I'm surprised at myself. I guess I do have skills. With a knife it seems. In my hand though, it feels like the handle should be longer. The blade too.

Like a sword.

I sigh. Honestly...if I know trying to remember the past would be such a hassle. My speed. My strength. The way I can see without my eyes. The way I handle a knife.

I was criminal. What else would I be? Not even a soldier, they don't use swords. So then...

It makes sense. Washed up on an abandoned beach, with no clothes or ID. It's not natural. More like I was betrayed, scorned. Someone obviously wanted to shame me, not just kill me.

But I don't feel resentment. Because—well maybe because I found Dahlia. Or rather, Dahlia found me.

I don't want what you have! I want to be you!

I pause. Is that a memory? I smirk. That tracks. Envy. I sigh. I'm probably not from this area then. Someone who would want to depose me and dispose of me wouldn't do so close to where I come from.

That type of envy is immortal. The kind that makes you think that person is a god, that cannot be overthrown no matter what you do. A height you'll never reach.

I touch my chest. That seems to resonate with me. Maybe I felt that way about someone. Nonetheless, no stranger would've done this.

Someone close to me did this. Should I get revenge? Try to remember my past?

Or maybe...

I can't burden Dahila forever. And not having my eyesight is definitely not in my favor. Was I always blind? I don't think so. Because I can picture things so vividly. With no description. The images are clear and crisp.

As if I'd seen it before. And why did I not wake up completely free of any memory? I can do complex math, and know basic geography, functions, and history. Is that normal? I also retained the skills I had before.

My head starts to hurt. Will she find out, I wonder? Dahlia. If she finds out, will she be angry? Grateful? No. She won't suspect me. I'm blind, and as far as she knows the only thing I can do without her help is shower, and eat soup.

It's fine.

"I'm back, Akira!"

"Welcome back, Dahlia," I smile. Speak of devil.

That's an idiom I know. Why do I know that?

"Did you do anything interesting?" She asks. She washes her hands, and starts on dinner. She doesn't have much money, but she feeds me three meals a day.

I should tell her. I could help her.

"Nope. I've been here," I lie, "How was your day."

She says nothing for a while. I smell her, and hear her soft breaths, that how I know she's there.

"Good. Those thugs just disappeared," she states ever so calmly. "You know this is a small village."

I nod. "Yes."

"And things don't really happen that are a mystery."

She knows.

"I just wanted to protect you."

"What? What are you talking about? It's obvious those idiots bummed town."

I sigh. "Right.

She sighs. "Do you want to go for a walk tonight, Akira? I know you've been locked up in here for a few days."

A chance to explore the town without sneaking around?

"I would love that, thank you."

She says nothing for a moment. She's cooking something. I shouldn't eat. I bring nothing to her life anyway. I should leave soon.

"Is there a boat nearby?" I ask. "A ferry perhaps."

"Why?" She demands instantly, and rather sharply.

"I can't impose upon you forever," I explain.

"Who said you were imposing?" She shoots.

"Certainly not you. But you're kind so I doubt you would."

"Well you don't know me that well. When you get on my nerves, I'll tell you. And you're on them now, so change the subject." She barks irritably.

I can't help but chuckle. Maybe she's lonely here.

"It's been two days," she sighs. She comes up to me.

"Are you curious? About what I look like?" She asks me. She's very close to me. I could reach my hand out and touch her. She's fast.

"I can't see,"

"Duh. But I've seen on TV that if you touch my face, you may be able to visualize my features,"

She's very close to me. She smells like a warm breeze and...flowers. Not one, just flowers. Probably just because she just came back from work.

I suppose she really does work in flower shop then—

"Akira!"

I snap my head toward her. "Pardon me. I get lost in thought."

She takes my hands in hers, pulling them up, she rests my hands on...her face.

"What do you think?" She whispers.

I swallow. A good test of my abilities. I let my fingers trance the outline of her face. It's a heart shape. In my minds eye, I start distinguishing the planes of her face. Somewhat deepest eyes, almost like an almond shape.

"What color are you eyes?" I ask.

"Brown. Very dark brown,"

My fingers rest on her los. My heart beats a little faster. This is an oddly intimate thing to do with someone you just met.

But I can feel her eyes on me. I withdraw from her, but she holds my hand, slightly away from her face.

"What do you think?" She whispers.

I swallow. "I think...you're beautiful Dahlia."

She takes one of my hands, pressing it to her mouth. "That makes me happy."

I feel her smile. I can't help but smile back.

"Dahlia," I start.

"Akira," she whispered. "I think your eyesight might be able to be saved. I'm not a doctor, but I-I think you may be able to get your sight back. But I don't really have the resources for that here. Not on the island. Not at all."

Regain my eyesight?

"So...you would have to leave this island. And find somewhere with good doctors."

Maybe she wants me to leave? But then why does she sound so sad? I can't tell.

I reach out, fee the grove between her brows, and then her lisp. She's frowning. I don't think she wants me to leave. I think she feels she needs to tell me this.

"Thank you for telling me this Dahlia."

I think I can trust her. But i need a little more time. Before I'm sure.

"Akira, I like that your here. I like your company."

I clear my throat. "I enjoy yours as well, Dahlia."

• • •

We go for a walk. There's concrete, and then gravel and then sand. We're on the way to the beach again. The salty air gets heavier, and her hand in mine gets tighter.

Like the sea is calling me back. Like she wants me to stay. I like how her hand fits in mine. We walk silently, as the crickets chirp.

"Akira, I wonder if you'll remember me."

"I'm sure I will. You're my savior,"

She doesn't say anything to that either, and we just let the silence sit between us, light and easy.

"You get lost a lot," she says softly. I turn toward her. "Lost in your thoughts I mean. What do you think about?"

"Who am I. Where I should go. What I did. What I will do. What I could do. Everything. And sometimes nothing," I shrug.

She sighs."Akira, you and I...we're friends now aren't me?"

"I'd say so, definitely. If you weren't my friend Dahlia, who would be?"

She just sighs. "Yeah."

• • •

I'm sleeping beside Dahlia today. It really isn't normal, her letting a grown man sleep beside her. And then she falls asleep first. I could...

I sigh. If I could regain my sight, I would. Not just because life would be easier...but now that I've mapped her face, I want to see. Does she look the way I think she does?

No matter what she looks like, she's beautiful. Such a pure and noble heart. She breathes into the crook of my neck. My body won't fall asleep. Is it her body pressed against mine? Is it because I just can't fall asleep? Maybe I had a sleeping condition?

So close.

I suddenly find myself thinking if she required me to repay her hospitality using my body I don't think I would resist. It is my duty, after all. I quickly shrug the thought off, shifting my train of thought.

No matter what she says, staying here forever isn't really an option. I'll need to leave, one day and one day soon. I don't really look forward to the day, but it must come.

There's no way she makes enough from the flower shop to support both of us, and the jobs I could do around is most likely limited. So far, my only talents seem to be...death by sword. I don't imagine that would come much in handy in a place like that.

I would hate to leave her though. These few days...have been peaceful for me. I find myself thinking of this place as home, and Dahlia as a dear

companion.

"Do you love your husband?" I wonder out loud. The thought was suddenly just there. Does she still love him? I've never even heard her use his name before.

I read down, touching her hand. It's still there that ring. Maybe she does love him. I slip away, deciding to explore and hone my senses while she's asleep.

Even if she does love her dead husband. What business is it of mine?

• • •