1

Cerra woke up, nothing but blankets comforted her on the cold and uncaring floor. She didn’t even have a mattress. Though she was just thankful to have a place to stay. Sunlight greeted her as she arose. It poured from her window like an unending waterfall. She didn’t mind, she had found herself to be both a morning person and a night owl. Pleasantries aside, it had been two days since she had ended up at the Drunken Tankard and things still hadn’t quite sorted themselves out for her yet. Depending on Crest to make the right decision for both of them might not have been the brightest idea, but she still had done it anyway. Hopefully he wouldn’t back out, or else she would start to feel like a freeloader.

She wasn’t doing any work around the place, and quite frankly she was starting to feel a bit burdensome if not a liability.

Noises of a creaking door tickled her ear. After stretching her arms, she took a look over her shoulder. Behind her, a figure stood in the doorway to her room. It was Crest. Staring at the floor, though he were almost embarrassed, he wriggled his leg as if it had been caught in a beartrap or something lethal.

Cerra looked at him blankly for a moment. “Y-yes?” She asked looking a little red-faced.

“Well,” Crest scratched his hairy head. “If we’re going to go to Al Spar Munda, might well as well get going as soon as possible. We’ll be leaving today.”

Cerra perked up with the world’s brightest smile. “As you wish captain!”

2

“Oh, poor Crest!” Borka wailed. “I can’t believe we left him all alone with her again. That girl is trouble! I knew it the moment I first laid eyes on her!”

Dorssea looked her sister over with a raised eyebrow. “Weren’t you encouraging them to run off together just the other night? Or maybe…” She smiled devilishly. “That’s not how you really feel. Maybe there’s something that you’ve been holding back from telling him all this time. Hmm?”

Turning red Borka screamed at her sister in defiance. “LOOK WE’RE FRIENDS OKAY! I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE IMPLYING!”

“A little early for all that yelling, wouldn’t you say Borka?” Lou begged the question as he opened the door to the Drunken Tankard.

“Oh,” she clammed up. “Sorry.”

Entering the tavern, the trio was greeted with the sounds of laughter. Caught of guard, looks of confusion covered their faces. They wouldn’t be confused for much longer. Across the room, Crest sat with the mysterious girl at one of the tables on the dining room floor. Chatting about…. ‘something’, smiles covered their faces. Noticing that someone had just come in, Crest and the girl’s conversation came to an abrupt end. Upon closer inspection, Crest and the girl noticed that it was his coworkers.

Stunted, Crest couldn’t find his words. No ‘hello’ or greeting escaped his mouth. Only mutters of which couldn’t be considered words. He was scared, because now he had to confront them. On what, the gang didn’t know yet. Sadly, he knew all too well what he was about to do. They didn’t know it, but Crest was about to cut ties with them.

Seeing his discomfort, his new friend and comrade encouraged him. “Come on…” She said getting up from her chair. “You gotta be brave right?” Holding out her hand, she insisted he stand. This was all so new to him. Though he had always been alive, he had never really lived for himself. Now he would know the pleasure. He took her hand and raised to his feet.

The two crossed the room and stood before Crest’s coworkers. Everyone stood with blank stares. There was a moment of silence, before Crest cleared his throat begging everyone’s attention.

“Comrades, I’d like you to be formally introduced to our new friend for the first time,” he said. “If you would do the honors.” He looked to the amnesiac.

She chuckled under hot breath. Giving his friends a good look over, she held out her hand. “Names Cerra. Nice to meet ya!”

Before they could even attempt to greet her properly, she grabbed their hands and shook them.

Blank stares all around.

“She has a name now?” Dorsea inquired.

“Yep and that’s not all.” Cerra winked. “Tell em’ Crest.”

Cringing, Crest picked up where she left off. “Cerra and me are going to Al Spar Munda. Which means I'm leaving. As of today, I no longer work here.”

Shock covered his coworkers faces. All were mute. But the shock seemed to be just a little too much for Borka. Passing out on the floor, she went out like a light.

