Fan Fiction ❯ The Charm Bracelet ❯ Life As It Is ( Chapter 1 )

"The Charm Bracelet"

Chapter 1 - Life As We Know It

Downtown Tokyo was the same as always. Horrible pollution blocked out the sun so that you couldn't tell if it was sunny or cloudy. But no one seemed to care anymore, especially you. You're only 17-years-old and you're already on your own, living in a run-down apartment with your younger brother, Sid. Your hair was black as night, and your eyes a dull green. If you ever had the time to really take care of yourself, you'd be one of the most beautiful women alive. But, unfortunately, you weren't in the greatest of shape. Your clothes were old and ragged and you were abnormally slender. But you didn't care about yourself; you worried more for your brother.

Ever since he was born, he's had a problem with his breathing. He needed fresh air to live, and this pollution wasn't helping any. You were searching and working hard for a job to get enough money to move somewhere clean, or to at least get him proper medication. The poor boy couldn't even get an education, instead, you home schooled him, which was rare considering you spent all your time looking for a job.

Sid's an optimistic boy, always giving advice and cheering you up. His hair is almost as black as yours, but his eyes are brown. He's short and skinny, but he's in better shape than you.

Today was no different from the rest. You were returning home from another day of unsuccessful job searching, but you had managed to scrape enough of money to buy a box of cereal.

You walked into your apartment building and walked to the top floor where your `home' was located. You pulled your keys from your pocket and opened the door. Walking in, the realization that you needed to clean hit you when a horrible odor filled your senses. But you quickly forgot about it when Sid came running to you.

"Sis!" He hugged you as soon as he got into arms reach.

"Hey, Sid!" you exclaimed and hugged him. "I got something to eat. It's not much…" You walked over to the counter and set the bag down. "It's just some cereal. But it should last us a few days."

"All right." Sid smiled.

You couldn't help but smile too. "Would you like some for dinner?"

"Sure, sis!"

You pulled out a bowl and set it on the counter with a small clank. You pulled the cereal box from the bag and opened it, pouring some of the contents into the bowl. Taking a spoon from a drawer, you stuck it in the bowl and handed it to Sid. "There you go."

"Yay!" He took the bowl and ran to his bed, jumping up onto it and beginning to eat like a dog.

You smiled sympathetically. He got so excited over a bowl of cereal… You wished he could just cast that aside like other young boys, but unless you won the lottery it wasn't going to happen. You finally removed your coat and hung it up. Then you walked over to your bed and sat down. Opening your drawer you found a silver bracelet shining up at you. As you picked it up you turned it over and over in your hands. This bracelet was always a mystery to you. You had always had it. An old friend confirmed it was a charm bracelet, and you had always dreamed of getting it a charm. But with Sid and your financial problems… it was an impossible dream.

You pulled the bracelet around your wrist and fought with the clasp. All of a sudden two small hands had taken the clasp and hooked it together. You looked up into the bright, cheery face of Sid.

"There ya go, sis!"

You smiled. This was life as it is, and it was never gonna change.