I slowly become aware of the dull ache in my body as I make a slow rise. My eyelids flutter but struggle to open. The world was a blur of blinding white and vague shapes. I blink hard and will myself to focus despite how heavy and sluggish it felt.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

Who…?

“I saw the whole thing, that was quite the fall you took.”

I try to recall what it is she’s referring to but accessing my memory was like trying to swim through a thick fog.

“My name is Arcie, and I’m a resident here on Sabossa Island.”

Sabossa island? Do I know where that is?

“You’re currently at the Pokemon Center in Sunchime city, resting.”

“You’re currently at the Pokemon Center in Sunchime city, resting from your trip.”

“My name is Arcie, and I’m a resident here on Sabossa Island.”

“Did something happen to me?”

“Nothing serious. Nurse Joy said you would make a full recovery after a night's rest.”

“Sorry, did you say the Pokemon Center? Pokemon, like the anime?”

She looks at me quizzically, as if I was the weird one for questioning it.

“Anime..? I’m not familiar…”

Uh, right.

Well it’s a lot to take in right now and I decide things will start making sense once I can get on my feet - take a look around.

"You said this place was Sunchime City?"

“Yes, it’s the densest community in Sabossa,” she says carefully before piecing together some of the clues. “You aren’t from around here, are you?”

I shake my head - no.

“Well, you should rest. You can think about what you can do tomorrow.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea...”

Sunchime city? Sabossa? Arcie seemed nice at least.

These worries melt away as my limbs grew distant and limp. Quietly, I drift back to sleep.

...

I wake up feeling refreshed and find myself alone in the room. Shortly after I am officially released from the Pokemon Center after getting a clean bill of health from the nurse.

I ask about Arcie but she doesn’t seem to know who I’m talking about.

In any case, I am currently in Sunchime City located in Sabossa, and it’ll take at least one week before I can catch a plane back to the mainland.

But what am I supposed to do for a week?

At the corner of a narrow street was a shop with a faded red awning drooped over the entrance. Malloy’s Apothecary, was written in gold accompanied by Chinese character below it. More importantly was the ‘HELP WANTED’ sign stuffed in the corner of the window, nearly imperceptible to those walking by it.

Beggars can’t be choosers, and people desperate enough to hang up signs in this day and age fall into that category too.

I hear the faint jingle of a bell as I step inside. Floor to ceiling shelves lined one side of the wall, and at the center of the shop was a counter made of dark lacquered wood.

Out from a beaded doorway steps a white-haired man wearing a high-collar jacket. He languidly rounds the counter and assumes the role of a shop keeper.

"Ni haowdy."

“Welcome to Mallory’s Apothecary, I’m Brother Yu.”

Then who’s Mallory…?

“You browsin’ today?”

“I saw the ‘Help Wanted’ sign in the window and wanted to know more about the position.”

I throw a thumb over my shoulder to its general vicinity.

The shopkeeper tilts his head to peer around my body and at the sign I was referring to.

“Oh, that thing. That item is for sale, I’m not actually looking to hire anyone.”

“You’re welcome to buy it,” he suggests politely, but I can’t help but feel he’s mocking me. The lilt of his tone, and the knit of his stubby brows, seemed to be taking pity on me.

“What are you implying…”

“Just that you look a little lost.”

The sign in the window had enticed me but now I wonder if working at an apothecary would be a good match for me.

“What do you sell at an apothecary?”

“Holistic health remedies and services.”

“Do they work?"

“Do you want them to work?”

That wasn’t very reassuring.

“You should approach these with an open mind. You’ll find problems if you look for them.”

“Problems are what get you to look for remedies in the first place…”

Yu laughs.

“How much are you willing to help yourself?”

“Can you tell me more about Sunchime city?”

"No."

...

Well, I guess that was a valid answer, but not one I was expecting.

“I’m a new to the city so I don’t know much about it.”

“But cities are just about the same no matter where you go.”

“So you moved to a city you hardly knew and set up a shop?”

“I knew someone here, and that was good enough for me.”

“You’re the one in a city you know nothing about.”

“That wasn’t my choice…”

The only reason why I'm unloading now is because he pushed me to do it. He could have just answered my questions normally like any other person instead of having to goad me like this.

“I honestly just woke up in this city today without any memories of how I got here. The one person who seems to know anything about that just disappeared and it’ll take another week before I can catch the next ticket out of this city.”

“What am I supposed to do in the meantime?”

“It’s a little surreal.”

The words just start pouring out. It doesn’t stop until I can get it off my chest. Hearing it out loud for the first time makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something, because all things considered I could have been a lot more hysterical about it.

I’m slightly out of breath by the time I’m done, and for some reason I look at Brother Yu for some kind of response. Our short time together has proven he’s not exactly the sensitive type, but I don’t even care if he kicks me out. It just felt good to have someone know.

“You know, I got just the thing—”

He ducks under the counter where I hear glass bottles clink against one another.

“You do?”

“This is an apothecary.”

“So what, you can make me a tonic that’ll bring back my memories? Or transport me back home?”

What’s another crazy thing, you know?

He sets a glass bottle on the counter and perfectly flicks off the top. The sparkling liquid is poured into a little ceramic cup before he offers it to me.

“Yeah, it’s called Gin.”

“…”

Yeah, okay, that’ll help.

I lift the glass to my lips and tilt it back.

I sigh deeply and exit the shop.