In Another World

”Hey,” a weak voice echoed on the other side of the Fusion Experience Link Technology, FELT. “Do you hear me?” Silence lasted for a few seconds. Then a pale figure of a boy entered the view. He was white, tall and looked like he almost got lost in his black t-shirt. He seemed like he hasn’t slept for days. It was also known that FELT distorted the visuals of people to some degree but this was how Haruto usually looked. He looked tired, careless and ready to go. 

“I’m here Misaki.” He spoke with a hoarse voice. He cleared his throat and took a step forward to girl, Misaki. Her figure was thin, almost malnourished. This wasn’t unexpected due to the restrictions in her prefecture. Her prefecture was the one closest to the wall and as you get closer to the wall, you got closer to poverty. She had long, brown hair falling down her shoulders and covering her back. She was wearing a white sundress covered in pink blossoms. He looked at her with his head tilted. “You look thinner today.” They had almost ten steps between each other. Neither of them came forward. Misaki made a sour face. They were in the middle of a lily field. Misaki chose this world. She also had a hat that protected her from the sun. It was a straw hat that sat on her head. She turned her back and walked into the field. 

“I am not as thin in this world, Haruto.” She giggled and leaned to smell a lily. It felt artificial, maybe because it really was artificial but she didn’t mind it. She was happy to be able to see lilies. She had been saving up for this world in FELT and she finally was able to get it. “Don’t you enjoy the view? Do you have lilies there? I heard the North has tons of flowers there.” She stood up and looked at Haruto with a huge smile on her face. Haruto took a step, and then another one. He was into the field now. He has seen lilies way too many times. “Yes,” he murmured. “We have lilies here and there.” He knelt down and smelt the lily in front of him. It didn’t smell like the real flower, resembled it at its best. He stood up as well with a face that can’t be read easily. Misaki ran around a little bit. She ran as if she isn’t connected to a machine. She ran as if she will not be back to her one room apartment in the middle of buildings packed with people. She ran as if she is not 19 and already left without a family. She ran and ran. Haruto watched her. He narrowed his eyes. He took her thin figure in his mind. Then she got close. Her sandals crushed the grass underneath them. She held his hand. She was kilometres away but Haruto felt the softness. He felt the warmth. His eyes opened wider, they weren’t narrowed anymore. Misaki put her other hand on top of his hand. She was smiling but there was sadness, almost tears in her eyes.

 “Hey, Haruto. If you ever come to the South, can you bring me lilies?”