Lost

“Yugi Henry was a wonderful mother, grandmother, neighbour and friend. She served this town greatly…” the priest droned on.

“Hey, HEY! Job, hey. How are you?”

It was Holly and she had brought Holland and Luike with her, but I did not respond to her.

I only stared.

“W-w-well,” she stammered. “If you need anything, I’ll be here!”

She hugged me, but I didn’t hug her back.

“I’ll s-shall be going, now!”

I forced out a faint smile.

“From dust we are formed, and to the dust we shall return. May the Gods rest her soul.” the priest concluded.

Slowly, the guests and well-wishers left.

Until only me, Mara, and the Commander remained.

After some silence, the Commander spoke.

“Well, I trust Yugi must’ve told you about her past. She was very deliberate about things, incredibly deliberate… I guess that’s why I’ve always taken to her.”

He continued.

“You know, when she first came here, she was paranoid, bleeding, and still donning her Royal Knight’s armour. Hah… I don’t know what would’ve happened if I wasn’t the one to find her. I guess I’ve loved her since then.”

The Commander put on his cap and turned to leave when he spoke again.

“And hey rookie, take all the time you need. You know where to find me if you need anything.”

“Yeah.” I faintly replied.

Now only me and Mara remained.

-

Some time passed since then,

“Hey, Job? It’s getting late. We should go home.”

“Job?”

“Job, please I need you to answer me okay?”

“I don’t want to go.” I continued.

“Ah… Alright. I suppose we can stay for a little bit longer.”

The two of us stood there staring at the recently laid tombstone.

I glanced at Mara and saw her tearing up.

“I’m sorry. Let’s go home.”

“Hmm?” she sounded surprised. “Ah, yes! Let’s go home!”

-

When we arrived home, Mara looked as though she was about to knock on the door. But then she quickly drew back her hand, shaking, then spoke.

“G-give me a sec, lemme find the keys.”

She searched her bag for a moment, then found the keys.

“Aha! Here we go!”

The door opened to an all too familiar living room.

We took off our shoes and placed them to the side, and Mara threw her handbag down on the kitchen counter.

“I’ll fix us something to eat.”

“Okay.”

She hummed for a little bit.

Grandma used to hum while she made food.

“The food’s done! Take a seat around the dining table, I’ll go find a fork.”

I moved towards the kitchen table and took my seat.

“Here! I’ve got the forks, Here’s yours.”

I took the fork.

We both ate. It was mutton chops, and curried rice.

I looked up at Mara, and saw tears falling into her food as she ate.

“H-here, have a napkin.”

“O-o-oh! Sorry I just had something in my eyes! Thanks.”

But she began crying again shortly thereafter.

After some thought, I moved to sit beside her.

It was no use asking her how she was, or if something was wrong. It was obvious.

“Y-y-you know. You’re much stronger than me. You can wield a sword properly, use Karma, and heck you didn’t even cry when Grandma died. You’ve just stared at me with those blank hopeless eyes!”

I said nothing.

“Good God Job, I’m sorry okay. I’m sorry I didn’t arrive sooner. I-I-I didn’t know what to do. I was cooking, then I had a lump in my chest a-a-and I ran to get the commander, and then I asked the gate guard about you guys and h-headed for the both of you. GOD I’M SO SORRY OKAY? B-but I can’t bear to see you like this. It, It’s almost like you’re judging me. Like you hate me for not being there sooner.”

I said nothing.

“I know I’ve been nothing but a burden, b-b-but I’ll train harder, I-I-I, I’ll get stronger, so no one has to die again!”

“I don’t hate you.” I said.

“Huh…? Wh- oh, okay. Yeah, than-. Thank you! I-I-I’m sorry.”

“Please stop saying you’re sorry. We were the ones who told you to stay home, it is not your fault.”

“B-but if I came then m-maybe…”

“You’d be DEAD MARA. I’d have to lay TWO people six feet under today. Just, please stop.”

“I-I’m sorry, I mean… ugh… I just keep making mistakes.”

“Can we… Just eat? Please.”

“E- oh yeah, Yeah!”

So we began eating again.

“Do y-you like it?”

“Yes.”

“I-I’m glad. I’m very glad.”

I gave her a hug just then.

“W-wha..?”

“Just be quiet one second.”

-

In the morning I clambered out of bed, I was tired.

I was making my way downstairs when,

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOB!”

“Huh?”

“Oh you big doofus! Did you forget that today was your birthday?”

“Ah, yes. I didn’t even realize/”

Exactly a year had passed since I began this journey.

“Well today, today is about new beginnings right! So, we have to shed the old and put on the new! We’re going to start training again!”

I laughed.

“You're finally laughi-, ehem, I mean, WHAT’S THERE TO LAUGH ABOUT?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just that Grandma said the entire training thing when I turned eighteen haha.”

“Oh really? That’s nice!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

It seems I had finally come full circle.

-

“Mara. I’ve made up my mind.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I promised Grandma, I’d do something for her.”

“What’s that?”

I told her that I had to go to Gorge and give Grandma’s crest to her colleague.

“Besides, I might as well start my search for Jolee there. I know she’s alive.” I said.

“Well then, I’ll be joining you!”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well, someone needs to keep you in check, and also, we’re in this together, remember? You promised me back in our vigilante days!”

“I remember no such thi-”

“SHUSH! Point is, wherever you go I go. There will be no more deliberation on the matter.”

“Alright.”