Wayoko

How many souls does the river claim before it gives one back? It’s a question Wayoko considers often, looking down from the upper plaza of Waterfall City. They remember the shock of the cold, the sky spinning into a blur of stars though it was midday. They weren't fighting the current, just letting go. Then a hand, strong and sure, pulled them from the rapids. Kimieko. Their rescuer didn't ask why they fell; they just tied a white bandana around Wayoko’s forehead. 'The water gives second chances,' Kimieko said, 'but you have to swim for them.' Wayoko had spent a lifetime dreaming, but that moment taught them to fight. The visions still come, but their feet are now firmly planted on the stone.