x
I opened my eyes to the rain tapping the window. The water dripping down the windshield and windows, I sat up and looked towards Jith.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxZUNc6Boq
“We're almost home, the rain only slowed us down a little.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8DteJsWOh
This dull melancholic pain coursed through me, I could feel a clear warmth from Jith besides me but just outside the car the world howled and the unwavering chill blew.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyFzcZ314Y
The gray and brown city blended together with the rain, the road was rough, waves of water slashed as we drove. Jith turned down a street and pulled up in front of the garage, jumping out the car against the storm, opening it up and driving us inside. I watched quietly, as they closed the garage door.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElbOJJcZRB
“Let’s go Fran, it's freezing.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89naUhYKF9
There was a door at the end of the small garage, behind it was a tunnel that led to stairs and the door to our home. I followed as they scrambled for the keys, opening the door to the light gasp of two kids sitting in the living room.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoJu1LERXV
The kids stared with wild wonder surrounded by dated and used furniture. Their wide eyes, and harsh features looking at Jith and I.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMmV1H8POr
“Dace and Juy, its Frans Birthday!”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibaIyoLf65
“Happy birthday!” said the smaller one, happy to have someone else around.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg7YEekoYB
“Happy birthday” said the older one, seemingly bothered by me.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw6yeJQCKm
I noticed a droplet slowly forming above Dace, it dripped down hitting him square in the forehead, “Ahh”, he jumped back.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThAucBhJBn
“Oh for the love of god there's a leak.” Jith rushed to find a bucket, finding a bucket nearby and placing it under.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAJ15qkcta
Jith sighs “Anyways you babies hungry? I’m going to make Zole since its Frans favorite.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryqqeGd2pt
Dace was watching on as Juy went back to her business.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0sPD3Wqr2
“Fran?”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MIOoPImEq
I turned my head to Jith, to see them twisting a gas tank, connecting it to a stove.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyCBHu6w7V
“We don’t have long noodles right now, are shorter ones ok?” Jith said out of breath.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HCgRrwBV5
“Sure” Juy not even looking up from their phone.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0Ys5tGyJt
“Yea!” Dace says playing with a game.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPii1KCv7Q
“Um yea” I noticed a red mark under Jith’s rolled up sleeves.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj1f0SwTyr
Jith had the flame lit and poured the ingredients in a pot. Finally turning to me they saw me looking at their arm.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwTmscqxdW
“Oh, that’s my “sign”, we all have them actually. Red means I'm a supportive person” ,Jith slightly raises their voice while looking at Dace, “and what does blue mean?”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI1ISVyZBz
“Strong!” Dace says, shadowing his blue mark off.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Jws2QgC1Q
“Yep” Jith looks back at me “But you know, I guess you need a “sign” too. I think you're strong so go with a strong blue “sign”.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF7Pfhjb74
I was speechless, my eyes and mind became lost somewhere, I looked to my hand, legs and body. I felt uncomfortable with that idea of me, I was still a bit dirty and covered in scuffs and scratches.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVhqtjpfyP
“That's right….” I thought. I stood completely still, with something new within me.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOrKH3PLGm
“Dace, Catch!” yelled Jith, throwing a lighter to the young boy. “Go get the boiler on so Fran can take a shower.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B0xSxtRdB
“Ok” Dace dashed out the front door.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeNvtbkyiy
“Go shower, the soup should be ready by the time you're out. Its the door closest to the front door”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKowW7o7MI2
I said nothing, I walked towards the bathroom, opening it and shutting it behind me.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuu32C3cs9
Do I need to be strong? It's what my creator has told me. I looked at my frame and where my arm was supposed to be. I felt sad that I didn't have an arm anymore, its gonna be really hard to do stuff, but I have to…
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVDtdRjBvI
I have to be strong for Jith.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcsw4lQj3y
I turned the hot water on and felt great in the warmth.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctw8CIWV73
I forgot about my thoughts in pure bliss.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNJeZJlvdD
I showered, brushing my rough frame, it hurt my hand.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLRP9gXSwa
I dried myself off and walked out to see Jith serving bowls around the table.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbFlj3PNe2
“Soups ready kids.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhMMcZLPxo
