This story is inspired by Livingston's Half Life. And this is how Yuki and Shika met in the first place.
For the first time we met, I saw the sparkles in your eyes, bright and cold through the darkness. At that moment, I knew everything. We are the same, but there is still something different.
I didn’t remember much when I was born, but I did remember one thing, we were in a room filled with sunshine. The light was so strong that I couldn’t stop crying while the others were laughing and hooraying.
As I said, I didn’t remember much about my birth, but my mom told me everything. I was born in the midsummer noon. Everyone was expecting me, but they didn’t know how good I chose the day to arrive. When I was born, every relative was celebrating, not only because of my birth but also the day. It was the day with the longest sunshine of the year. That was why my mom always called me, “the kid of the sun”.
Through my 26-year life, I lived a happy life. Well, rather happy. I was not sure if it was really because of the date I was born or my environment, but everyone told me that I was the most optimistic person they had ever met in their life as if there would be nothing to halt my happiness. Indeed, even when Grandpa passed away, I only wept for two days because I knew he had gone to a better place.
I thought I would be like that until I met you sitting in the cafe. You were having a cup of tea or something with your friends, and you were laughing, but I saw something on the contrary when our eyesights accidentally met.
They were dark black. That kind of darkness absorbs every brightness except those sparkles. They were so tiny that people could barely see, but I noticed them. Suddenly, I figured. You were not laughing sincerely. You were just acting with your friends.
I broke our eye contact as soon as things got awkward, but from that moment on, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Curiosity was aroused. I wanted to know you more.
I waited for you in the cafe at the same time every day just to talk to you, but you never showed up until a month later.
We sat across from each other’s table. Sometimes we made some eye contact, but we never really talked. To be honest, even though I was “the kid of the sun”, I was still timid. I didn’t start conversations or take the first step to make friends. I thought you figured it out because you finally came at me and greeted after our several meetups.
“Hey, we have met each other several times, but I never know your name, so I am wondering if you mind telling me your name.” Your voice was gravelly, and I found I enjoyed listening to it.
“Yeah, I am Yuki. Nice to meet you.” I was a bit awkward, and I felt my face burning. It was as red as a tomato for sure.
“Shika. May I sit here?” You asked without hesitation.
I nervously nodded and offered you a seat.
That was the day we started knowing each other.
As time went by, we knew each other better. We almost spent every spare moment together on the phone or on the chatting app chatting or sharing. You knew that I was curious about everything, and you always said that whenever I said I was curious.
The days were amazing. If my mom saw me in person, she would definitely tell me, “You are shining brighter and brighter every day, my child.” And that was how exactly I felt. My heart was filled with sunshine. If it were possible, I could even shine in the darkest night.
And that day came.
You called me. I could feel the emotions hidden in your voice. They were wild and dangerous.
I didn’t hesitate any second. I hurried out through the door to the front of the cafe we met. You were there, standing and weeping. You were shaking, and at that moment, I felt something broke in me. I never saw you like that. All I wanted to do was to give you a warm hug and tell you that everything would be fine even though I didn’t know what had happened.
I walked to you as fast as I could, and I saw your relief in your eyes. You hugged me and buried your face in my shoulder, then I felt the wetness on my t-shirt. I patted you as if you were a wounded puppy keeping saying I was there and you were safe.
We had a long talk that night, and that was the day I knew things about your family.
“...My family is not as positive as yours. From how you see things, I know you have a family full of love. You once told me that you were called ‘the kid of the sun’ by your mom, and me… you can say I am the kid of darkness.”
The words came out from your mouth with not much emotions just like you believed that for your whole life, so there was nothing to talk back. You had accepted the “fact”.
“Shika, you are not the kid of darkness,” I forced you looking into my eyes by holding your face, “the day I met you for the very first time, I saw sparkles in your eyes.”
I paused. You looked stunned. And the sparkles once covered by the sorrowness were shining again.
“You are not the kid of darkness,” I repeated and wished you would believe, “On the contrary, you are the kid made from stars. You might not have the life you love, but there must be someone loving you out there. And if it is possible, as the kid of the sun, I can centainly share my half life with you. Sunshine is just the same as the starlight, right? Just, sunshine is a bit brighter than the starlight because we are much closer to the sun.”
I knew that it was cheesy, but that was all I got to cheer you up, to make you believe that you were better than the kid of the darkness.
I saw your grin, and I knew I said something right.
You are the kid of the stars. And I love that in you.
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