Another Friday, another chapter!
Despite my thoughts, the sound of the water was soothing, almost like the backdrop to a dream.
But I had had enough of dreams for the time being, at least the sort one has while asleep. My dreams have always been concurrent to my goals.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
I lay in bed for a few more minutes, getting my bearings. I was in Kanto, in Seafoam, at my father's home; that much I knew. I had been here only once before, but too long ago to clearly remember it.
The room was sparse, with a few cardboard boxes stacked against the wall. That was all that remained of what my life had been, just whatever could be brought along.
Only a week ago, my life was untouched. Now I may as well be adrift on the open ocean.
There were voices down the hallway, and I slid out of bed to crawl to the door--having been bedridden for the time I was left me unable to properly walk. I recognized my father's voice, as he spoke to a woman I did not know.
"--don't know, Helen. He's still asleep, so it'll have to wait." My father's voice was even and calm as always.
The woman paused. "I've never seen anything like that...What did you do with that ring of his?"
I gasped, looking around for it. What if he had forgotten it? What if it was lost in the move?
"It's on the desk. Can't have it getting lost in the covers..."
A low sigh escaped from my parted lips, and with shaking legs, I stood, leaning against the wall for support. The desk was only a few steps away by normal measure, but it took my entire focus to reach it. The ring shone, glimmering like the waves of the ocean, as I took it in my hand, clasping it to my chest and sinking to my weary knees. It was back with me now, the treasure that just a short time ago still adorned my mother's hand. My grip around it tightened, and I felt safer.
Seafoam is a small town, despite the crowds that pass through it every year. My father's home and shop were atop a cliff, which was not only necessary for his business but kept us away from the areas people congregated.
I have always valued solitude, even before that. So I was grateful for the silence, the only sounds around being from the hangar. My father was, and I would presume still is, a renowned airship engineer, attracting clientèle from the world over.
Although I did not know it, my future was being set at that very moment.
The next thing I remember was several hours later, the sound of the door opening. At first I did not notice, until I felt someone in the room with me.
"Jiri? Are you here with me now?" My father knelt down to me, resting a hand on my shoulder. "What's that in your hand?"
Reluctantly, I opened my fist, revealing the ring on my palm. In the past hours, it had left an imprint in my skin. Oddly fitting, I thought.
"Gloria's ring..." he whispered, a faint twinge of sadness in his voice. "I thought that was it..."
I tried to say something, but could not find my voice.
"Jiri," he continued, moving his hand to my face and brushing away a tear I did not know had formed. "Jiri, I'm sorry I wasn't there earlier...I wanted to be, but..."
I held up my hand, the one with the mark most evident. There was no need for him to explain.
He took me close, sighing. "Jiri, I want to hear your voice."
Again, I was unable to speak, so I merely shook my head against his chest.
"My beautiful boy..." he muttered as his hand found the back of my head. "My little angel..."
I gasped. I couldn't be an angel, no, not while mother was my angel.
"Jiri? Jiri, what's wrong?"
With a flat tone that surprised even me, I managed to whisper "...mama's gone..."
He nodded. "...yes. I'm sorry."
The ring glimmered in my hand, the light reflected from the waves outside catching it, and I mimicked his nod. "Yes," I echoed, as he picked me up and lay me back in bed.
"You should take it easy," he whispered, tucking the covers around me once more. The ring now shone from the bedside table, its ruby twinkling casting a dance on the ceiling.
I could not listen to his further words, although I was aware he continued to speak. Lying there, the light put me in a trance, and I fell asleep once again, thinking of the ocean.