Your Name, Forever

XX/XX/15

People always say men are the stronger sex—biologically—I agree, but mentally? Every woman I've ever known has held me beneath her heel, whether she realized it or not. And I've always assumed that was just the way of things. Women are born to dominate. Men are born to endure.

The only softness I've ever known from women came with a demand hidden inside it.

Vulkan hasn't come to your apartment in two days, despite promising the contrary, that was what you were thinking as you laid on the old couch under the thick blankets. It was a particularly cold day and your head was as itchy as ever as you then tried to recall the last time it was washed. As long as it was braided tightly, no one would notice the true lengths of your carelessness.

You did encounter Maun two days ago in the hallway when you left to buy more bread at the bakery.

"Good afternoon," The older woman said as she struggled to open the door of Vulkan's apartment.

"Hi," You replied, a little awkward,

She glanced up, offering a faint smile, "How are you, miss?"

"Good," You nodded, forcing a smile. "You?"

"Fine, thank you," She replied, her eyes darting toward the door as it clicked open.

Before she could slip past, you seized her attention again, raising your voice. "Is Vulkan there?"

The woman raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"

"Oh, he told me he was going to come over today but I'm going to the bakery," You explained, fidgeting with your purse. "Could you pass the message to him?"

Maun didn't respond immediately, her expression stiffened. After a pause, she looked at you and nodded once, something you could have easily missed.

You sucked in a deep breath of courage, forcing yourself to speak again, "Also, could I speak with you about something?"

"What is it, miss?" Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Uhm... Well..." You took a deep breath, swallowing the feeling of intrusion down, "Vulkan shared with me about... his medication... And I'm concerned about its effects on him. He seems... shaky. Irritable. He mentioned heavy mental fog and... I don't think it's doing him any good." Your voice softened, careful to not overstep, "I don't want to intrude, I'm just a concerned neighbor."

The two of you stood there in the dim light of the hallway. Her face was unreadable and her silence even more unsettling.

"I will speak with him about it," She replied stiffly, her tone dismissive as she didn't even bother to meet your eyes as she stepped inside Vulkan's apartment, the door shutting with a soft click.

You leaned forward from the couch and grabbed a glass of water from the cluttered coffee table, draining it in one long gulp. But your throat still felt dry. Standing, you stretched your arms above your head, your spine cracking as you arched your back. "Ah... That feels better," You yawned.

Making your way towards the kitchen, you filled your glass with cold water.

You did wonder if Vulkan had left, maybe he was staying with his brother. You couldn't blame him for leaving without telling you: Who wouldn't want to live on the East Coast? But that was quickly disproven when you saw him standing on the balcony of his apartment last night.