Kindred Spirits

Prologue

A few weeks

That's how long it had been for Ki. Eight months since Ki had even touched liquor. It had to be stopped as it was becoming a problem. A problem that very much worried everyone who knew Kiran Smith.

It seemed as if it was a good time to open up that letter, wasn't it?

Ki had expected anything else other than what Ki has gotten from their grandfather. At the moment of opening, Ki was at rock bottom with no job and a reluctance to give up the alcohol no matter how much their mother and brother insisted that they saw help. Help was not something that Ki was interested in as help usually came from a one night stand or the bottom of the whiskey bottle. There was something so tragic in Ki's own romanticism with their own issues. In a worrying manner, Ki would often bark upon how they were reaching their stride and this was their peak.t

In fact, it was their rock bottom.

-

Help had come in the form of an opportunity; one that Ki had been reluctant to accept. Their grandfather's letter had been with their mother for the past few years. Unfortunately, Ki's grandfather died only seeing the worst side of Ki's addictions which had made sense upon opening the letter. A deed to the farm in Pelican Farm for when Ki had hit their absolute lowest and needed an escape.

At first, Ki had no need to escape to the countryside. They began to believe that it would be utterly boring and they'd have nothing to do other than work but perhaps that's just was what they were needing. They needed to be busy. They needed a job.

The air was cleaner and watching the sites go by of the outer-city world made Ki feel like a king. They had never been out of the city so these kind of sights were magical. The way that the ocean sparkled was making Ki kind of excited to see what was on the other side.

What would Pelican Town be like? Believe it or not. Ki had never been to Pelican Town. Elisa, their mother, was always busy in her role as a government official and often never had time to take Ki, or their brother Derek. This meant no trips to the seaside or holidays abroad. They were home birds and this was partly why Ki never wanted to leave; fear of the unknown and whatnot.

Safety was in the home, Ki had once thought.

-

They were already tired when they got there. Future them would have laughed at the idea of them being tired as it was fitting for then what was to come. It seemed as if there was someone waiting for them. Great, fanfare.

This was who Ki would later know as Robin, the carpenter of the town and currently the only face of the town so far for Ki other than their grandfather.

"You must be Kiran Smith?"

Ki gave a tight smile, and extended a hand, "Everyone calls me Ki these days but you are right,"

The hand was returned and the prefered name was dutifully noted. "Nice to meet you. Ki. I'm Robin," The handshake was successful and Ki's arm dropped to their side, "Mayor Lewis is by the farm now just touching up a few things. I can take you there now if you'd like?"

Ki suddenly remembered the bag by their side and it was heavy. A collection of clothes, makeup and smelly sprays. Ki began to feel as if they wouldn't be needed here though which they were not looking forward to for their new life.

Seeing the farm cemented that fact.

Looking around Ki knew it was going to be a lot of hard manual labour hours. They did know that going in as the correspondents with Mayor Lewis made him aware that it was going to be a lot of work to get the farm in a decent condition. Whenever Ki, felt the urge to back out of what they were doing, they remembered they needed a distraction for their life to break their habits.

No pain no gain, after all.

Robin was a mind reader or must have seen Ki's face when they stopped in front of the house that looked really run down, "I know it looks bad but with enough love and care, I bet you will be able to fix this place up in no time!" Ki wasn't encouraged by that. It will take a lot more than love and care for sure!!!

However, Mayor Lewis did appear out of the house and noticed Ki standing there. A smile came to his face as he wandered over to see Ki.

"Ah, Kiran!" Lewis beamed. Ki almost corrected him but a hand was offered for a shake which Ki accepted, "I've heard so much about you and your brother. I am happy to finally meet you," He turned to the house and continued, "I know it's rustic and the farm is overgrown, but I know that you will be able to do something with it,"

"Rustic is right..." An aside came from Robin.

They bickered about the state of the house. Apparently Robin was doing to push one of her upgrades which made sense considering the small house. Goodbyes were made and Ki finally could put their stuff in their house and...damn it's small.

It was okay. It was fine. Ki decided that it was all best left until tomorrow. Without taking off any clothes, they stripped down and then lay on the bed. Tomorrow they would definitely explore the rest of Pelican Town.