Looking around my room it was the same way I had left it. The kitchen on my left didn’t have any unwashed dishes, but the trash wasn’t taken out and it was starting to smell a bit. To the right was a small hallway that led to the bathroom. If you don’t take the right and instead walk a few steps from the kitchen then you’ll be in my bedroom. My bedroom was small but there was enough space for a single person bed, a desk to do work on, a TV, and a small drawer for my clothes. In the corner of my room was a basket full of my dirty clothes, and looking at it, I needed to do laundry.

I was about to take off my gray sweater but decided not too. Fifi was flying around my room exploring and I don’t want her to lose her enjoyment because of my body.

“Fifi, I’m going to take a shower. I’ll put on something for you to watch.”

“This is a TV, isn’t it? The hospital had one too. I didn’t know what I did but people inside of this box suddenly appeared. The people were talking about how a wall was being built around Ostempal but it suddenly changed to them talking about something called a “condom.” These two women went on and on about how you have to use “condoms” to be safe. The weirdest thing was that they were putting these “condoms” on bananas. What’s a “condom”, Jude? Is it used to keep bananas safe?”

Oh, that explains why the TV was on when I woke up, but what channel was she watching? Was this actually aired on TV? Thinking about it, it was most likely a commercial.

She’s looking at me so innocently with those eyes of pure curiosity. She’s a thousand-year-old fairy so it isn’t wrong to talk to her about sex, right?

Wait, wait, wait, Jude. She’s still a girl though. You can’t just talk about sex in front of a girl, that’s called being tactless. But those eyes, I can’t resist them. She just wants to understand this new world and I have to be the one to teach her. Here goes nothing then.

“I-I don’t have any experience but c-condoms are used during s-s-sex. I-it prevents having children and it protects from certain diseases.

Fifi’s face blushed and so did mine but she recovered quicker than I did. She tilted her head and there was visible confusion on her face.

“Isn’t sex an act of making babies, why would you want to prevent that?”

“I-I-I don’t know. I’m going to go shower.”

I turn on the TV for Fifi and a news channel was on. I immediately grab my towel and head to the bathroom.

It was a regular bathroom, there’s a sink with a mirror on the wall, a toilet, and a shower area. I turn the faucet on the sink and wash my face with water. I wanted to wash away my embarrassment.

I wipe my face with my towel and look at myself in the mirror. I was surprised that there wasn’t a scar on my head. I reach my hand to touch my forehead and it was fine. This was weird because my head was bleeding when I fought the prison monster, wasn’t it? Was it all my imagination or was the blood from the monster?

Even weirder was that my body wasn’t aching anymore. Yesterday when I woke up I could still feel the pain in my body, but now it’s barely noticeable.

It doesn’t matter either way. I feel dirty so I should just shower. I take off my gray sweater, my white shirt, and my blue jeans. I probably have to throw them away considering its condition.

I look at myself in the mirror and see my hideous body. The scars on my body were disgusting. I feel sick just looking at myself. It’s already been 6 years but I can’t get used to it.

I’ll never forget the day I was struck by lightning.

…...

My parents and I were out camping for the weekend. It should have been a fun event where we could enjoy each other’s company but it wasn’t

The weather reports said that the weather would be perfectly fine for the weekend so we went out camping, but on our first night there the rain started pouring like it was trying to drown us. It was so intense that if you walked outside you would only be able to see a few feet ahead.

After 20 minutes of being assaulted by the rain, our tents weren't going to hold out so we decided to walk back down the trail to get to the car. It was only supposed to be a 10-minute trail back but it wasn’t that easy. The ground was slippery, our vision was obscured, and the rain was piercingly cold. I desperately held onto my mother’s hand because I felt that I would be washed away if I didn’t hold on. My father walked in front of us, guiding us back.

A light flash through the sky, it was so bright that I had to cover my eyes. In that one second, I let go of my mother’s hand and she was gone. I couldn’t see her so I called and called out but no one answered back. The rain was drowning out my voice.

I panic and begin to run forward without a care of where I was going. I was scared because my parents were gone and I was all alone in the dark. I screamed until I couldn’t anymore. My body was shivering and everything was becoming colder. I couldn’t even feel my fingertips or my face.

That was when another light flashed through the sky but this time it was much closer. Not knowing where else to go, I followed the area the lightning struck. While I was running another light flashed through the sky, this time it wasn’t as close.

I continue on the path that leads to the closer lighting strike, but as I got closer I could smell something in the air. It was the smell of something burnt.

I walked a little bit more and the smell grew intense. Suddenly in the distance, I could see some sort of fire. I ran towards it hoping that it was other campers, but it wasn’t. It was the body of…

…...

I kneel in front of the toilet puking into it. I was remembering an unpleasant memory. The scene, the smell, I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to. The horrid smell of burnt human flesh and the smell of death won’t leave my nose.

I couldn’t stop it, everything in my stomach was escaping. The burning acidic feeling passed through my throat and continued out. It was a terrible taste and feel.

“Jude are you ok!?”

Fifi was knocking on the door.

“I-I’m fine. Just an upset stomach.”

“Ok, tell me if it gets worse. I’ll give you some medicine.”

I wipe away the leftover vomit on my mouth and stand up to turn on the shower. My body felt dirty because of the two days worth of sweat and gunk all over my body. I take off my boxer briefs and enter the shower. The water was cold just like that day.

I wet my hair and could feel the greasiness of it. I really have to appreciate Fifi for not complaining about my hair. She’s been laying and playing with it since yesterday night so I have to make sure it’s extra nice for her.

