Having changed into Pik's band t-shirt, we stroll along the sidewalk, now looking for somebody who needs Pik's tips more than he does.

I keep a close eye on our surroundings, but the late hour renders the streets deserted, the only noise being the distant laughter from the bar and the calming sound of ocean waves at the dark shore. And the soft tapping of Pik's cane.

We pass a small family owned convenience store with a sign that reads "OPEN 24 HOURS", but even so, not a person in sight. I keep looking.

As we continue down the road, away from the bar, I tell Pik about my trip to Japan. When I get to the end, he comments, "You make Japan sound so dreamy."

"This might sound weird, but I feel like a different person coming back."

"Sounds about right," he says. "I can tell something is different about you."

"Is that... a bad thing?" I ask hesitantly.

"You're your own judge, Zelda. Just be sure of three things: feeling like yourself, being content with who you are, and making decisions aligned with your beliefs. If all of that checks out, then I think it's a great thing."

I will take note of his wisdom. I do feel like myself, and although I'm still working on actually liking myself, I try to make decisions that will eventually lead to that.

"What about you?" I ask. "Anything new since we last spoke?"

"Well, there is this," he presents his cane to me. "Let's see what else..." he takes a moment to ponder. "Netflix gave my part to somebody else after they found out about my condition, which is understandable. I would be lying though if I said I wasn't disappointed when I found out."

"I'm sorry that happened to you. It's not fair..."

"Bad news are always accompanied by good news," he says. "Hyrule University was really supportive when I confessed to them and even asked if I needed any accommodations or if there is anything they can do to make it easier on my part."

"That is fantastic, Pik! When will you be starting your new position?"

"I already have! But it's mainly just been preparations and training. My first actual class starts Monday. I'm very much looking forward to that. Will you sign up for one of my courses?" He gives me a playful grin and I laugh.

"I'm not a music major."

"So? I'm sure you need a humanities course for your major. Music counts! Or take it as an elective."

Taking a class with Pik as a teacher does sound like fun. I'm already taking 5 courses this semester, but having taken years of piano lessons as a kid, it wouldn't add much work to my schedule if I enrolled in Piano 101 or Music Appreciation. Not to sound lazy, but it would be an easy A and I could get one more course out of the way.

"Okay, why not," I decide.

"Wait, really?"

"Sure."

"Wow, I didn't actually expect you to say yes so easily," he laughs.

"I told you. Tonight I'm breaking out of my shell!"

"You really are. And you sound happier than ever," Pik notes.

"You sound pretty happy too." I bite my tongue, too late to stop myself from saying those words. No matter how happy he may seem on the outside, I'm sure losing his sight has been painful...

I take a long look at Pik, whose eyes are aimed straight ahead at nothing. These past months have been challenging for him, and although he has this positive attitude, I understand that it's not always easy to be happy for everyone else. The weight of his recent struggles, from losing his sight and the role to adapting to a new lifestyle, is not lost on me. 

I gather the courage to assure him that he doesn't have to face it all alone.

"I know life has been rough lately, and maintaining that happy aura can be tough. But I want you to know, Pik, that I'm here for you. If you ever feel the need to talk, about anything at all, I'm here to lend an ear and support you through it all."

He stops, still staring straight ahead. I'm nervous about his response, unsure whether I overstepped a line. But he doesn't say much at all. He just gives me an honest smile and thanks me.

"You've already helped more than you know," he says.

"I haven't done anything..."

"Thanks for proving my point."

My eyes catch something behind him. In the narrow alleyway behind a rundown restaurant that is already closed for the night, my eyes spot a person sleeping on the ground, nestled among the bins and crates.

I gently nudge Pik and whisper to him, "I think I found a homeless person."

"Oh, let's give them the money," he says, following me into the alleyway.

Wandering around the city's most abandoned places in the dead of the night with a blind man as bodyguard makes me feel uneasy. I double check that we are the only people around. The homeless woman, slender and short in height, sleeps soundly, easing my fears of any potential danger.

"She's asleep," I let him know, hopefully easing his mind too.

"Do you see a cup for the money?"

"It's really dark, so it's hard to see."

"You're telling me."

Cautiously, I step closer, trying to find a place for Pik's tips. "It doesn't look like she's a beggar. But she's definitely homeless." I reach for my phone to use the flashlight but it's not in my pocket! Did I lose it? Did it get stolen?

I think back to the girl that threw her drink at me–did she use that as a distraction to rob me?

A realization hits me and I let out an annoyed sigh. Impa... She never gave me back my phone! The whole fiasco with Kiroh made us both forget about it.

"I don't mean to alarm you, but..." Pik clears his throat nervously. "Is she even alive?"

My stomach twists! I didn't consider that she might not be...

