Loneliness Choir

The Tokyo ’87 crew didn’t click right away. They were all alone at first. It took time for them to come together. What was the moment it began? Who made the first move? The circle of friends couldn’t remember. However, a piece of them remembered how lonely they used to be.

It took one person to break that. But who was it?

“Do you remember how we all met?” Ben asked one day. No one had an answer.

“Uh…” Jules spoke up.

“Gordy and I were close to each other since we were four,” Kris said. Gordon didn’t look too sure about that.

“Were we?” he asked.

“Yes,” Kris said, nodding. Gordon tried to think about what he wanted to say. He closed his mouth when he came up with nothing.

“When we met, you, Kele, and Ben were together,” Russel said.

“I was with you too,” Kele said. The lanky man thought about that for a second.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yeah…” Russel said, nodding. He didn’t sound too convinced of his own answer. The friends didn’t speak for a moment. They changed the subject but it never left their minds.

They didn’t have to think about those questions until now.

---------

Ben looked around the living room. Only two other people were able to move. His own mind came and went on whim. Right now, part of him felt hollowed out. Ben should’ve felt afraid. But…

It’s okay.

Ben’s eyes trailed behind him. He could only see the couch at his back. Still, the man knew that someone was there.

Do I know you?

Yes.

Who are you?

I’m you.

It took a moment for the words to sink in. Ben narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his nose. You’ve got to be kidding. How are you here?

There’s no time to explain. I might not always be staying long. Just know that I will be coming and going at random. A small hand rested on his shoulder. Ben felt chills running through his body. He opened his mouth and breathed out. His mind started slipping away again.

This time when he opened his eyes, Ben could see a purple sky filled with many holes. Questions started to form in his brain.

“Ben?”

The man looked around. “Masayuki?” His eyes shifted around. “Where are you? I can hear you, but I can’t see you.”

“I think you are inside of me.”

“Huh?”

“It’s kind of hard to explain. But you'd better brace yourself.”

“Brace myself? Brace myself for what?”

It felt like the pressure was crushing him from all sides. If Ben still had his teeth, he would be clenching them so tightly. It felt like his ears were going to pop.

“I’m so sorry for this.”

Ben didn’t get a chance to reply before he and the invisible ghostly form of Masayuki vanished into thin air.

Only she knew where they were heading next.