Efflorescence (Zelink)

Drops

What a shame, that the girl who always kept her last amount of hope in the corners of her mind had to be struck by reality and the fear of never being loved.

Terrible rain pours down from above, as the taxi drives into unknown places, getting higher and higher. After one hour we reach a mountain, where the driver stops; I haven't got enough money to go further, therefore I say goodbye and walk outside, the cold drops wetting my hair. I clench my fists frightened yet I feel so independent, although I have neither an idea where I am, nor anything by my side to help me otherwise. Thus I rise my thumb, hoping, that the next driver will allow me to be with him.

After ten minutes of waiting, a pretty young man, along with two other guys in his age which I bet are about twenty, park at the side of the street. My jaw quivers, and I quickly hop in as a ginger opens the door for me. The air conditioner as well as the radio are turned on their highest levels, and I lean relaxed back.
"Hey, what's your name? And where do you want to go?" The man, a blonde one, who is sitting on the passenger seat, turns to me and smiles friendly. I raise a corner of my mouth, and wipe the water off my forehead.
"Thanks for taking me with you", I answer, crossing my arms. "And I am Zelda. Just take me to whatever place you drive to."

"Sure", the driver says, his husky voice lets a shiver run down my spine, and gives me goosebumps. And I immediately notice: these guys are from a band, and the driver is their singer. "My name is Colby, these are Sam and Mike." I nod friendly.
"May I ask why you are at midnight on a random street?", Mike, the ginger, says. He has freckles, which make him seem quite sympathetic, while Sam has a pretty stern face. I swallow embarrassed, and turn to the window, lifting my chin with my palm.
"Personal things. And why are you-" Before I could possibly end the sentence, Colby interrupts me with a moving of his tanned hand, and throws in: "A pretty, young girl like you shouldn't be at this time at this place."
Sam and Mike chuckle slightly. I cough, and add: "well, why are you doing here?"
The boys gaze at each other. "Driving into the nowhere", Mike says with sparkling green eyes, drawing a rainbow into the air with his big hands.

I look at the sky, which is invisible because of the rain - but otherwise, I think about the reason I left academy. Much can happen in some hours, but I didn't expect this - at all. However, it's reality, and it's not an illusion. We have to face, you can't ignore it, only if you are reading books or dreaming; that's the time where you escape. I know I'm not the dumbest, I've started reading books when I was only six years old and could barely read without whispering out loud.

We are overthinkers. I overthink the the reason of sadness, courage, logic. We are the insecure ones, the different ones. We know what the real life is really about, and we analyze every little thing about it. Why? To avoid getting hurt, to find joy, we stay up all night to go through all consequences and all the things we've done wrong. Smart people know their worth, and these are the people that you should always keep by your side.
But most of us don't respect that.

I overthink life, especially mine, as I sit in the car of some random boys I barely even know. What else to do? Is this making me happy, satisfied? No. I know that you don't need certain human beings to complete your existence, but let's be serious. Having your bruises and scars kissed by someone who doesn't see them as disasters in your soul, but cracks their love to put into, is the most calming thing in the world. Oh Link, what have I done? My hands crave for your warmth, your odor of wood, you are intoxicating and I don't have you here.

"So Zelda", Colby comments with his deep, masculine voice, "tell me a little bit about you. I, for example, live for art. Art is drawing your thoughts onto a blanc sheet."
"I thought you guys were band leaders or something", I respond smirking, and look at my dirty, black shoes.
"Music is art too", Mike throws in, and lifts his guitar he hid next to him. It's so interesting to see people's eyes light up when they talk about their passions, though.
"We are creators of our own doom", I say, sloping my head and grinning.
"Exactly! Are you also an artist?" Colby glances at me curiously through the mirror in the front, and I blush mildly.

"I am a writer, but an amateur. I love writing stories. It's like creating your own destiny." I scratch my neck, and Sam turns the volume almost completely off. "You can draw colorful pictures into people's mind by using letters of white and black." I cough.
"You're smart, girl", Mike answers, gazing intensely at me, and smirking seductively. "Ew", I think mentally.
"I know."
"And where are you from?"
"Hyrule. Heard about it?", I cock my left eyebrow. Sam looks at me surprised.
"That's like... In the north! Six Hundred hundred miles away! Wow. You love traveling, don't you?"
I nod enthusiastically.
"You are one of those girls someone would read stories about." Colby chuckles. I smile into myself.
"Do you have a boyfriend?", Mike asks, grinning boldly, and although it shouldn't, my heart aches. That's a hard question, though.
"It's... Complicated."
"Well if he would truly be your man you wouldn't have doubts about your relationship. You're mine now." Mike lays his arm around my shoulders. I push it nicely away, and look into another direction.

"Colby, do you have some drinks in the trunk?", Sam asks, and grins. He isn't sure, so he stops the car and Sam searches some. He eventually finds some, raising proudly and triumphing. Alcohol. I gulp frightened. I didn't ever drink anything...

However, I gladly ask for one a huge sip. Vodka may burn in my throat but thinking about Link hurts my head so I'd rather black out than blankly starring at my hands and questioning all the mistakes I've done. Is this a mistake?

-

"Welcome to Unknown Ville. Fasten your seat belts. It seems like it's the only city around", Colby comments, and I wake up from my nap. My neck hurts and so do my legs, but I am glad to be here, glad to have someone who keeps me on track.

"Can you guys leave me here?", I yawn tiredly, and rub my eyes.
"We can't force you, unfortunately. In the middle of the street?"
I notice how the sky got a brighter color. Its beauty attracts my eyes.
"Next to a house", I answer, stretching my upper torso. We are in the mountains, I acknowledge, as I leave the car and inhale the thin yet refreshing air.
"Thanks again! And goodbye!" I wave after the boys, until they are too far away, and smile confident.
With nothing in my hands, I walk through the old, rotten village. Very thin and weak animals run across the streets searching for something to eat, and it hurts me because I have nothing to give them.

A very big, wooden house catches my attention, with white snow on its roof. I purse my pale lips, and draw myself closer. "Shall I knock?", I fluster out loud. Yes, it's damn cold and I need something to eat.
I press my knuckle against the door, and wait, hoping that the person who lives here allows me to stay. But who would?