own... but this time, they weren't.

"Hey, Cray." she heard, turning around to face who it was that was standing right there - although a part of Crayon knew who it was already.

A purple marker looked over the banister, smiling despite his tired eyes. His colour - while faded - was still recognizable, and he rested his arms onto it.

"I- MARKER?!" Crayon asked in a mixture of shouting and whispering, as she almost ran over to him. "You... you actually left your-"

"Yeah, I did. How are you doing today? It's a nice day outside. Maybe we should go out for a walk together, like when we were kids." Marker said, walking down the steps.

"Wha- Marker, is everything okay...?"

"Mmhm, I'm okay." Marker replied, still smiling. "Now come on, it's a nice day outside Cray, let's go."

Marker pushed the door open, feeling the sunlight reaching his plastic body as cool air rushed past him, feeling the blissfulness that he unknowingly missed so much.

Crayon followed close behind, trying to stay happy about this. He's finally going outside again... after a month and a half... that feels so short but so long at the same time. she thought as Marker waved at someone.

"Hey Khaki... been a while, eh?" he said, as she ran over from a group with four other markers. "Oh, you've been hanging out with new markers? That's great, can't just stick around me all the time, heh..."

"Yeah... look, Monkey Hat introduced me to them, and that's been a lot of fun!" Khaki replied, laughing a bit. "Although... it's not quite as fun as being around you... not in that way."

"I'm still not sure why anyone ever said we'd be a cute couple."

"YEAH, ME TOO!"

"Alright, alright, calm down Khaki..." Crayon asked, stepping towards her. "I know how excited you are that Marker's back, but just... don't push him too much..."

Her tone changed, and she got a lot more quieter, seemingly trying to keep Marker from hearing.

"and to be honest... something feels off about him..."

"Oh, calm it down Crayon!" Khaki replied, doing a brushing motion with her hand. "He's gotta be okay now, he isn't lying in his bedroom anymore!" she added, as Crayon looked to the brick ground underneath her.

"I know, but... he seems so much more... empty." she confessed, noticing Marker walk off, and over to the Pedestal of Awesomeness. "Hey, wait-!"

"Don't worry, Crayon. I'll be fine. Love you!"