//hopeless {haku}

[Espen Darnell]

The clatter of shoes on cobblestones echoed off the buildings on either side of the street. The day seemed bleak as the sun had been swallowed up by the clouds hours ago. The typical London fog was closing in, almost stifling the residents as they hurried to their destinations. As a pair of green eyes raised themselves from the ground to the absent star, a sigh was heard, and the eldest child of Alasdair and Eirinn Darnell moved from his perch on the stoop of 13 Blackhorse Road.

Espen had taken to thinking lately. The future didn't scare him, really, but a future without Eirinn and Holden did. His entire being was focused on keeping Eirinn with them, both in mind and in body. He and Holden had worked so hard to make sure she would be alright, but he was starting to think that it would never be okay. That there was no cure for what plagued her. That she would be this way for the rest of her life.

Of course, he would keep these thoughts from Holden. He didn't want to worry his younger brother, not now. The more he hoped and the more he believed that he did everything he could, the better. Both of them, Holden especially, would be hurt by the loss, but they weren't children anymore. They would pick themselves up and move on. It was the only thing they could do.

Getting to his feet, Espen started off in a seemingly random direction, his feet taking him wherever they wanted to go. He welcomed a change in atmosphere, as the fog was starting to feel oppressive. It was times like these that he missed the blue sky and warm fields of Ireland, his home. They had left out of necessity, but he'd always wanted to go back someday. The chance that Eirinn would come with them was slim to none, he felt.

Hopelessness slowed his step, and by the time the house was out of sight, he was barely even moving. He didn't know if he could last in keeping this a secret from his dear brother. They had come so far, yet he feared it would be all for naught. All they could do now was struggle on until they had an answer.

[Hakumei Kino]

<sup>The immigrant stood in front of a newly opened truffle shop while playing Eugene Ysaye's Sonata no. 2 on his violin to attract new customers, flawlessly moving the bow over the strings, as his right hand hit every string necessary to play the song. The playing drew in a few of the aristocrats some of which complimented the shop keep about the boy's playing, thinking he was a regular worker. As the song progressed he added a bit of his own improvisatory to the underlying score, keeping to the key still and making sound recognizable to the original music. As the minutes passed more people were attracted by the music and entered into the shop.

As he brought the song to an end the store owner came out holding a few coins. As she thanked him for bringing in customers she handed him the coins and the boy gave a bit of a bow while thanking her for allowing him to play for money before being on his way.</sup>

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