Game bug

“If I look up and walk ahead will it be like that day many years ago or will it just be an empty swing flailing with the wind” I ask myself, still feeling disoriented. Both possibilities terrify me. The sound of the swing rocking continues in a steady calm pace. “How long have I been standing here” I ask myself feeling like I’ve lost track of time. “I must do this” a thought surfaces accompanied by a bit of courage. “I must go forward” is my conviction.

Head down, I start to move forward again, my legs shaking slightly. My target is the spot where the tree leaves blocked the sunlight from my eyes many years ago. “If its the same as many years ago, then its not to far ahead” I say to myself continuing to walk.

My eyes widen and I let out a slight gasp, Sure enough, the shadow of a tree is coming into view in front of me. I continue my path, my heart pumping harder and faster the closer I further I go. Finally, I step into the trees shadow, the leaves block the light from my eyes. Still with my head down “If I keep going straight, I’ll reach the left swing” I say to myself. I continue straight ahead as a familiar figure swings into my peripheral vision. My eyes widen, and I start to get shaky, I can see blurry red floating hair, blurry black shoes swinging to my right. “I’m sure its her” I say to my self convinced.

I reach the left swing, sitting on it just in time before my legs give out from shock. I try to gather myself, barely being able to hang on the to the chains of the swing.

I don’t want to look at her. I’m afraid that if I look at her, she will disappear-or that my current self will. I know its what I must do, yet my conflicting thoughts make my courage go up and down, just like her swinging. I sit there petrified, unable to make a move. She, swinging back and forth besides me, like a pendulum in a seemingly eternal time loop.

I know she’s waiting for me to look at her. I slowly turn my heads towards her, millimeter by millimeter makes it easier. She stops swinging her feet. Soon her swinging comes to stop. My head turns enough, I finally look at her, locking eyes. My current self holds strong, she doesn’t disappear and I am able to face her one more time.

Its Kay, staring into my eyes just like that day many years ago. Same dress, same red hair, same gentle smile. Only this time her eyes are different. Her eyelids are slightly close, almost like she is glaring at me, or pitying me, I can’t tell.

I am speechless, my mind feels like it will shatter at her sight. “Kay?” I blurt out softly. It feels like an eternity waiting for her answer.

“Oh, whats this, you’ve met your first NPC character?, did ychu” says Pandora floating above me. “NPC character? Non-Player character, she’s a character controlled by the game?” I say to myself quickly trying to theorize. “Lets see here” says Pandora as she starts typing and looking at her floating laptop screen. “Ah, she’s a character based on a person from your past, a childhood friend…and”. Pandora’s face becomes serious. “…Well aren’t you glad to see her again?” Pandora ask looking at me. “Could the hexagon have scanned my memories” I theorize more. “Maybe you would prefer the grown up version, more your age, hold on a sec” Pandora says as she starts typing again on her computer. “Grown up version?” I ask reluctantly. My heart sinks and sky rockets, swirls with emotions for I know what’s coming.

I hear Pandora stop typing, her usual pause before she pushes the enter button. “And done-no, wait whats this, her program is all buggy” she says. For the next couple of seconds all I hear is Pandora type intensely, then finally a pause and a click “done..um I think” she says.

Kay’s body turns solid white, then a hexagon grid appears on it and starts to multiply. Kay’s body figure grows until shes average woman size. The grid disappears then the white glitters away revealing a grown up Kay. She’s smiling at me with her head resting on one of the chain swings. Her more mature eye stare with slightly closed eye lids give me a sense of pity, with hints of sadness. Shes wearing a pale pink vest over a white shirt, black skirt, black leggings and long black boots.

I stare at her, in awe of her beauty. “Did you miss me, Axel” she finally says in a sweet gentle voice. “Uh..uh..” I try to say something. “I missed you too, I’m here and I wont leave you again” she says standing from the swing to face me. “From now on I’ll follow you where ever your adventure leads” she says. “No!” I blur out. She says nothing nor changes facial expression. “I mean…I don’t know” I say, losing control of my facial muscles, almost to the point of spasming.

I feel heavy, my legs start to shake till finally they buckle. I land on my hands and knees with my head down. I feel the weight of years worth of emotion bearing down on me. For in fact, I have missed her, I’ve thought about her every day for the past years. Kay gets on her knees in front of me. She puts the palms of her hands on my shoulders. “I apologize, but don’t worry, I’m here now” she says. She slowly moves her hands to my chin, lifting it so our eyes meet “we’re going to make many more memories together” she says softly with a tender smile, yet in her eyes, I sense deceit “She’s lying to me?” I question to myself in disbelieve.