I Hurt Myself Today

A voice squeaks out in the still air and the Klein boy instinctively freezes. The sounds of someone approaching has Enki turning toward the direction of the noise, his movements sluggish and unnatural, almost as if he doesn’t know how to control his body. As his empty gaze lands on the colorful, small boy that is rushing toward him, a pale brow slowly lifts. He stands stock still, waiting for the unknown boy to approach while he attempts to pull a name from deep well of his memory. Nothing is forth coming, so he decides that he probably hasn’t met this rainbow hued boy before.

Baby blue eyes watch the now panting boy, noting the loose smile that curls the lips of the other and the way his tail wags. Enki attempts to remember what that emotion is called that the boy is displaying, the faintest hint of name surfacing before the boy’s question puts a grinding halt to that train of thought. Eyes blink slowly as he stares at the stranger for a long moment, feeling a stirring of… something at the mention of adventure. Something pokes at his mind and he suddenly remembers that this is one of Medusa’s children. Finally, he dips his head in a semblance of agreement as his monotone, dull voice says, “Okay.”

Enki agrees because he likes Medusa and he does not wish to upset her or her kin. Maybe there is a deeper reason for it as well, but for now, he pretends that is the only one. Realizing that, if they haven’t met before, he should probably introduce himself, the pale pink offers, “I’m Enki.” The simple, flat words rumbles past his lips as the boy’s voice has already begun to deepen into the smooth, dark tones of his adulthood. A listless thought comes up and the boy asks, “What kind of adventure are we going on?” His voice is devoid of infliction and his gaze is empty of any bright spark of life that had once been there.

Yet, as the thought of exploring begins to settle in, a very strange feeling stirs in the boy’s chest. In another life, Enki might have considered it excitement.


"Enki Klein"