The Fallen Goddess

A Hover Board

"Dammit, Koreena!" I shout.

I'm sad and angry and confused all at once, and it's all Koreena's fault.

I walk out the door of our hotel room and run out of the building, fooling myself with the illusion that I might be able to find her and catch her if I move fast enough.

I run down the sidewalk, shoving people and children out of the way as I run around aimlessly. I don't know what I'm looking for or what I hope to find; I just want to keep running and hope that my problems will be left behind.

Kids shout and scream as I run past them, but I don't care, not until I nearly trip over a child. Not wanting to hurt myself or any children, I slow down and begin to just walk, panting with my anger, not exhaustion.

At this point, I allow my brain yo actually work.

What will I do? I question myself as I walk. What can I do?

I suddenly see a diner cramped between other large buildings and am reminded of the waitress's phone number.

I can get a phone, to start, I tell myself. I just have to find an apple store or something.

I continue to walk around, looking in stores and at signs, trying to find a place where I might have a chance of buying a phone.

I look across the street, narrowly avoiding kids as I continue to walk. I'm hoping to find a phone store, but instead I see a group of children playing with hover boards.

Suddenly I think of the ads I read at the library, and that takes my mind back to the last place it wants to be, though it knows it should have been all this time: the riddle.

The riddle is so ancient, I think to myself. How on Earth were we expected to figure out an ancient riddle in freaking modern times?

And then it clicks.

Of course we weren't expected solve a riddle like that in modern times; at least not the way we tried! We were supposed to think more modern! The River isn't by some famous landmark; it must be by the manufacturing company for hover boards!

It seems stupid, and it kind of is, but at the same time it is so brilliant. People would just naturally assume to look for something that literally fits with the riddle or the time the riddle was made, but this riddle changes as eras change! It's genius!

I finally understand, and I need to tell Koreena! I thought this journey would take forever, but it's only been a week and a half since I left! Soon I can return to my normal life and Koreena can return to hers.

I just need to find her. But how?

I'm stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at the kids with hover boards, and though I wish I could simply keep thinking there, I start realize how creepy it looks. I continue walking along the concrete path.

How can I find Koreena? I question myself, not paying nearly enough attention to my surroundings.

I start to think about possibilities, but nothing plausible comes to mind. I don't think I can find Koreena; I just have to wait for her to find me. I don't want to, but I decide to go back to the hotel and just wait there for the night.

If she shows then I'll tell her what I figured out, and if she doesn't then I look for her tomorrow.

When I reach our room, I open the door and step inside, heading straight for my bed. I'm so tired, even though I don't really have a reason to be, so when I reach my bed and collapse onto it, I fall asleep nearly instantly.