I slowly blinked my eyes awake as the sun shone through the windows. The room was brightening as small sounds of clatter emanated from the kitchen and I noticed the warmth at my back was now absent, assuring me Ruun had already gotten up to start the day. Familiar scents found their way to my nose as I sat up, yawned, and stretched, which caused a slight smile upon recognition. As the sounds changed and the scents mixed with others, I finally gave in and stood up, grabbed the sheets, and made the bed for the morning before stepping quietly over toward the bathroom to quickly change my clothes.

A minute or so later I carefully made my way to the kitchen, poking my head around the corner just in time to watch a fried egg top an ensemble of cheese, pieces of fried flat bread, shredded meat, and green sauce. Off to the side, on the stovetop, was the strange metal jug from before, too. From my first morning here this quickly became a favorite, though it would not be the same without—

“Oh, you’re awake and dressed already,” Ruun smiled. “Everything will be done soon, so could you please set the table? Then we can both eat.”

—that.

It just would not be complete just eating alone.

I nodded and walked into the kitchen, grabbing some utensils from the silverware drawer and a couple of mugs. As I reached the table and began placing the items, two hands with a full plate in each reached around me and placed the plates on the table. I was a bit stunned to move after that, my face feeling funny and warm, and I admit the soft giggle from behind me did not help. I did my best to shake it off before taking my seat at the table, waiting for Ruun to join before I started eating. She made a second trip to the table, this time with hot milk and strong…coffee, I think it was called? There was always a distinct sweetness to it when she made it that I looked forward to.

A brief return to the counter once more before she sat down at the other end of the table.

“You don’t have to wait for me if you’re hungry, you know,” she said.

“Yes, I know, but it would not be the same that way,” I answered.

“’The same’?” she looked at me funny.

“W-Well, um…it…seems like it will be a nice day today,” I tried to change the subject, though rather poorly.

Ruun just gave me an amused grin and a nod. “Yes, it’s a nice morning, and it should stay that way if the radio is to be believed.”

I returned to my food, a bit embarrassed but trying not to show it too much. Judging by her sly grin I was really not good at it.

We both finished our meals quickly, washing off our dishes and putting them on a towel to dry and opening a window to let in some breeze. Ruun then took a stop to the bathroom to freshen up and grab her handbag before we went on our town errand, all the while I could not help but feel I was forgetting something. I tried to just ignore it, thinking maybe I was just nervous.

A few minutes later, Ruun shut off the bathroom light and grabbed my hand.

“Alright, I think we’re both ready,” she tugged. “Let’s go!”

I gave a little laugh as I was pulled to the shop door, then to the outside door, stopping only long enough to lock it. She was quite excited for today, and despite her explaining the plan to me I could not quite match her enthusiasm. Not that I was not also excited, but because it was something I would have to quite literally see for myself first.

The weekend weather brought out many townspeople and their children, more than I had seen in the past. A few looked at me and I could not help but feel a little self-conscious, though their gazes seemed to be of interest instead of scorn. That would take some getting used to, though it was certainly welcome. Ruun seemed much more driven by her objective to give much care to the looks of strangers as we made a beeline for a small building on the other end of the town.

When we reached it, she quietly opened the door and brought me with her to the front desk. It was a shop in a similar style to ours. We had come here a little while ago due to one of Ruun’s little suspicions and arrived today to pick up the result of that suspicion. After showing some credentials, the person at the front desk handed Ruun a small plastic case. We both thanked them and went back outside.

“Alright, we got the important things,” she said, looking at a small handwritten list. “It’s a nice enough day that I’d like to head to the market to grab a couple things. Coming with?”

“Well, yes, of course,” was all I could think to say. I think by now such a response was expected.

“Good, let’s head back to the center of town. It’s not too far.”

Again, she grabbed my hand, this time walking a more leisurely stride. A few minutes and we found our way there, the small bat surveying the best places to look. She grabbed her bag and made her way to Monty’s stall to grab a couple jars of preserves and make some small talk. Ruun then darted around to other stalls, grabbing some kind of thick red stems, bread, some sponge-like mushrooms, and various greens. She packed those things away in her bag, then turned to me.

“Any plans for today?” she asked.

“No…not really,” I responded, a little confused. “Did you have something in mind?”

“Well, perhaps…” her words like a verbal beckon.

Securing her bag on one shoulder, she grabbed my hand in hers and tugged gently some new direction. I of course followed, making our way past other people and their clamor, heading generally northwest until we were on the outer fringe of town. We made it to a grassy knoll, out where the noise of town was just a buzz and the sky stretched on forever. I do not think I had ever been out here before, or I just did not remember it looking quite like this. Then again, with Ruun’s company, things so ordinary felt otherwise, though I could not really explain.

She sat down and I did the same as she rifled through the things in her bag, handing me one of the jars of preserves and the loaf of bread. I was about to start opening the both of them until she stopped me.

“Hazelnut, before you get carried away, I want you to put these on first,” she said, the plastic box in hand.

“O-Okay,” I said, reaching for the box.

I flipped the top of the small box to reveal a custom pair of glasses, as she called them. I had gone with her to that small shop building once before to read some letters on a sign until I could no longer determine the letters, but I was not sure of the purpose of the whole thing despite being told several times.

“Alright, now close your eyes,” Ruun commanded.

“I…what?” I uttered, hesitating.

“Just trust me and close your eyes, silly,” she reassured, patting my knee.

I conceded and did as she asked, closing my eyes. My eyes felt a little funny all morning, though I could not quite tell why. A few seconds later I felt something sit across my snout, wrapping over the tops of my ears. It was a strange sensation.

“Alright, you can open your eyes again,” she coaxed.

I slowly reopened my eyes to see a very smiley Ruun, and…

…and everything else.

Everything was so clear now. I could see so much further, so much more detail. I could see the leaves, the blades of grass, the passersby, the hills and flowers…everything. I did not need to squint just to read the writing on labels or signs and could do nothing but look around and try to absorb this new sense. For a short while I could not even find words to describe this feeling. Ruun giggled to herself and grabbed the bread and preserves to make the both of us a couple of sandwiches.

“I’m surprised that you can stand having so much done to your eyes,” she laughed. “I would figure by now it would be annoying.”

I finally came back to reality upon those words and being handed a jam sandwich.

“What do you mean?” I questioned.

“Just that—first the contact lenses, then a big pair of glasses,” she continued. “These things don’t irritate your eyes much, I hope?”

“Contacts?” I repeated.

“Well, yes, those contacts you put on every day—”

I pushed up the glasses to rub my eyes. My eyes had felt strange this morning and I kept…kept feeling like I was forgetting something. Forgetting something important, too. A few short seconds of rubbing my eyes and I slowly brought down my hand, which had started to shake. I pulled the glasses back down and took a short moment of silence.

“Talon, are you okay?” Ruun asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“R-Ruun, I…” I hesitated. “…How…do my eyes look?”

She said nothing, but dug back into her bag and gave me a small compact mirror, flipping it open. I carefully took it from her hand again went silent upon the reflection:

Amber yellow.

I felt tears welling up.

Amber yellow.

I felt a hand on my knee as Ruun looked toward me with concern.

“Is something wrong?” she inquired. “Were the contacts dry? I have some cleaner with me if you need them—”

“Ruun, I…” my words trailed, caught up in my own disbelief.

“Yes, what is it?” she implored. “You seem shaken up; please tell me what’s going on.”

“…I forgot to put in the contacts.”