Now and Then
It’s the middle of the night, and watching her run barefoot through the hills brings back memories of when I first met this insane girl.
But really…
I’m the insane one.
Because here I am—trying to keep up with her.
Seriously?
She’s still far ahead, but I can hear her high-pitched, squeaky voice echo through the dark.
“Haru! Can you hurry up?! Geshhh!”
Sigh.
This girl, I swear…
It’s been ten years since she supposedly saw one and dragged me out here the same way.
Ugh.
I stop for a moment, hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath.
Sigh…
I have to admit, though—the sky is beautiful tonight. Clear, full of stars, the moon glowing like it’s watching us.
(…Okay, it is kind of nice.)
Ten Years Ago
I was seven when we moved into our new neighborhood.
My parents went out to buy groceries, and since I didn’t feel like going, I wandered off to the nearest park.
That’s where everything went wrong.
—or right.
Depends how you look at it.
I sat alone on the swings, watching other kids play.
I was never good at making friends.
Then—
BOOM.
A girl came flying off the monkey bars and landed right in front of me, sending sand everywhere.
I started coughing like I was about to die while she laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.
She turned to me, pointed, and declared:
“You’re my new best friend!”
I blinked.
“…What?”
And that was it.
No discussion.
No agreement.
No escape.
Somehow, we became friends.
And ever since then, she’s been dragging me into her ridiculous adventures.
A few months later, she dragged me out to go stargazing.
Something flashed across the sky—fast—and disappeared.
That was all it took.
Aliens.
From that moment on, they lived rent-free in her head.
And unfortunately…
So did I.
She dragged me through hills, forests, and places I’m pretty sure weren’t safe for two kids to be wandering around.
Weeks passed.
Months passed.
We found nothing.
She got upset.
But she never gave up.
“They’ll come back one day,” she said.
“And when they do—we’ll be ready.”
Sigh.
Present
Ten years later…
Here we are again.
Running through the same hills.
Because she “saw something.”
“HARU! WHY ARE YOU SO SLOW?!”
(I’m not the Flash—relax.)
Give me a break.
Something did flash across the sky.
But I’m not about to admit that.
If I do, we’re never leaving.
Here we go again.
Maybe this time the aliens will take her.
Honestly?
They’d probably bring her back.
Or worse…
She’d drag me with her.
“Finally! You’re here!” she says, hands on her hips.
“Wow—you are sloooow.”
“I’m the one chasing your crazy ideas!” I snap back.
She laughs.
“Yeah—and you always will!”
I look at her.
Still the same.
Still loud.
Still impossible.
And somehow…
Still the only person who ever pulled me out of my own head.
I shake my head and let out a breath.
“…Yeah.”
A small smile.
“I probably will.”
Sarcastic sigh.
Oh great.
