Another day working here, another day of nothing. The streets outside bustling, yet no one so much as peeking in. Sounds about right though, considering all those streaming services people use nowadays; tiny rental shops like this with shelves littered with DVDs from years ago can't even begin to compete. Ah well, at least I'm getting paid. That and there's fans in here so it doesn't get nearly as hot as outside must be. As my back starts to hurt from leaning over the desk to look outside for so long, I decide to go to the back of the shop for a bit; there's chairs there at least.
Rummaging through the piles and piles of old DVDs and the occasional VHS tape, I search for the one thing that kept me going as a kid. A few minutes later I find it; Journey to Windland. The box art of a girl with long, flowing chestnut hair in a bright white sundress playing her flute on a lush green hill staring off into the horizon of adventure ahead captivates me every time. It still upsets me it sold so badly. After all, It's the reason I started playing the flute myself, as much as I know I'll never get anywhere with it. She's also far prettier than me, even as an animated character; I really want to put my hair in a cute ponytail but I don't take good enough care of my hair to try risking it. Trying to put my problems to one side, I flip the box over to see our names on the back; mine faded to the point only I'd know it's there, and his scribbled over with a marker. Both completely illegible. I sigh and place the box to the top of one of the many huge piles back here. "I really wish I could see him again…" I walk back to the front of the shop, looking behind at the box once more before leaving.
"Mela, huh..."
I sit down on the chair I brought to the front of the shop with me, briefly looking at the flute on the shelf, and wait. And wait. And faintly hear a sweet hum from outside. I swear I recognise this tune. I get up and look over the desk to outside to see a cute girl walk past humming a theme I very much remember. But what is it?
"It's…" I jump up from my chair. "It's Journey to Windland's Main Theme!"
I practically flip myself over the desk, knocking a bunch of DVDs off their shelves, but that doesn't matter to me right now; what's more important is I've found another fan! I throw my body outside the shop at a pace I definitely shouldn't be doing and shout through the crowd, "Hey! Cute girl humming the Journey to Windland Main Theme! Come here a sec!"
The entire crowd grinds to a halt. The embarrassment hits but I know I can't give up; she must be coming any second now. A hand, along with part of an arm, flies above the crowd and waves, presumably at me, shouting "Hi yes that's me! What do ya need?"
When she makes it through the rest and the crowd starts moving again, I take her hand and pull her into the shop. "You're a fan right!? Of Journey to Windland!?"
She looks shocked, but I'm not sure as to whether in a good way or not. Then her face lights up, "Absolutely! It's gotta be my all-time fave!"
I give her the chair I was sat on earlier and grab myself a new one from the back of the shop. When I return, I get a better look at her; she has long, flowing chestnut hair and is wearing a bright white sundress just like the protagonist of Journey to Windland. I can't contain my excitement any longer. "So, so! Why do you like JtW so much?"
Without a moment's hesitation, she replies "Simply because Tabitha's so inspiring! She's such a good protagonist, inspiring all those around her, not just the characters; the viewers too!"
"I know, right! She's *so* good!"
"I absolutely agree! So, how about you?"
"Me? Same honestly." I look to the back of the shop. "Though… there is *one* more reason."
"Oo, you okay sharing it?"
I think for a second. He won't mind, surely. "Why not!"
"Yay!"
"So like, I had this boy I knew as a kid. He never really seemed very happy around anyone else, but around me, he'd always try to smile, even if it was painfully obvious how hard it was. But one day, we went to watch JtW at the cinema together. I mentioned beforehand its reviews weren't exactly great and it might not be his thing but then he asked if I liked it. I said I loved it and he said that'd be more than enough reason for him to watch. And so we did. His eyes were glued to the screen the entire time. For a while after that, he was always upset, even around me. He wouldn't even try forcing a smile. But when the DVD came out, I gave him a copy and instantly he had the world's most emotional smile. It was almost like his life was on the line depending on whether he got that disc or not; like that disc being in his hands saved his life. That summer, we watched the entire thing on loop all day every day."
"Woah."
"I know, right? It may seem silly to some, but I didn't mind; to me, I was keeping an important life safe, and that's all that mattered."
"Nah, I think that's wonderful!" She smiles, so beautifully, so emotionally it brings me to tears.
"So!" She says, "Would you mind playing me some flute?"
I wipe my tears. I'm shocked, but happy. I don't know how she knows I play, but there *is* a flute on the shelf behind me so it makes sense. "It's hard for me, lung problems and all, but I'll try regardless!"
Now to think of what to play her. I *could* go with the Journey to Windland Main Theme but I always mess it up by coughing partway. Maybe... that one? I'm sure he wouldn't mind. I play her my favourite melody; one I treasure as deeply as life itself. After a few notes, she joins in through singing; harmonising perfectly and exactly on-time. I figure she's just practiced these skills a ton and carry on. Partway through a note, I cough and need to take a break, but she continues to the very end. I'm more than shocked. I know no one else could've heard that melody; it was just the two of us, unless… "How… how did you know what I was playing?"
"I'd never forget that melody, Mela!"
Memories of my childhood, *our* childhood, flow through my mind. Every little moment, every second I forgot, all those feelings; they're all flowing back to me. In particular, the crushing pain of loss when I thought I'd never see her again after she ran away from her home and the heartbreak of knowing there's nothing I could've done to help the situation get better. But now is now; she's alright and that's all that matters. I leap off my chair and throw my arms around her, crying. "I missed you so much… I can't believe it… I finally found you again!"
She wraps her arms around me. "I'm back, Mela."
One thought crosses my mind amidst the bliss, to which I ask her "So… What's your name now?"
She releases our hug, smiling just like she used to when we'd watch JtW. "Tabitha!"
I tear up. "After… Tabitha from JtW?"
"Of course!" She says as her smile of pure happiness turns to a more content one. "Ya know, you and her are the only ones who ever truly cared about me. You were the ones who gave me the courage to smash through the walls life puts up and claim the life I really want! And today… Today, I *know* I've found it!"
I remember now. The time Tabitha told me how badly she wanted, *needed* to be a girl; how simply disgusting it feels to live in a body not yours and the sheer pain of being forced to grow up something you're not. I remember telling her exactly how I felt about it. "Well then, you've just gotta smash down those walls life put up and claim the life you really want! Someday you'll find it! I know you can do it!"
The next day… She was gone. Our parents being close friends meant I'd be the first to know she'd ran away. I wasn't told much, but I remember being questioned by my parents about what we'd talked about together recently. I told them mostly everything; only avoided anything pointing to her gender. I can't remember much else, but that's okay. She's here in the now, and that's all that matters to me. I cry. I love her so much.
After a while of letting me cry, Tabitha says "Mela… Melody… I love you. Can we be girlfriends?"
As if not letting my tears stop, I burst into tears as she comes to hug me again.
The only words I can muster are, "Of course! I love you too, Tabitha!"
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