I grab the shampoo bottle and pour some out on my hand before washing my hair. I let it simmer for a little longer this time so it would smell extra nice. I rinse off the shampoo and pour the liquid soap into my hand.

I rub my hand all over my body and I can feel the misshapen scars. My entire body was covered in scars. It was like an octopus was latched onto my back and it was wrapping its tentacles all over my body. My back, my arms, my legs, and my abs were all covered in scars; the only part that wasn’t scared was my chest and up. The doctors said that it was a miracle that I didn’t die right away but it isn’t a miracle, it is a curse.

I lost my parents that day and my life just got worse from that point onwards. The physical and mental pain just grew worse every day. The con-artist after my inheritance, the bullying, and the constant looks of pity. Nothing was right in my world.

The soap in my hand isn’t able to wash all of this away. No matter how much I scrub, the scars don’t disappear. It’s a curse that has been placed on my body.

I let the cold water wash away the soap, wash away all the bad memories. I turn off the shower and wipe myself with the towel. I open the door and walk out while drying my hair. My hair needs to be soft and dry so Fifi can enjoy it. I wonder if she’ll like the smell of my shampoo.

“Wa-wa-wa-what are you doing!!!!”

I hear Fifi’s shriek and realize that she was still here. I’ve been living alone for so long that I forgot that I had a guest in my place.

“It-it’s so big!”

I quickly run back into the bathroom and close the door behind me. She saw it didn’t she? She was definitely shocked at seeing the scars all over my body. Is she disgusted now? Is she going to call it ugly like all the others?

I can’t go back out there looking like this. My scars are revolting and she doesn’t need to see them. The only thing I could cover myself with is my towel and my old clothes. I don’t want to wear those dirty clothes after I just showered so I have to cover myself with my towel then. Wait, I could just tell her to close her eyes.

“Fifi, I’m coming out right now so close your eyes.”

“O-ok.”

Before going out, I wrap the towel around my chest just in case. I open the door and rush to grab a change of clothes. I rummage through my drawer and pick out an outfit. I run back to the bathroom so I could change.

“It was a dragon!”

I quickly put my clothes on. I was wearing gray boxer briefs, dark blue jeans, a gray shirt, and a black jacket. I open the bathroom door and walk out. Fifi’s face was slightly flushed but she wasn’t staring at the scars on my body. She was looking downwards. She was trying to be considerate of me.

“Did you see it?”

“Y-yeah.”

She turned her gaze away and stopped staring. Should I tell her about my scars? Should I show it to her again?

I continue to contemplate but I concluded that I should tell her about it. She’s one of the very rare friends that I trust from the bottom of my heart. She should know about my past and we promised we would reveal our secrets to each other.

I try and speak to Fifi but the words don’t come out. They were stuck within my throat and it was choking me. I try again and again but nothing comes out. The sick feeling was returning to my stomach.

There was a voice screaming within me telling me that I can’t tell Fifi. I shouldn’t show it to her because she’s my friend. It’ll just gross her out and she might even run away from me. Then we won’t be friends anymore. She’ll hate me if she finds out how ugly I am.

I run towards the bathroom, I could feel something coming out.

“Jude, what’s wrong?”

I was kneeling in front of the toilet retching. Nothing was coming out. All the contents within my stomach were already gone but I couldn’t stop dry heaving.

“It’s alright. Just let it all out.”

Fifi was trying to comfort me but it wasn’t working. She was patting my back but on the exact spot where I was struck by lightning. A shock was sent through my body and I couldn’t stop dry heaving. It was starting to hurt a lot and at this rate, I’m going to puke my heart out.

“Ok, I’m making you some medicine, Jude!! You are definitely not ok!”

Fifi searched through her pouch and brought out some kind of herbs. She creates a bubble of water and was heating it up with fire. She grounded her herbs and threw them into the bubble. The water was turning a green color and is emitting a strong medicinal smell.

“Open wide.”

I face Fifi and open my mouth. She threw the ball of medicine in my mouth. It was extremely bitter and I felt like puking it back out but didn’t. Fifi made this medicine for me, I can’t waste it.

The overpowering bitterness washed away the acidic taste in my mouth. The liquid was warm and soothing. The pain in my throat was lessening and the sick feeling in my stomach was disappearing.

“T-thank you, Fifi.”

“It’s fine, hurry and wash your face.”

I stand up and head over to the sink. I turn on the cold water and splash my face while also rinsing my mouth. Fifi was floating by waiting for me.

“I’m sorry, Fifi.”

“Look at me, Jude!”

Fifi slaps my nose with both of her hands. She held on and adjust my face so we would be at eye level. She was staring into my eyes.

“You were hesitating to say something, weren’t you?”

“Y-yeah.”

“You are a goddamn idiot, Jude!!! If you are going to suffer because you are trying to tell me something then don’t say it at all!!! Don’t force yourself, Jude! I already told you that we are going to be together for a long time so you do not have to rush things!!! Just go at your own pace and when you are ready to talk, then I will be ready to listen!! You hear me, Jude!!??”

She was screaming at me but her words were so gentle. It reminds me of how mom used to scold me. The tears were running again, how many times has this happened within these few days? I couldn’t control it.

“You’re such a crybaby, Jude. Let’s go, we still have to see if Mako’s alright.”

“Yeah.”

I wipe away my tears and exit the bathroom. Something inside of me was lifted. The burden on my body didn’t feel as heavy as it used too and it was all because of Fifi.

“Thank you, Fifi.”