(«^») Aurora Yurriana

8E/438Y/12M/45D 7:03 PM

I walked the streets alone. Hands in my pockets, shivering due to the harsh, eternal winter’s cold. I was tired. No, I was exhausted, really. I had been sleeping perfectly fine, but every morning I felt like I hadn’t rested at all. It was starting to show too. The skin around my eyes was dark, and everywhere else was pale. I couldn’t walk straight, I had a severe tremor, and it took me a while to form coherent sentences.

I walked for a long time. I don’t remember exactly how long. At some point it felt like days. I was just so out of it that I could barely comprehend the passing of time. When the sun finally set I caught a glint in the darkness surrounding me.

My first instinct was run, but something else just said act like you didn’t see it. So, I continued walking as if nothing happened.

“Hmm.” A voice emanated from all around me. A female one, but one I didn’t recognize. “Not gonna panic, are you?”

“Why would I?” I stopped with my eyes closed, adrenaline the only thing keeping me going. “Not much threatens me these days.”

“Oh? Confident, are we?”

“Just a bit.” I paused for a moment, “What’s your name?”

“I don’t quite know to be perfectly honest. Call me Green.” Suddenly a figure in a white cloak walked in front of me.

“White hair and green eyes. Very creative if I do say so myself.” I scoffed at her.

“Indeed. Tell me, Aurora, what is it you wish for.”

I froze, suddenly thinking that running might’ve been a good idea. I narrowed my eyes at Green, “A nice simple life. That’s it really.”

“What if I told you I could grant wishes?”

“I’d tell you to have a nice time trying to grant it. I would’ve had it by now if it was at all possible anyways. Not like wish spells exist in the first place.”

“It’s possible.”

I stopped for a moment. “I think we’re done here.”

She grinned at me, “Here. Sign this card if you ever change your mind. I’ll be waiting.” She pulled out a light green card with a white border.

I stared at it for a few seconds. I thought about it for as long as I could pull my thoughts together. “Fine.” I took the card, and walked away.

(«^») Iris Exurrana

8E/438Y/12M/46D 18:30 PM

The silence was heavy. It had been a while since Aurora had left. Nobody had visited since. I had barely slept in the past day. I felt energetic but the same time I felt oddly lethargic. Tired. I also felt hungry and full at the same time. Hot and cold, too. I gazed at the clock as it struck 18:30. Thirty past midnight.

Another lonely birthday. I sighed heavily. I buried my face in my pillow. “Why am I even alive anymore?”

“That’s a good question, ain’t it? Why are any of us still alive?” A familiar voice filled my ears. I looked up to find a green eyed, purple haired girl in an Earthen football jacket.

“I never asked your name.”

“Quick to change the conversation, huh? Maybe you never bothered to remember it. Do you not recognize me?”

I gave her a hard look. “I don’t want to recognize you. I didn’t want to at least. Although that won’t do much.”

“Who am I?”

“Jade Exurrana. I think it’s Azazel now, isn’t it?”

She narrowed her eyes at me. But she quickly broke out laughing. A wide smile appeared on her face, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry. It’s just. Stress, y’know? It gets to your head sometimes.”

“Believe me I would know. Being technically immortal tends to come with a lot of anxiety.”

Azazel sighed, “To you maybe. I kinda’ like it. I’m glad I’ve lived as many lives as I have. Seeing so many things, experiencing them… it’s fulfilling.”

“Is it?”

“Of course it is. Why would I lie about that?”

“I just find it hard to believe.” I looked away in frustration.

“Mom…” I froze at those words, “If I may… What’s got you so fucked up?”

“I… just…” I sighed, “As crazy as it sounds it feels like I’m just going through the motions. I’m told to do something, I do it, because I have no other purpose. I live only to serve the needs of others. And as much as I hate myself for it, it feels right, even though something inside of me says it’s very, very wrong.”

“Iris Exurrana, the Breaker of Gods cannot break her own fate?”

I gave Azazel a sidelong glance, “What are you saying.”

“You’re an extraordinary person who does extraordinary things daily. Yet you feel nothing of it. Why is that?”

“Because I’m bor-.”

“Because it’s fate. Break your fate, mom. Break it. Shatter its body, and grind its bones to dust under your heel.” Azazel gave me a serious look. She went silent for a moment. She got up and started walking away, “Before I leave, here.” She tossed me an envelope, “Happy birthday.” I glared at her, wishing for a rebuttal but coming up short.

(«^»)

It was quiet in the hospital. It was an hour or so past midnight, so I couldn’t expect things to be very loud. But when you have nothing to do but stare at the wall it gets mind numbing. “Silence will be the death of me~~” I caught myself singing a song to myself and stopped suddenly. Mostly in an effort not to damage my own voice any further.

I laid my head back and tapped out the rest of the song. But so will you~~

Baby, oh, how have we lost it all?~~

“You’re a terrible singer, you know that?” To my surprise Aurora walked in with a light, playful grin.

“Fuck you.”

“You already have, remember?”

I glared at her, “I thought you were mad at me.”

“Was. I caught Ja- I mean Azazel on the way out. Said you guys had a talk.”

“So, you recognize her too?”

“Of course I would! She’s my daughter!”

“She’s my daughter too.” I gave her a blank stare.

She sighed, “I know. So, where do we go from here?”

“My talk with Azazel was shorter than I would’ve preferred. She’s probably with Yalina and Azrael.”

“You’re not wrong. I talked with her for quite some time. She said they’re kind of busy right now. She refused to say with what though.”

“I think I know what it is.” I looked away for a moment.

“Hmm?”

“Nothing, nothing. For now we wait. Hopefully I’ll be out of here soon.”

“Hopefully. Also,” Aurora pulled a small box from her pocket, “Here. I got a present for you.” She tossed it to me, landing it squarely on my lap. “Macher’in, Iris.”

“Thefas…” I opened the small box as Aurora leaned against the wall, watching silently. Inside the box was a dark platinum necklace with small purple gems lining it. I stared at it for a moment, awestruck, “Aurora… you didn’t have to.”

“Maybe not to you. To me it was a must. It fits you perfectly. The colors, I mean.”

“Why?”

“Black and purple suit you, I guess. Not sure what other reasoning you want.”

“No, why did you get me this? I don’t deserve it.”

“Again, maybe to you. Oyaneh, yir yurri.” My face flushed with embarrassment as Aurora walked away, laughing at me.

“Oithreh yi!”

In the di stance I heard her laugh and say, “Name a time and place, darling!”

Frustrated I buried my face in my pillow and screamed. Damn you!