I’m Still Her

“You never got to see this the first time you went, did you?”

Katie walked through the glass tunnels of the so-called “Reverse Aquarium,” watching the fish surround her. The complex was 90% water, only providing these transparent tubes for the guests to walk around in as they explored this simulated sea. They were in the middle levels now, and the light from above was drifting into something more somber. Despite the amount of guests, everyone was quiet here. Katie never would’ve guessed that would be something she’d appreciate.

“It’s very pretty.” Frankie admired.

“How do you like the water, Katie? Does it stack up to your love of parks?”

Katie squished her lips. She’d almost forgotten that was something she loved.

“…It’s alright. Me and Frankie, we… went to the ocean.”

“Did you?” The proud lady beamed at both of them. “That’s one dream accomplished. I’m sure Frankie was pleased.”

“She… was. It was nice.”

“You feel happy when she’s happy, is that right? You’re a pretty kind person.”

“Neither of us have been all that happy lately.”

Frankie kind of hated how her sister said that. Unlike her, she was at least trying. But to be fair… she couldn’t in good faith say it hadn’t been difficult.

“Sorry to hear that, is that so?”

“…Just some personal stuff.” Frankie swallowed her everything to lie to Umi. There wasn’t a harder person to do that to.

“Then I really am sorry. You two deserve to be happy, you know that?”

Unbeknownst to her, Umi caught that lie immediately. It just didn’t matter much to her.

“…I don’t think like that anymore.”

When Katie soberly spoke up again, she was just gazing out into the water, not even looking at any fish in particular. As much as it hurt… the chaos in her brain was slowly making sense.

“Go on.”

“I don’t think… our happiness is deserved. Or guaranteed, or… or anything. That’s… not very smart of me to have believed.”

“I don’t think it’s smart either, but I believe it.”

Umi rested her slender hands on Katie’s stiff shoulders.

“You should get to be happy. Because I’d like it better that way. Wouldn’t you?”

“…No reason why I wouldn’t.”

“So… why not try? Just ignore what everything in your head tells you, just for a minute. Why don’t you just try to break the rules for a while and let yourself be selfish?”

Katie wiped something out of her eye, remembering the girl she used to be. She’d like that a lot. She’d like it more than anything.

“…How can I do that…?”

“What’s your favorite thing, Katie? Tell me- has it changed?”

“My favorite… is theme parks. I love… theme parks.”

“So you love the entire world. How lucky.”

Umi hugged her.

“Frankie. Do you two plan on going anywhere else? I could drive you someplace again.”

“I dunno.” The girl shook her head. “Katie said she wanted to pick the next park…”

“Actually-“ The older sibling interrupted. “I have a better idea.”

Umi paused, listening intently. Frankie watched her sister hopefully.

Katie swallowed.

“I want you to pick, Umi. I… want to be surprised, like last time with Venge City.”

The lifeguard’s smile grew.

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get out of here.”