Tear-Drop Catcher
by
Hikari
Chapter One
Do you hear that?
It’s the sound of water dripping…
Why?
I don’t know…
I suppose it’s because I’m crying…
Or maybe it’s just the rain…
Impossible. It’s sunny outside.
Why am I walking on the ceiling? Everything is upside down. I can feel the coldness pricking at the bottom of my bare feet. The nails on my toes had even altered into a hue of bluish purple. Odd. Normally, the cold meant nothing to me. Upside down. Always upside down. What’s wrong with this world? Why am I the only one like this? My hair falls in oceanic waves below. But why won’t I fall with my hair? Why?
“Tell me a story…” Suddenly I find myself sitting crouched in front of a doll. An eyeless doll- who’s sockets bore into my irises like an endless abyss. The fake jaw to her head falls clackity down to express words. Heat dispels out of her breath, but her lips refuse to move.
“What story would you like to hear?”
For some reason, I feel a rush of innocence flow thorough my barren veins. The corners of my thin lips curve and I excitedly ask: “One that I haven’t heard of…”
Again, her lifeless jaw sinks downwards and more mist expels. I cannot focus on anything, but this porcelain figure. There is nothing thing else in this zone where I am. Just this toy’s pale painted face- small body adorn with white French lace and hair flowing down in tight brown English curls.
“There is no such thing as a story you have never heard of.”
My heart sinks- disappointed. “But why?”
“Because… little girl… a story that isn’t remembered doesn’t exist. Likewise, if you do not remember a story- IT doesn’t exist.”
The doll’s words are frightening me. I don’t know how to comprehend them. “Please tell me a story… I have nothing left to live for here. I am too different.”
“What story would you like to hear then?”
Now I am back to the question she had started me with. I want to hear of one I had never known of, but then how? How may I hear such a story?
“The story of my heart…” Somehow, I had blurted this out loud. “This heart of mine runs blank… However, my heart is still here. Please. Tell me the story of my heart. I have proof it exists because it is within me. Yet, the words to this story are garbled…” I feel heavy… To the extent I fall forward to the empty floor in an echoing thud. My fists curl tightly, the blood from my flesh draining. Lifting my head up violently- tears glide out of my eyes and they glow as they harden before clinking at landing.
The doll reaches her hand to touch my long sea-green hair. Her stubbed fingers remain inanimate, but they effort to stroke me as though she felt pity for my soul. More hot tears gush out of my eyes- transforming into pearls.
“Very well… But before I tell you the story… present to me your heart…”
Unsure of what to think- I did the most obvious thing by reaching into the garments of my ice blue kimono to expose my chest. My eyes widen at finding what was there… A stark hole… where my life should have been…
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