GUMMY SHARKS
(If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, what is posted of the series can be found here Broken Hearts Series)
"What was candy like?" Ellie asks, trailing behind Joel who is trailing behind me. Amir walks by her side, acting ever the child that he isn't/
"I'm not sure.." Amir trails off, a pensive look on his face as he considers her question. "I was born the same year that the world went to shit so I can't tell you what chocolate and what not is," he shrugs as if it doesn't bother him, but I can tell by the lilt in his voice that it does. I keep walking. "Though, my mom always finds some kind of candy for us to share on my birthday. We don't have a calendar or anything, but every year I know that it's my birthday when she brings home candy."
"How does she know?" Ellie wonders, a slight note of awe in her tone.
"Don't ask me," Amir chuckles, "it's like she has a sixth sense for that shit, scary as hell," he grumbles. I fight to keep my face from softening from the scowl it's been stuck in all day.
"Your mom has to be a witch dude. There is no fucking way!" Ellie gasps, kicking a small pebble along the road. Amir nods along with her, his face bright with a beautiful smile, a smile that reminds me all too much of him. The smile that had been tugging at the side of my mouth fades faster than Axe deodorant, which is really saying something considering the fact their advertising used to preach about it not fading away.
------------------ That Night ------------------
I watch Amir as he sets up his sleeping bag, my pack being used as his pillow. Ellie simply plops down next to him, stuffing her pack under her head and wrapping herself in her small, thin jacket. Joel, who is sitting on a rock near the opposite side of the small camp we've set up in the woods, looks as if he's about to stand and offer up his jacket as well, but Amir beats him to it. Unzipping his sleeping bag, he opens the flap and waves Ellie in. She gives him a hesitant look, but quickly accepts against the chill of the Missouri night, dragging her pack along the rough ground to cuddle up with Amir like he's been her older brother her whole life. My heart cracks at their interaction, forcing me to look away. He can't get close to these people, we are showing them along their way, and when they eventually leave, he will be crushed.
It's quiet for a long time, long enough that I think that they both might have fallen asleep, but I'm mistaken when Eliie whispers into the night, "what was your favorite candy that your mom brought back?"
Amir is quiet for a while, his eyes closed peacefully, but a small smile curves his lips. "The little gummy sharks." He says simply, as if there is no competition, nothing better to compare it to. After twenty years of life, those stupid, stale gummy sharks that I brought back for his seventh birthday are still his favorite. I should have known.
"Why are they your favorite?" Ellie asks, her voice weak as sleep starts to pull her under against her will.
"Because they were my dad's favorite," Amir responds with a wide yawn and my heart stops in my chest. I close my eyes tight from where I am propped up against a tree, my gun in my lap, sucking in a sharp breath at the mention of Ty. I can feel the sobs building in my throat, the memories flashing behind my eyes, and I abruptly stand, taking off into the woods as fast as my feet will carry me.
I run until I can't run anymore, my lungs heaving as I collapse into a patch of grass and mud, sobs leaving my throat in heavy exhales and wails, tears streaming down my cheeks as I fall into a dark pit of memories, of torture.
Memories of laughs and smiles so wide that eyes crinkle.
Memories of dancing in a kitchen to hums and giggles.
Of kisses shared in the dark.
Of hands caressing with the utmost gentleness.
Of words of admiration.
Of vows spoken is whimpers.
Of tears of joy.
Of rings shared.
Of a life lived.
Of the sound of teeth tearing into flesh
Of screams of agony and blood spraying everywhere.
I cry hard, hard enough to throw up until I can't anymore. Until I am just a numb shell once more, a husk of a soul without him. When I finish, I stand up and dust myself off, saying goodbye to shining brown eyes and gummy sharks. Then I head back to camp, back to Amir, back to protect all I have left.
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this is for medibang's kawaii monster contest. you can check out my entry on art street here.
her name is sagumi the shark.
sagumi is inspired by yurukyara, those japanese mascot characters made for regions or companies or whatever.
i got inspired looking up ice cream floats, in particular the japanese melon soda one, but i really liked the blue soda ones aesthetically. i saw some that used those blue-and-white gummy shark candies and i decided to make her based off of that. her sunhat is meant to be a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a cherry on top.
i wanted something that reminded me of summer since it's around the corner.
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