1x1x1x1 – Forsaken

“Sit quietly, ” X said, going out onto the balcony.
Kulkid remained in the room: the remote control, the couch, and the stuffed banana. In seven minutes, he changed the channel five times, fell off the couch three times, and nearly dropped the remote control in the fish tank.
I'm tired of cartoons.
The little one walked through the closed balcony door - his code knew no bounds.

• Sooooo booooring.
  X stood by the railing with a cigarette made of strange, shimmering tobacco. It smelled of burning and ozone.
• I said sit.
  — I'm bored! Can I? Does dad know? And Shed...
• Shut up.
  Kulkid pouted, but crept closer. He peered up with his black eyes.
  — Are you sad? Dad also goes out onto the balcony. Then he sniffs Mom’s sweater. Are you sniffing the sweater?
  X exhaled smoke.
  — I'm smelling ashes. Go to your room.
• Don't want.
  Kulkid scrambled up the railing. X braced himself, ready to catch him—but the boy didn't fall. He just kicked his legs and chattered:
  — Will you teach me how to smoke? You're cool. Can I be your friend?
  X stubbed out his cigarette. The ashes flew into the darkness.
• You are too loud.
  But a hand landed on Kulkid's shoulder, holding him back. The boy immediately pressed his whole body against him, like a kitten.
  — I'll warm you up. I'm hot! Dad says my temperature is higher than normal.
  X didn't answer. He only squeezed his fingers tighter.
  So they sat on the balcony - the gloomy demon and the mad glitch child - until Kulkid's father returned.
  007n7 couldn't understand for a long time why X was quieter than usual. And why his son's T-shirt smelled like ash.

loves dried limes and lemons.