Torrent

II - Kangaroo shoes

Kangaroo shoes.
The most useful invention this world has ever seen.

I've forgotten what they were actually called, but "Kangaroo shoes" is a good enough name for me. To describe them shortly, they look like short skis that can unhinge at the bottom: Whenever you unhinge them, they jump. How far a jump goes and how high is entirely up to you.

The last day that I saw my parents was a day like any other - okay, not quite. Dad and mum decided to gift me my very own pair of kangaroo shoes for my 19th birthday when I went to visit them, I thanked them lots but didn't appreciate them quite as much as I do now. They have saved my life countless times already and I wish that I could've shown more appreciation for them,
before I went home and got the news hours later that my parents' house was hit and destroyed by Torrent, with them still in it.
Clinging onto my pair of kangaroo shoes, I bawled my eyes out, wishing that what I just heard was a sick, morbid joke. I was devastated.

Over time, I slowly learned how to manage them, and now I jump through my town like I've walked on kangaroo shoes more than on my own two feet.

It was maintenance day, and I noticed the spring in my left ski was a bit loose. This would have been fatal for me in critical situations if I kept wearing them, so I decided to jump straight to Piret, the only maintainer still alive.
Piret was the prettiest girl I knew, I was in love with her and every friend that was still alive knew about that.
But now, there's nobody to tease me about my crush anymore. They're all dead.
And I reached Pirets' house faster than usual.

"Anyone there?"
"Yeah, come in!"

Her house was so warm on the inside, almost as warm as her cute smile.

"Maintenance day?"
"Yeah. My shoe springs are a bit loose, can you please check up on them for me?"
"No need to ask, dear! Of course!"

Since Pirets' parents died a few days prior to mine, everyone always claims that Piret didn't like working on kangaroo shoes all day. But no, quite the contrary is true!
Piret was pretty much born to be a mechanic. Any issue that you yourself would only be able to repair in months, she fixes in under three minutes. Her hands are made out of magic, just like her eyes.

"Piret?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded while disassembling my shoe. While she may not have faced me directly, I knew that she was listening.

"What's your future plan now? Do you want to leave the country?"

She paused.

"I dunno, honestly. While I may have the opportunity to leave the country, the people here who can't leave need me.
So, I'll try and serve them as long as possible. If I die, I die."

The last sentence threw me off. I was impressed by her willingness to support the citizens of the town, even if the government didn't. Even if it would cost her life.

"There you go, all fixed up! Loose springs are the easiest fixes."
"Thank you so much Piret!"
"No problem, dear." she answered, as she pulled me into a hug. It felt magical.

"Ilesha, promise me to stay safe. Torrent is getting worse and worse each day."