Forgotten Story

My mentor died last year. When I went to his apartment, his partner was sobbing. This was the first time we met. I pulled her into my arms.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. Any cried against my chest. He saw to her needs.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said. She broke down crying. Chun made sure she was taken care of after his death. But then what? I didn’t know if she had any other family members in her life. I never asked. Well, fuck.

Chun’s funeral was small. Only Ay and I attended. He already made the plans ahead of time. Did my master have any family? He never said he did. I didn’t know much about Chun. I worked with him for years. And not once did I ask about him. I tried, but I didn’t get anywhere. Our relationship was strictly business. Was that a good thing? I don’t know.

I looked over at Amy.

“What will you do now?” I asked. She sniffled as she shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. Amy sniffled again. I put my arm around her shoulder. She broke down, sobbing.

Chun would be cremated. Amy was going to keep his ashes. I would take over his position. That left one more thing to do.

I needed an apprentice of my own. This can’t be done so easily. It would take months to find the right person. Before I could so that, there was something else that I needed to do. But first, I took Amy out for dinner.

“Are you okay?” I asked. She wiped her eyes. She shook her head. I wasn’t good at this. I didn’t have anything else to say. We sat in that diner in silence. She barely touched her food. I wasn’t hungry either.

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I was in for quite a surprise three days later. I took time off to grieve my loss. Still, the stories of the city were never going to rest. I wasn’t expecting to see a man in a black suit waiting outside the building. I slowed down in my tracks.

“Uh… Who are you?” I asked. The city needed me listen its stories. However, that might have to wait. The man lifted his chin.

“I am the surety for Chun,” he said.