Sora & Fumiko

Chapter Forty-Eight

"Fumiko, why aren't you eating your dinner?"

"I'm not hungry mom." I told her while slouching in my chair.

"Are you sure that's all? Are you feeling ill?"

"I'm okay, I'm just tired."

I got up from the table and sat on the sofa, conflicted within myself. I wanted to tell her about my feelings for Sora but I didn't want to cause problems.

"Fumiko, ever since you came back from the city you've been down, is it college?" She inquired because it was obvious that something wasn't right but I sighed and shook it off.

"I'll be okay." I smiled. "I just have a little headache."

"Oh, alright." She said and walked away but I noticed my father was watching me from the corner of his eyes.

"Fumiko, what is it?"

"It's nothing." I lied.

He smiled and walked over to where I was but I hung my head so he wouldn't notice my crestfallen expression.

"It's Sora, isn't it?"

I stilled and the room fell into silence except for the sound of my heart ringing in my ears.

"When I left him..." The words came out painfully but it eased my chest to let someone know what I was feeling. "I cried a lot but I waited and held onto that feeling of us together so I could survive long enough to see him again. We're finally together now but he's still not mine. I can't tell him how I feel. I'm too afraid, I don't want him to go away from my life." I put a hand over my mouth, trying to stifle my sobs and hold back my tears. My father gently rubbed my back and smiled understandingly.

"I know you care deeply about him so I won't be angry with you." He patted my back as I forcefully blinked away my tears.

"If I knew it would hurt this much, holding everything in, I would've told him the first chance I got."

"So tell him!" My father said immediately. "As soon as you get the right chance, let him know how you feel. You should be surprised if he doesn't express the same feelings back to you."

I nodded, my heart filling with glee and excitement.

"Okay!" I replied, overflowing with new found energy.

"What's okay?" My mother cut in after returning from the kitchen but I was already running towards my room.

I quickly changed out of my night gown and went for my shoes, all the time quietly so my parents wouldn't notice.

I knew they would disapprove if I left the house after dark but I wouldn't be able to sleep if I had to wait until morning.

I waited until my parents left for their room so I could sneak out undetected. As soon as I was out of the house, I started running up the street so I could get to Sora's house quickly.

I knew I should've gone in the other direction, towards the longer path to his house but I was just itching to see him.

I climbed up the path, covered in over growth and almost completely shielded by darkness as quickly as I could. As soon as I was far enough along, sora's words started ringing in my ears and the eerieness of my surroundings started creeping up on me.

It's all in my mind.

A little nostalgia filled my chest when I realized this was the same thing I did almost three years ago when I first met Sora.