In the dim glow of the streetlights, the homeless girl's appearance tells a story of struggle and hardship. Her once vibrant clothing now appears frayed and soiled, bearing the marks of weeks, maybe months spent on the streets.

She lies huddled in a fetal position, vulnerable to the low temperatures of the night. I wish I had a blanket to give to her. Or more than 23 dollars and 46 cents. I don't carry cash on me, but perhaps I could find an ATM and come back.

Tangles of unkempt hair frame her face, hiding her eyes. I'm not brave enough to move her hair to see if her eyes are trapped in an eternal, lifeless stare, so I shift my focus on her torso instead, waiting with bated breath until the subtle rise and fall of her chest reassures me that she is still alive.

I sigh in relief. "She's breathing."

"Good, good," Pik also lets out a sigh. "Find a place for the money," he tells me in a whisper. "I'd hate having to wake her up and disturb her sleep."

There are a lot of cuts and odd spots on her arms, mixed with bruises and dirt. Her fingers are so dirty they appear black, and the soles of her boots lack any texture having walked for miles on end. She shaped her jacket into a ball, using it as a makeshift pillow. The jacket has a pocket, which seems like a safe spot for the money.

With Pik's tips in hand, I approach her with a gentle and cautious step, not wanting to frighten her. As I inch closer, she twitches in her sleep, causing me to pause in hesitation! Her hair falls to one side of her head, and with her face now visible, I look at her closed eyelids to make sure she's still asleep.

One look at her face and shock courses through me in an instant! I scramble to my feet, staggering backward so quickly that I collide with Pik behind me. He quickly grabs me by my shoulders to steady me. The sound of his cane hitting the ground echoes in the alley a second later.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"It's Malice!" I tell him in a hushed gasp!

His voice is hiding, not even a breath falls from his lips, but I can feel the effect of my words in the way his grip tightens on my shoulders.

"It's Malice," I say again, as if it could change anything. "What do we do?"

"The girl that slapped you and blamed you for Ganon's arrest? Are you sure it's her?"

"Yes, I'm certain! Her hair is different but I definitely recognize her face!"

"Oh shit..." he whispers to himself, his breath brushing my neck as his muscles tense. "She's homeless now? Did she overdose?"

"I–I don't know. How do you tell?"

"Um–I–I don't know, does she have track marks?"

"I'm not sure, it's dark and her arms have a lot of marks and bruises so it's impossible to tell. We should call someone."

"She doesn't have any family," Pik says and I don't ask how he knows that.

"Let's call an ambulance, or the police, they will know what to do."

"We can't get the police involved," he cuts in. I turn to face him. He exhibits every sign of concern and alarm, the gravity of the situation clearly reflected in the waning gray of his glossy eyes. "If we call the police, they might arrest her. And if we take her to the hospital, they will call the police. Besides, I don't even think she has health insurance. Do you understand?"

"I understand," I nod. "I understand that you care about her. But the police are on her side. They can help her."

"They'll lock her up."

"Being locked up is better than being dead." My words don't seem to ease his worries. I sigh. "Okay, what do you suggest we do then?"

His head turns back toward Malice as if his sight had suddenly returned for a single, last glance at her. "We need to take her somewhere safe. A place to detox."

I frown, not bothering to hide it from the blind man. "Can you take her home with you so she can sober up and then take her to a hospital?"

"She can't stay with me."

"Why not? You offered me to stay with you once," I remind him.

"First of all, that was before I was a teacher. I can't just have students spend the night with me. And secondly, back then I offered you–a friend–a place to stay. I was giving you a choice. You were conscious. This is different, I can't just kidnap Mía when she's passed out from whatever it is she took this time! She hates me anyway. If I take her home with me, she'll probably call the police herself."

"Okay now I have to ask. How do you know each other? You call her Mía and she calls you Pike. Who is she to you?"

"We used to date," he reveals.

"What?!" I arch my brows, unsure how to respond. "When?"

"Why does it matter right now? I can't take her home with me."

"Well, we can't just leave her here."

"I know," he exhales in misery. "What about your house?"

"She can't stay with me either. I'm dealing with a bit of a situation at home." I can't discuss the lawsuit, but I can at least explain why Malice is an absolute no-go for me. "Even if I overlooked the fact that Malice bullied me all year, I can't take her in. Link recently lost his home, so I offered to let him stay with me until he finds a new place. My father doesn't know about that yet. He has been gone for business but he will return soon and I will have to convince him to let Link stay with us. It would only tamper Link's chances if I also proposed to temporarily adopt Ganondorf's lost piglet," I point at Malice. A useless gesture, I realize. I shake my head... "Father will disapprove, I already know it. But what worries me most is that it might cause him to disapprove of Link too. I can't take that chance. I'm sorry, Pik."

----

THANK YOU FOR 300K READS ON NEVER WITHOUT YOU!!! 🥳 love you guys! xx