I Hurt Myself Today

The colorful boy does not seem deterred by Enki’s slow, sluggish speech or the fact that he is acting strange. Part of the pale boy knows that something is wrong with himself but, as hard as he tries, he cannot figure out what it is. Perhaps it is just another part of the curse he unleashed with his birth. The excited boy is speaking again and it takes all of Enki’s concentration to keep up with the happy words. At Tazzy’s narrowed eyes and threat about not being called Phanny, the pale boy simply blinks and offers dips his head in agreement while giving him a single word, “Okay.”

There is something infectious about the other boy’s energy and, even though he does not move any faster or talk any less slowly, Enki finds that he feels a little more… comfortable. Tazzy hasn’t run away from him yet like the freak the boy knows he is and that makes Enki feel special. He would never admit out loud how lonely he has felt since his arrival in Insomnia but he had been and the loss of his mother seemed to only compounded his loneness in the world. Tazzy is speaking again and Enki offers another slow blink before lifting his head to look around the area.

Dull tones offer a noncommittal, “Oh. Um.” His mind works as he tries to think of something to do. The boy had once loved to go exploring but, he suddenly realizes that he had not been on an adventure in a long time. A thought sluggish crosses his mind and he turns his baby blue gaze back to the colorful Tazzy, asking, “Do you know how to swim?” It is summer and the heat of the day can be felt like a heavy blanket but, thankfully, he remembers that there is a river that winds lazily through the plains and offers a perfect escape. Enki follows up his question with, “If you don’t… I can teach you.” Yes, the pale boy knows how to swim and, once upon a time, he actually found joy in it.


"Enki Klein"