Chapter Text
I ain’t got the heart. That thought hit me like the engine ripping my leg off. I ain’t got the heart to admit I’m scared, or that I felt exposed, or that I just wanted my mama back. I ain’t got the heart to scream, cry, beg for help. I couldn’t breathe. I tried, and I remember that well. I saw my friends get lifted like hay bales. Saw them get ripped apart. I saw Paul and Audrey Igo get skinned like cattle. I saw Cindy and Stacy Smith get torn away from Brady. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. That’s how I died, not really. Tornado picked me up, ripped me apart, tossed me to the fence I sat at for years since I joined track and field…
Then I woke up. Dead, of course, I could see my own dang corpse for all God could care, but I was awake. Staring at damage caused by the tornado. I died on my own birthday. And no one recognized my corpse. They couldn't see me…
They couldn't see me. If they could, they'd see my leg missing, my skin ripped clean off, see the lack of clothing covering my body. They'd see my organs spread out like chicken feed, my glasses broken, see my brain through the massive hole in my head…
And then I remembered my brother. Some kid I found and took in when I was seven. And three years later, he saw me beat my dad's skull in with a heavy metal pipe. Where he was was my first thought. Was he still safe? Did God spare him and not me? Where was he? Where—
“Taylor!!” My brother’s voice cut through the warm May air. I tried to stand. And I know I did because I fell not even a second later. I wanted my brother. I wanted to hold him, console him, spare him from the sight of my corpse scattered like the cattle on a good day.
“Logan,” My voice cracked with pain and fear as I tried to get to him. I wasn't fast enough.
He saw my corpse. He found me. And here my ghost sat, watching it all unfold, trying to reach out to someone who couldn’t see me. God, the irony wasn't lost on me...
I couldn't tell ya about the other guy I met. I was 8. He had a funny mustache and said things in this weird language I can't remember for the life of me. If only I could tell ya. I liked him, for some reason. Even though he was mean and probably called me an idiot once or twice. I followed him around, of course. Kinda grew up with him. I think his name was Adolf?? I couldn't tell you, even if I remembered.
Yours forever truthfully,
Track Aoki