An old friend

The intensity which the stranger carefully observed June was overwhelming, from one second to the next the vertigo came accompanied by a viscous and thick sensation under his feet, the wet and soft sand began to absorb him, boy’s stoic expression was enough to realize that the person in front of him was dangerous, he couldn't take his eyes off from those eyes that seemed to turn red.

- So you can hear voices in your head, how interesting.

That completely upset June, his heart pumped erratically, the cold of the rain began to seep into his bones and in the end it seemed that everything was nothing more and nothing less than an illusion, very realistic to be honest. It wasn't until after hearing the boy's voice that he snapped out of that simulation and looked at him with a serious expression.

- How do you do that?

- Do what?

- Pretending so well that you have dementia.

The boy gave a genuine laugh, amused to know that June had a sense of humor.

- Okay, June, you're not as naive as I remembered and before continuing with this talk, let's go to a drier place, don’t you think?

He didn't even have time to object to it when the strange boy was heading towards the exit of the beach, he followed him and it didn't seem like he was going to regret his words, so he made a more ambitious proposal.

-My… My house is near here. I have dry clothes to lend to you.

If he wanted answers, it was best to play in his territory and what better place, he could ask his grandfather for help if necessary, doubted it, the tension from a few seconds ago had disappeared and in its place there was a more relaxed one.

- That sounds cool.

June took control of the situation in a weird way that he hadn't been able to before, and he was inwardly proud of it.

- All right, follow me.

"Why did you lie?"

That was his voice.

"Me? Let me differ on that. I didn't lie to your grandfather about your injury. What was I supposed to do then? Let you jump to certain death? For god's sake. You knew how violent the tide was. ”

That was the voice of the strange boy who was walking behind him.

“Geez… You are a stalker.”

That's what June said and then the posture of the silhouette that vaguely swayed in that fleeting memory of him sent his heart rate sky high.

"He leaned on the side of the window and with an arrogant smile he said"

"Could be."

For a moment that mental picture seemed to be a scene pretty similar to his sweet home with his grandfather.

"What does that mean? Why did you follow me? Since when do you spy on me? What do you want to achieve by staying here? Are you some kind of…”

"Serial killer? No. I just do my job.”

- Are you ok? You seem a little distracted.

A warm hand had been placed on June's shoulder, who was walking with closed eyes without even noticing.

- Just thinking.

- About what? Forgot way to home?

- No, I just rambled. Is that one at the end of the road.

A flirtatious comment was drowned in the mouth of the strange boy since he did not want to spend more time traveling. Once they arrived, June announced his arrival without receiving a response from his grandfather.

It seems that the house was empty.

And it was a relief that he wouldn't openly admit, it would be lengthy explanations.

- Well, answers. Now. Starting with your name.

- You used to be more hospitable, June.

- What does that mean?

The boy walked around the room, admiring every detail of the room from bottom to the top.

- I followed you because you promised a better space to talk and dry clothes. I already have the first one but I'm still missing something, right?

June then realized what he wanted to say, he didn't say anything else because of a bit of embarrassment, he was anxious and he couldn't help it, a little resigned and annoyed, he kept the pending promise.

- Fine, be right back.

They had the same complexion except for the muscular constitution, he lent him a sweater although it wouldn't fit him completely, at least would keep him warm for a few moments while the clothes dried near to the heater.

He put water to boil, such an important conversation was going to require something warm for the nerves that devoured him from head to toe. The cups were left on the coffee table in the living room.

- Okay, are you ready, June?

He wasn't and he didn't want to turn back, somehow he sensed that by doing so he wouldn't have another chance, he sighed gathering courage to listen to his strange guest.

- First of all I must warn you about something, there is a lot of information that is important for you to know, however I cannot give you all of it at this precise moment. You would think me insane and a liar and although something tells me that a large part of you is already ready to receive the information, there is still something deep down that refuses to know the truth.

He paused for a moment to think about where he should best approach the story he was about to tell.

- I don't know your name yet, it could be a good beginning.

- Hehe, you got me. I would introduce myself but you already know my name.

- What…?

And after observing incredulously the boy’s wide smile in front of him, the waves of memory returned again.

“June, I forgot to mention it. We have a visitor."

That was the voice of his grandfather who arrived with cups and left them on the table, positioned himself to one side took him by the shoulders and added.

“He is Aideen. And he will be our guest."

Aideen's smile widened a little more and he waved his hand in greeting, while the other cupped his cheek.

- You are Aideen. And you were here before, with my grandfather and...

- That's how it is.

- But how? I mean, why do you exist in my memory? You did not exist in my memories until you asked me to remember your name. So you were also the shadow?

June's accelerated reaction was something he didn’t expected, he expected many

things but not that he had such solid remnants from the past. Aideen had to stop his train of thought before he hurt herself.

- Hey, easily.

- How do you manage to do telepathy?

- June!

He was about to continue talking to himself when the intensity of Aideen’s voice stopped him.

- Enough! Do not draw conclusions on your own, I told you that I will tell you everything. Now first of all, I need some answers from you to determine where I should start explaining. Understood?

June nodded.

- Okay, so let's start. Since when do you hear “the voice”?

- A month ago.

- Do you know who he is?

- Well, it's pretty similar to your voice.

- What tells you?

- Nothing special, it just calls me, as if it wanted me to follow it, but the day I

saw you in the cafeteria, was that your voice?

- That day it was mine. Unfortunately I can’t say the same of the other days. And that's enough for me, the story is long, long enough to not be able to tell it all to you this afternoon, I'll have to project it into your mind. And still we wouldn't finish today.

- Wait what?

- So I need you to relax and trust me.

- Trust you? How could I? I may have known you in the past apparently but that

doesn't guarantee my security.

Aideen burst into June's personal space, grabbing him by the shoulders and looking him square in the eye.

- June!

And everything became slow, there was a sudden silence and it was as if time had stopped.

- You want answers to those dreams, those voices and visions, everything. I know everything that overwhelms you day and night. The regret that you carry in your heart and mind. That self-conscious personality that limits you. Trust me, you've done it before.

Aideen sounded so sure of each word that it was inevitable for June to feel that he was not lying, because in his eyes he could visualize a shadow, very similar to the one he had seen so long before, his slow breathing and the closeness seemed to have an analgesic effect. June slowly pulled away from Aideen, combed his hair a little, it all sounded so unreal and exciting, and the feeling of curiosity was on the surface.

- Okay, I don't quite understand how you're going to do it but I'm not going to question your methods, and I really hope that whatever happened to make me not remember anything was not so bad.

- I won't say anything about it, lie down on the couch.

June somewhat resigned as indicated, he took a comfortable position with his hands on his stomach. And then two of Aideen's fingers touched his forehead.

-I will induce a deep sleep in your mind, do not fight against the feelings that I will generate in you or it will be more difficult for the story to flow.

And then the darkness and hundreds of stars received him in a serene and warm plane.