Dace jumped up from the old couch and Juy got up quietly to take a seat at the table.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArpuJaQQw9
“Fran, we gotta sing happy birthday before food gets cold.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrfupg17tr
I took a seat with them, finally getting a look at Dace and Juy.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoJk50OBn4
Dace has these kind eyes and bouncy energy while also being a rough, strong signed kid. Juy’s eyes were more focused, while being a bit more quiet and seemed in their own world, I couldn't see their sign.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3soBe9NiA
“Ok guys, 1,2,3 happy-” They all sang the happy birthday song, Dace throwing in Cha-cha-cha. I was embarrassed but a little happy. “Remember to make a wish as you eat your soup.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEz8sYoxtK
I felt a connection with them, like I had always known them. I need to be strong not only for Jith, but for Dace and Juy too.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI2tcYJlpa
Dace finished his soup first, washed their hands and came up to me.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUnquGpicS
“When you finish eating want to play games with me?”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt7AIXPGUy
“Yea, sure.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OKDBwnlY2
Juy finished and washed their hands and went into their room.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbu0Boxths
Me and Jith finished at the same time and they offered to wash my bowl.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKIEUeelgq
“Go see what Dace is doing.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXpcnmgeAm
I nodded and walked towards Dace playing a handheld console while laying on the couch.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuudJUicNi9
“Hi Fran, you still love Elfo’s adventures, right?”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBmAV42rnR
“Yea, I do”, why did I say that? I thought.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJjwC9DNl1
“Oh nice, I can make a new save file for you since I’ve always liked watching you play.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80DpsVce6k
“Well It might be hard for me, since I just got one hand.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTn6B65eGFT
“Oh yea… umm-” Dace semed a bit let down, he was still a kid after all.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PA1yxStN4
“Its cool Dace, I can just use my left hand and you can control the right side of the controller.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQmGRU6EYe
“Really! thats sounds awsomee.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQXNZbrqEa
I smiled and he handed me the game. The house felt warm, the shower, the soup, my family. I could still feel the dull pain in my body but something else had taken the wheel, like how I was with Dr. Tylor.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3BIHxgGMk
We played our game for the rest of the day, Juy did not exit the room and Jith quietly read a paper on the table. I just played the game with Dace, he was happy to do so, I felt proud again to make someone else smile. time passed until night fell and the door opened.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9fUX345Dm
A large person entered the house, soft but hard eyes they seemed tired holding a bag of bottles.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRZzJz3xgt
“Hey kids, oh Fran is here already? Want a bottle Fran?” he chuckled.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26fytqswi1
“HI Cer!” Dace exclaimed.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JxSSpYEwW
Jith put their magazine down, “ Picked them up earlier today.” Jith got up walking towards the person hugging and kissing them, “Fran, this is Cer your step father.”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WXYOQ6T8M
I looked up dull eyed, I noticed his strong “sign” on his arm. “Hello.” I said.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0pZrnnkzO
Jith walked him towards the table, “I made some soup Cer, want me to warm it up?”
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkwWqV1DoD
“Yea and make it quick i'm tired as hell”. He sat down.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeET5eBdMf
That person, Cer, confuses me. I don’t feel as if they’re a person capable of producing warmth but they don’t seem that cold.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztwguQE2lm
I could see something that gave me a conflicting idea of him.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28VXHTGlaY
We continued playing our game, Cer finished his food and went to sleep. Dace yawned, Jith heard and said we should head to bed. They opened the door where Juy had entered earlier seeing three beds.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqWqXROfoH
Juy was on her phone on the bed to the left corner, Dace sleepily laid on the middle bed.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOltzHzmzq
"Juy, you should sleep soon don't be on your phone so much. Fran try and sleep too, you know where the bathrooms and fridge is. Goodnight."
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPJVr1wWsM
Jith closed the door, and the room was dark. I could faintly see a light coming from Juy's phone. My eyes naturally closed but the pain lingered within me, never letting me find true comfort. I felt a sensation of bugs crawling on my back and all around me.
402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8ZdWvE7PZ
I itched and moved a lot to be comfortable. Eventually I drifted to sleep, and began to dream of another's life.402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnxXRRSTEV
