Skylines - Sora

I sigh and stretch my back. "Mom, I need some air," I say as I make for the door.

"At least have breakfast first," my mom tells me. I can see the wrinkles of concern on her forehead get deeper. "I will make eggs or..."

"No need to exert yourself, Mama. I can cook." She nods and lets me through. I decide to surprise her by making omelette rice for both of us. When the omelettes are done, I write on them with ketchup- a heart for my mom and something vaguely like a lightning bolt for me, unsure exactly what I'll like. We carry our food to the table and eat quietly, and I slip on a light cardigan and my brother's scarf to step outside.

As I adjust the bright orange scarf around my neck, I feel a tingle of static. I try my best to ignore it. I don't feel like panicking on an anti-stress walk. I cross the road as my thoughts take over, as they usually do.

"It's hard to imagine life without you, Jay," I had told him one day. We were hanging out at Mega Monster Amusement Park, as he was off duty and wanted to see his favorite cousin while he was at it. "Imagine not...hanging out like this and just...talking about stuff." I chuckle at remembering how thick my accent was back then- Ninjagian isn't exactly my first language, but my fluency has improved a lot, to the point where it's almost like a second first language, so remembering myself still being somewhat new to it is a little funny.

My older cousin raised an eyebrow, but sighed. "You worry too much, Sora. Don't worry about me being gone. Let's just think about having fun while we're both here. The power of positive thinking, as I say." His face looked a tad wearier though.

"Yeah. Silly, always worried. Let's play some more."

The stuffed bear I won from that trip still lays on my bed, a bit worn from love, though it's been a bit neglected after it became a reminder of Jay. Sometimes I hug a pillow instead. Heh...it's stupid though. I'm always thinking about Jay anyway. My mom even considers taking me to a therapist for it.

I mean, I could also take some medicine for it, but that's...

Not paying attention, I walk straight on, and only the faint glow of headlights alerts me. I begin to run, but the car is faster. Footsteps follow, possibly help, but my life still flashes before me as my heart speeds up. And then I'm shoved into the sidewalk, closing my eyes and bracing for impact.

I hear a gruff voice. "What is that driver, blind!?" I turn over painfully onto my back and look up. Once my vision clears, the black blur before me turns into a tanned, muscular young man with shaggy black hair. "Are you OK?" he asks. His breath smells a bit dusty for some reason, as if he inhaled sand or something.

"I'm fine. I'm...I'm sorry." I prop myself up on my elbows for now.

"It's not your fault," he replied. "Some people just can't drive." As he looks to the side, I notice that his eyes are a very dark brown, almost black. They give his otherwise strong, imposing appearance some softness, some...earthiness.

"I really am sorry. I...I wasn't paying attention and..." I sigh. He steps back for me and I get up.

"I'm Cole, by the way," he says and extends his hand. I shake it. It's rough, calloused, the hand of a hard worker.

"I'm Sora," I almost whisper.

"Sora?" Cole raises his eyes a bit. "Sora, uh...Walker?"

I chuckle. "Sora Namimura-Gordon. Or Sora Cloud. I was adopted for a while."

"Jay told me about you. He was...an old friend of mine."

"That's a bit funny," I add. "I remember him mentioning you too. He's my cousin, by the way."