laika Sarah Hegg
It was a cool June morning in the little town of Greenwood, the burnt red bricks on the buildings seeming to come to life in the sun’s soft rays. Max was struck by a feeling of deja vu, as if he had seen this quiet little street with the yellow haze before. Of course, he had seen it, he had spent 18 years of his life here. But the buildings were different, taller, stronger, and newly painted. New restaurants painted the street, new graffiti lined the alleyways. It made Max uncomfortable. Things changing without him had always been a problem of his. It wasn’t that the world necessarily revolved around him, it was more that he felt like he was a reader in others’ stories, so when he came back to a book he’d put down for some time and the plot completely changed, it irked him. But Max wasn’t done with the change for the day. In fact, the biggest change was yet to come, eating breakfast with an old friend at Minnie’s Diner. The sight of the yellow door and overhang calmed Max a bit, familiarity within the new. He rooted himself with the building, taking a deep breath. He wasn’t anxious, more overwhelmed. But he knew this meeting wasn’t for him. It was for her. He stepped into the diner, sneakers slightly squeaking on the tan linoleum floor. He was hit with the scent of maple syrup and the air conditioner’s cool air. Before he could collect his bearings, a sweet voice called out to him. “Max!” A young woman in a booth seat squealed. She had shoulder length, curly brown hair and big circular glasses. She was wearing a bright pink pullover hoodie which Max immediately recognized. He looked back into her face, realizing who it was. “Laika!” Max beamed, her presence putting him at ease. There were differences, sure, a lot of them. But she still had the same dimples and soft face. Max slid into the seat across from her. “I was worried you wouldn’t recognize me.” Laika smirked, making Max’s ears twinge red. “I’ve never seen you with long hair.” He responded sheepishly. “Well, it’s not super long. But yes, I know what you mean. It’s okay, you don’t have to pretend it’s not surprising to see me post-transition. I was just giving you a hard time,” Laika smiled. Max felt the twist in his stomach relax. “You look beautiful.” Max said earnestly, earning a soft blush from Laika. “Of course I do love, picked everything out myself.” And they laughed, because even though Max could never understand what she went through, the humor was all the same. Whenever the words weren’t there, they could just laugh. They had always been like that. “I wish I didn’t go to school so far away. I missed you.” Max muttered, locking his eyes on the menu to ease the embarrassment of the confession. But before Laika could respond, a waitress came over to take their order. Max got the french toast and Laika got the waffles. The same they always get. Got, that is. 38