if you are lost in your way

deep in an awesome story

She was holding her so close they were almost one being in their embrace. The feeling of having someone so dear to her tightly held like that was indescribable. They didn't need to talk, to say anything. Their very existence seemed to express the love they felt for each other. She felt nothing, nothing in the world, could ever separate them. She was wrong.

don't be in doubt and stray

cling to your lonesome folly

She was thrown back, her head slamming against a wall. When she looked up Mariko was no longer anywhere in sight, the only thing that seemed to exist was the figure of her father looming over her, his immense shadow covering her and crawling up the wall. She cowered and felt fear grip her heart like a freezing claw, squeezing out any love and happiness she, in her foolishness had dared to feel. She tried to cry out in protest, or maybe just scream for help, but only a weak whimper escaped her lungs. She felt a tear escape her as he hit her again. He screamed obscenities at her, every ugly, disgusting word that could be used to describe her feelings and relationship with Mariko was used again and again, every word driven home by a painful blow. Another tear escaped, and another, and another, until she could control herself no more and started crying helplessly, as much for the pain in her body as for the pain in her heart. She forced her eyes open, forced herself to look at him, she needed to stand up to him. Yet when she looked at his face she realized.

It was not her old father hitting her.

It was Ryo.

now you're too close to the pain

let all the rain go further

Ann sat up in bed with a gasp, cold sweat and tears running down her face. It had only been a dream, a nightmare. She could see her familiar room, dimly illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the window. It had only been a nightmare, not real. Yet, try as she might, she could not the tears, could not stop that paralyzing fear from filling her heart. She hugged herself tightly, looking for any warmth possible. She stayed there like that for a long, long time, with the salty taste of tears in her mouth, a small, vulnerable bundle, illuminated by the silvery light. Then, at last, exhaustion claimed her.

come back and kiss me in vain

mother oh do not bother

She heard the phone ringing, but she didn't get up to answer it. Not that she was tired, even though she had barely slept all night, and not very well, at that, but she just didn't feel she could stand up to the world today. She felt weak, scared, vulnerable. She just wanted to stay where she was, protected by her sheets, like a small child scared of the bogeyman, until the whole world just decided to leave her alone. She shoved a cushion over her head to try and drown out the ringing sound.

hear the chorus of pain

taking you back to proper ways

Mariko bit her lip in worry as the ringing ran out for the third time. She was finding it impossible to contact Ann in any way. What could have happened to her? She sighed. Until she thought of something better to do, she might as well keep trying to phone her. She dialled the number for the fourth time, and just as she was almost convinced there was just nobody there, it was answered.

"Yes?" Ann sounded tired, her voice hoarse.

"Ann? What happened?" she asked, worried.

"Nothing"

Yeah, sure, she thought.

"Ann, you were supposed to meet me here almost an hour ago!"

"Right, yeah, sure, be right there," the other girl answered apathetically.

"Ann, what's the matter?"

Click.

it's so easy to find

if you could remind me

When Mariko caught sight of Ann it did nothing to alleviate her worries. The younger girl looked dishevelled and barely awake. She quickly moved over to her, but when she got too close the other stepped back. She stopped, surprised.

"Ann, what happened? What's the matter?" Mariko asked.

Ann mumbled a response she couldn't hear.

"Ann?"

"Bad dream," she muttered slightly louder.

She looked at Ann, incredulous. "Ann, you look awful, you-"

"I'm sorry," the other interrupted.

She sighed, and thought a moment, hazarding a guess. "About your father?"

Ann nodded slowly, and then explained hesitantly. "Not… only about him, about us, too… and about Ryo"

"Ann, it's okay, it was only a-"

"I'm sorry," she interrupted again.

now you are lost in your way

deep in an awesome story

"It's all right, go on, come here," she said, trying to be comforting. and pulled Ann gently toward her to hug her. The younger girl was almost a dead weight, all the strength drained out of her body. Mariko held her tight, gently wiping a few tears from her face and smiling at her as reassuringly as she could manage.

"It's okay, Ann," she said, "cry all you want,

I'll be right here"

so I will find you again

kiss you for lonesome folly