CHAPTER 5.5

THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT

I then put my face up and tell myself, "I will fix myself, no matter what. I will!"

I scrub myself with soap and finish bathing, my clothes waiting outside and my mother nowhere to be seen.

I check the clock and it says it's currently "10:42 PM. " I say, out loud and not realizing it.

I scoff and say to myself, "She's probably sleeping. Now's my chance to get out. "

I slowly tiptoe to the door and manage to open the old and rusty modern-looking door without it creaking..

I saw Hirath outside, giving me the looks.

"Hey, where you going?" She tells me with a mad expression and a raspy voice.

"None of your business, Hirath. Leave me alone. " I take a small look at her and gave her an ignorant expression.

Hirath stands up and takes a big step screaming at me, "Don't you go anywhere, Miyuki. That Cashier, the stranger, they aren't what they seem. "

I pull myself out of Hirath's hands and shout "Leave me alone! What is your problem!?"

With a defiant scream, she said, "I just want to protect you! Miyuki! Listen to me for once!" Her voice trembling in fear, breaking into millions of emotions, she somehow managed to hold me to the ground.. It was some sort of special power.

"Ahh! What was that for?" I shouted, hurt by the pain of the ground. I checked my body and saw bruises everywhere.

With a chocking sob, I hesitated to say, "You're the one who's not protecting me! Look what you did!" I gave her a death but teary — stare.

I noticed Hirath felt nervous, she looked to the left, not giving eye contact.

As I started to speak, she said, "F-fine.. suit yourself, if you want to get exposed to the dangers out there, go for it. "

I stand up rubbing a sore knee, holding the pain in. Giving her a cold look as I left, putting my hands in my pockets as she looked at me smiling and crying.

I heard a faint whisper, "You already know, Miyuki. I hope to see you soon. " She held back her emotions and said it. Making me feel guilty as I walked to the convenience store.

I sobbed quietly as I walked to the store, meeting people on the way there.

As cars and bikes passed by me, I felt a wind of sorrow engulf my body. It's a feeling I never had before.

It blew my tears away causing me to fall into a state of happiness for a few seconds.

I saw a faint white light in front of me just to realize I was dreaming?

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It was a truck.. I accepted my fate right there. Right before it hit, I felt a movement and a warm touch. The light faded.

It's as if someone pushed me out of the way.

"Yo, you can't just be doing that you know? I understand if you have your problems but this isn't the answer. " He told me, sweating.

I stand up and thank him — "You don't have to thank me. I believe You and I are feeling something today — something depressing I assume?"

"Y-yeah.. I lost my boyfriend and things are happening to me. " I reply, my voice just letting out a whisper.

"Hm.. That's normal. When I first lost my girlfriend, I was depressed and didn't want to go out. It's lucky you even wanted to go out. "

"Actually, There's someone that doesn't want me to go out. My mother and Someone in my imaginations. "

"Hm.. I think they're trying to give you a sign. —" I interrupt, "Yeah but I don't believe them, they keep saying about something dangerous and such. "

"You should go back. Listen to them. Last time I defied my Mother I almost died from a weirdo out in that store over there. It was a cashier who looked like a teenager but in reality it was an old predator. " He replied, his eyes seemed as if he experience trauma.

"W-what.? I-I was planning to go there to talk to him.. " Shocked, I reply.

"Go back and never return there. He seems nice but he just wants to take you.

"O-Okay.. " I reply with a sobbing state.

I run back home waving bye to the kind boy, tears falling out as I ran back.

I saw Hirath waiting for me, sobbing. As she heard running, she looked up and ran to me. Hugging me then we both fell to the ground.

"MIYUKI!! I'VE BEEN WAITING! DID SOMETHING HAPPEN? PLEASE... Don't Leave me like that.. again.. " She replied, her sobbing became even louder and her grip on me tightening.

I accepted her and hugged her too, "I almost got hit, a kind boy saved me. "

"Please.. Miyuki.. Listen to me! " Her sobs amplified as she hugged me even tighter

"H-Hirath.. I'm sorry.. " I tighten my grip around her waist and rest my head on her shoulder.

"It's okay, Miyuki. Please, promise me to live a good life and get away from trouble. " Hirath cries even more as I see her figure slowly fade away. I hold her hand tight and ask her, "Hirath, w-where are you going.? '

"Till this world lasts, Miyuki. Good luck. " She grinned at me as she faded away, crying.

I take a small step back, my eyes widen in shock and despair, her warm touch and soft voice gone in just seconds.

I fall to my knees, bruising them even more, saying, "H-Hirath.? Where are you.? H-huh.. "

I screamed, "HIRATH!? " and cried loudly.

My mother went to my room to see an empty and quiet room. She rushed downstairs and opened the front door, seeing me helpless on the ground crying.

My mother and I looked at eachother in the eyes, I could tell she was mad but kept it in, knowing something happened.

"MIYUKI — What are you doing on the ground?! It's dirty!" She held back her screams and softly asked.

"Mom.. I'm sorry! Hirath is gome because of me! I went out and didn't listen to you and her! I almost got hit by a truck and Hirath disappeared!" I rush to hug her and started crying.

We both fell to the floor and my mother enclosed my head in her hands, telling me, "Slow down, Miyuki. It's not over yet. Hirath is probably still there. Do you remember what she said before disappearing?" As she asked, she blew the leaf out of my hair.

I reply, "She said, T-till this world lasts, Good Luck. "

My mother hesitated before replying.

She gathered the courage, her voice trembling, she replies, "Miyuki.. She told me, whenever she says that, hoping itll never happen, it's the magic words to go and fade into an invisible entity. In other words, Miyuki, she's.. dead. "

"Huh.? " I quickly realized what she meant and accepted it. Her arms wrapped around me as I cried more.

Then, the boy who saved me came running as he heard screams, "Hey, is she okay?" He asks, worried.

My mother replied with an unsettled tone, "Who are you? And whats your business with Miyuki?"

I look up and say, "Mom, He saved me from the truck. " then I look at him and he smiled.

"Well then, thank you for saving my daughter. What's your name?" My mother replies, thankful, she bows.

The boy, clearly embarrassed, "No need for that, I just happened to see her. Haha. I'm Yuuki, Yuuki Katagawa. "

"Yuuki. Thank you. Would you like anything to drink, possibly anything to eat?" My mother asks formally.

"No thanks, I just came to see if she was alright. " He smiled.

"No, I insist. It's the least I can possibly do. " My mother still pushing.

"Well, I've got nothing to lose. Sure. "

"Very well, let's go in. " She gives me her hand and pulls me up, instructing Yuuki-kun to go insude the dining area.

I hold his hand and whisper to his ear, "Thank you, Yuuki-kun. " teasing him, I slide my finger across his shirt vertically.

END OF CHAPTER 5.5

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