Remember Us

Sickened Insides

As I'm walking through Shibuya I slightly look side to side as I pass by various faces I don't know. Different identities from various parts of this tiny peninsula. A reimagined New York City right here in Japan. The buildings painted with billboards, signs of various sizes and lighting of every color are lighting up the night so much it's like a huge party. A nice, cold winter night so crisp and clear. Looking up at the night sky, you can kind of see a few stars if you squint.

But...

Have you ever wondered where...

Just...

Where are they going?

I slightly feel my foot is starting to slide onto the side of the street. Snow crunching below my feet, is slowly bringing me back to reality.

"Hey watch out!" shouts someone's flying by on a bicycle.

"Damn they're so common here, thank god it wasn't a car..."

I smile to myself as I think of the terrible accident scenes I remember from a few shoujo manga's I've read... For real that shit could've been me just now...

I chuckle to myself

"What are you laughing at..? Your not going to  get away with that smirk on your face..."

I pull out my phone as it's vibrating, quietly ringing in my hand... My finger softly brushes my iPhone 6s's screen, I pressed decline.

"Sorry E, what did you say?" I say sarcastically.

"My name's Erika, and I asked why you laughed when you literally were about to get hit by a bike...?" she said pointly

Well... I could tell her I had images of people hit by cars in my head or I could just be a good person and lie...

"Well Erika, I thought of how Ril—...."

My phone rang again, the same number popped up.

[Unknown]

"Erika, I uh— I've gotta take this, I'll tell you later." I said

I wonder who the fuck this dip-shit is, with no caller ID... Better not be a loan agency stalking me all the way from America...

"Hello, who's this?" I ask politely

[unknown caller]

"Hey Michelle, how's time in Japan for you and your fam? I heard your house burned down, so sad.... But I just—..."

I hung up... My mind is racing...

Erika... Fuck... I shouldn't... I usually don't answer unknown fucking callers, god dammit!

"Michelle? You ok?..." Erika looked at me so concerned

"No.." I said almost crying

"Dammit.."

"Who was it?" she asked

Who was it...?! Who—was—it..?! I can't tell you how close I was to laughing and crying almost instantly...

"Damien" I blurt out

"Erika..?!" I almost yelled...

I look around and I see worried faces left and right, yet still moving legs around us. I hear the whispers, the murmurs, all in Japanese...

"Are they ok?!"

"Honey, should we call the police...?"

"Mama, those weird ladies..."

"Maybe, she's drunk, no worries."

Erika, she almost fell to her knees...

"C'mon... L—let's go into this tea shop...! Let's go sit down... For a bit...!" I said, I didn't even realize how hysterical I sounded.

"Y— yeah..." she said looking like she was going to be sick. Although I don't blame her, I wanna go into a coma right about now. I know that's horrible to say...