Alone

Chang-min checked the time. It was half past 6 and he knew he was late. He gave himself a bittersweet smile before he rushed into his room. He changed out of his oversized sweater that came to his knees and pulled on some pants and another, cleaner shirt. It was Christmas themed, seeing as Christmas was today. He pulled on some shoes and walked over to his closet. He pulled a little tea set out. He took a cup in his small hand. It had intricate designs decorating it and he smiled at the cup. It brought back a rush of memories and he had to blink away the tears in his eyes. He couldn't cry. It was Christmas.

He hurried over and grabbed a scarf and wrapped it around his neck and nose, even though he really didn't need to. He was used to the cold anyway. He put it on and rushed to grab the tea set and his apartment keys. A little cat padded up to him and let out a soft meow, looking up at him with big eyes. Chang-min crouched down, carefully setting the tea set on the floor beside him. He smiled at the small cat, his eyes turning into half moons, but he could feel the familiar pang in his heart. The empty void that had hurt him for months had that familiar ache.

"I'll be back soon. Then we can celebrate together!" Chang-min told the cat, smiling at it as he pet it's small head. It let out a loud purr and rubbed it's cheek against his hand. He pulled his hand away, the cat letting out a sound, most likely missing the attention and protesting as Chang-min picked up the tea set again and stood up. He carefully opened the door and shuffled through. He took one last look at his apartment. His tree stood in his living room, twinkling with Christmas lights and various different ornaments. On the shelf stood a small little picture. There was a boy with a box like smile that hung off his shoulder in the photo. His smile was bright and Chang-min was in between him and another boy. He had a grumpy look on his face, but Chang-min could see the slightest amusement in his android eyes. Chang-min remembered the day and could feel that void in his heart suddenly tightening his throat closed. Chang-min sighed and tore his gaze away from the picture and turned around and left his apartment, swallowing and blinking the tears away from his eyes once again.

"It's Christmas." He repeated as he walked through the apartment building.

Chang-min walked down the slightly crowded sidewalks. The cold pinched at him, but he barely noticed it, or the people around him. He shuffled on, holding the tea set tighter to his chest. He could see flakes of snow fall past in front of him. They collected on his blonde hair and shoulders. He didn't pay much attention to it. He hurried on, stepping with light strides, his muscles clenching up slightly, freezing. He walked on. The path was familiar, seeing as he had walked it almost everyday for the past year. In the snow, in the rain, in the sleet, in the sun. Everyday. He knew he deserved them that. He wasn't there to save them. Maybe if he had went there that day, anything, they would be here now, celebrating Christmas with him. But they weren't. He was alone.

He came to a steel gate and slipped through, hurrying past stone slabs and tall statues of angels. His breath came out in a puff of smoke and he felt that pain, but pushed it down.

"It's Christmas." He whispered to himself. He crouched down once he reached the familiar stone slabs.

Yin Sinclair

Ethan McCavoy

It looked pathetic. But he hadn't been able to pay for much more. It was hard enough getting the money to bury them, let alone bribing the people to bury two androids. That was unheard of.

"Merry Christmas. How are you today?" Chang-min said cheerily, smiling at the two graves in front of him. "I tried to buy something for Ethan, but I couldn't think of anything. So I decided that I would give him my scarf. It's my lucky scarf, so I think he will appreciate it. And Yin! Guess what?! I found an old antique tea cup. It was quite expensive, but it was worth it. I hope you like it." Chang-min placed down the tea set on the snowy ground in front of the graves. He pulled his sweater over his hand and wiped away the snow from the top of the graves. He smiled.