Veridis Quo

Chapter 25 - What Am I to You?

Today started like any other day; a lousy default alarm clock. I couldn't be bothered to select a different one.

Having fallen into routine months ago, I sat at the edge of the bed for five minutes before proceeding as usual. If memory served me right, temperatures wouldn't induce profuse sweating. So, a shower was a must. I let my mind wander.

The weekend was fantastic. The absolute best.

All my time was spent over at Miya's cottage up in the mountains with no other than the feathery owner. Playing video games, sight-seeing the vast expanse of the countryside, watching television beside her on that impossibly soft couch; I had a blast.

So much so the goodey gooey vibes carried into the present week. Heck, my monke pointed out my abnormal behavior. Although it came off in a negative connotation, I forgave him. We did have a group project to finish before the drama club's.

Who knew a middle-aged psychiatrist knew how to let loose and connect to the youth. Oh, wait, it was her job. What a fucking idiot! Nevertheless, I'd love to hang out every weekend at the private reserve but I figured it'd cost her a hefty penny. Once a month was perfectly acceptable.

Shutting off the water, I realized an untold truth. Without her, I'd be nothing.

Really, digging through repressed memories of the underground facility, my debt could never be cleared after what she sacrificed for my sake. Ago, I'd spend random hours at night reflecting, cringing at some of my pathetic interactions and worshipping her patience.

One such hour, which was only half, occurred in her cottage. She'd gone to the restroom when the action-packed animated show about space humans doing space human shit was postponed due to advertisements. Burgers? No thanks, they put bugs in that!

It... depressed me. How could I ever deny her honorary title of Aunty? As weird as it made me feel, she was so close to me, close enough to be labeled family. Separated by generations upon generations of unrelated blood; united by the trials of life.

When she'd returned to me and sat down, I asked for a hug. Of course, she obliged. And I shared that train with her from admiration to guilt, missing some stops.

Thankfully, someone of her caliber understood me completely and simply offered a wing. A warm wing. Just remembering how she draped her delicate flight feathers over me like a blanket made my insides fuzzy.

Yup, that was a weekend for the books, especially the half-assed karaoke. I was the first whose voice cracked... hers did as well.

Slinging the bag over a shoulder, I left my abode for the main building. What of the lessons? Same as same. On a positive note, no tests, likelihood of quizzes kissing the floor, promise of above average food by word of mouth. The repetition of a subject tended to blend the days into one another, a seamless caravan stretching from horizon to horizon.

I only remembered a dozen days out of two hundred and a dozen. It was just so... so... normal. Monotone, sometimes. Expected, hopefully. Tedious, always.

The worthy experiences were the ones to pass the checkpoints into the long-term bank. Such were my first meeting with Juno, precious Juno, the names of my acquaintances, my talents, the crackpot of a channel, Hajime's passing, the zebra...

The zebra...

...

I despised her.

When the bell rang, I found myself in a classroom, and rightfully returned to autopilot. I detested that stupid horse. Better yet; whorse. That was golden. An additional letter, in English, and I had myself a pun! I had to be careful, though, lest I became a dad.