Chapter 2: Fiery Flashback

For the past few days, I’ve been walking around in a daze. My best friends, Hayner, Pence, and Olette, are beginning to notice that I’m not all here. “Hello???” Hayner says while thumping my head. “Ow! What?!” I gasp, snapping out of my thoughts. Pence looks at me with his head tilted to the side, and chuckles, “We were just making sure you were still in this world, Roxas.” Olette walks over and sits beside me, looking straight at my face. “You’ve been really distant for about a week now, Roxas. What’s wrong?” “Nothing, nothing. I guess I’ve just been really tired, so I tend to daydream more, that’s all,” I say nonchalantly. Thankfully, everyone just shrugs it off and continues talking about their summer project. I sigh, looking up toward the sky, the only thing, the only person, on my mind...is Axel. This man that, until a couple days ago, I thought I had never heard of. But now, he is all I can think about.

I stand atop one of Twilight Towns many tall buildings, hair becoming more fiery with the late evening’s sun illuminating it. I have been following Roxas today, as I have been the past few. Silent, and unseen by him and his friends. I can’t help but feel heart broken, with Roxas forgetting who I am. But this also has left me a bit curious. I sit with my legs dangling over the ledge of the building, looking down in the general direction of the hideout.

I can’t take it anymore. I quickly apologize, saying I need some fresh air, and walk out. I let out a deep sigh, closing my eyes, enjoying the day's last bit of warmth on my face. I walk out a bit further, out of earshot, and stand against a wall. I look down at my shoes, inhaling deeply, and quietly breathe, "Axel..." As I do so, I am hit with a sudden flashback. I see myself walking down a dark, rainy alleyway. Axel is close behind me, desperately saying something. I can’t tell what he’s saying, but I hear quite clearly what I say next. "No one would miss me." And with that, I disappear into a dark portal. Then, what I see next, breaks my heart. Axel looks forlornly at the spot where I had vanished, and whispers so softly, "That’s not true...I would." I am suddenly hit with the afternoon's sun again, and I gasp. "What....did I do to him?"

I snap out of my thoughts when Roxas comes into view. I am tempted to confront him, but each time I have, it hasn't ended well. I miss him, more then I can imagine. And now, seeing him again after such a long time, all I can do is watch. Deep down, I yearn to hold Roxas, to kiss him, and utter embarrassing things to him. But I can’t pull myself to do it, considering that since Roxas doesn’t even remember me, I will be pushed away. It’s heart breaking. Roxas' expression seems so much different than before he disappeared into the dark portal, he seems happier than before. Hell, if I could forget that I’m only half a person, I'd be happy too.