3

Sometime later, after everyone had adjusted and the tavern had opened up Crest and Cerra sat at the bar, drinking the last drinks they would have at the Drunken Tankard in a while. Lou had served them up real nice.

“You’re going to be free dancers?” Lou wasn’t sure he had heard Crest the first time.

“Freelancers,” Crest corrected. “It’ll be how I make my moolah from now on. Sorry to leave you on such short notice, but destiny is calling Lou. Will you be fine without me?”

Lou shrugged. “I suppose so. Alabaster is back in town, so we aren’t without options. I’m sure he’s looking for a job now that he’s here to stay.”

“It won’t be the same without you Crest,” A fully rested Borka said standing near the kitchen’s door frame. “Can’t you stay for a little while longer?”

“No can do Borka,” said Crest. “Adventure calls. And I’ve been ignoring her for far too long.”

Sighing, Borka released a heavy breath she felt like she had been holding forever. It was so unfair. Crest had been there by her side for the longest, ever since she started working at the tavern in fact. She had grown accustomed to him being there, and for him to up and leave like he was doing, hurt. A part of her wanted to cry. But she kept herself from tears. She needed to be strong. Crest wouldn’t be there to comfort her anymore, so she’d have to learn to get along without him.

“Adventure calls, eh?” Traces of depression were found in her voice. Watching Crest and the girl gulp their drinks down so hastily, gave her anxiety like she had never known. They seemed like they were rushing along, wanting to hurry about their adventure. It frightened her, to lose a friend so dear. No maybe he was more than that to her. She cursed herself for encouraging him to go. Now he really was leaving. Reality hadn’t really kicked in yet, it was all a little unreal. But she would have to deal with it. Just as she had dealt with her feelings all this time.

Downtrodden, her head slumped down into her chest.

Taking notice of her worry, Crest made sure to ease her. “Borka…Come on now. I’ll come back. Nothing is forever, but I got to do what I got to do. There will always be a little piece of me here.”

On that note, Borka thought, maybe there was a way to keep Crest’s spirit alive in the old tavern. “Maybe there will. Hold on a second.” Borka started rambling behind a cubby on the other side of the bar counter. There was a crate left there with all kinds of junk. Among those things was an instant polaroid camera. “Hey Crest,” she perking up. “How’s about a photo for the community board? Something to remember you by? We haven’t changed it in a while.”

Crest shrugged. “Eh, why the heck not?”

“Okay go stand over there.” She pointed to the middle of the floor.

Walking over to the middle of the dining room he stood waiting to take a picture. “This good Borka?”

Simply standing rather than posing, he didn’t really give her much of a memorable picture. But that was fine. “It’ll do.”

“Hold on! Wait a minute!!” Cerra ran over and propped her body against Crest. “I want to be in the photo too. That’s cool, right Crest?”

“Suuuure.” Crest sound very unsure.

Frowning, Borka sighed. She wanted a memento of Crest. Not of the girl. But she couldn’t exactly be mad at her either. Something about her cheerful disposition was…. ‘likable’ for some reason. Sucking it up, she took the picture anyway. Surprisingly, it came out nice. So nice, even Borka couldn’t help but smile.

4

“Bye Lou, bye Dorsea!” Standing at the front door, Crest said his goodbyes.

“See you around. Don’t you forget about us you hear?” Lou gave him the best farewell he could.

“I won’t be too beaten up.” Dorsea snarked.

“I’ll miss you too Dorsea.” He said nonchalantly. “But,” he looked down at Borka who was coming his way. “I think I’ll miss you most of all Borka.”

“Aww.” Cerra who stood next to Crest, could feel her heart melt. “That’s so nice.”

Borka had held it in all day, but she couldn’t hold it in any longer. Tears fell from her face. Suddenly she hugged him tight. Tighter than she probably ever had before. Reciprocating, Crest gave his best hug too as she cried in his arms. Never had he seen her this emotional. There was a lot of weight in what he was doing, but he had to for his sake. Uncomfortable as she made saying goodbye, it wouldn’t be goodbye forever. There is no such thing. There’s only goodbye for right now.