Your Everyday Elf

 Steve had been minding his own business, walking down the street from his apartment to the small coffee store at the end of the block. It had been a part of his daily routine for the last ten years. And isn’t that a miserable thought? In ten years, he had virtually not changed a single bit. He lived in the same cheap place, drank the same bitter coffee, and worked the same soul-sucking job.

He supposed that he could try something new. Quit being a bone-tired office worker and pursue his dreams. Spend his meagre savings on a more comfortable place. But Steve had grown used to his life, and despite his complaints, wouldn’t change a single thing.

He was so used to his comfortable, slow routine, that when it was eventually interrupted by an unexpected obstacle, he couldn’t help but double-take.

To be fair, it wasn’t really interrupted. Nor was it an obstacle. In fact, said obstacle was just scrolling on his phone, rolling skates on his feet, as he leaned back on a park bench in boredom. Just one of many teenagers similarly lazing around instead of going to school, moving his head in time to some music playing from his headphones. Really, he wouldn’t have even paid attention to the boy, if it weren’t for the fact that he could recognize Henry Davis from anywhere.

His best friend from high school, whose many odd quirks he still remembered to this day. He loved camping and hiking, and often dragged Steve along with him despite his vocal complaints. He was stubbornly vegan, something which had earned him many snide comments. And he was always wearing the same pair of silvery headphones. As a boy, Steve had often wondered why they were never confiscated from him in school. He assumed it was probably a medical issue.

And that very boy was probably the only person still alive that he had poured out all his secrets to. Of course, Steve was a very different man now. But some things never changed. And that friend had just disappeared one day without a word, taking his secrets with him.

And speaking of things that hadn’t changed. It had been ten years. So why did Henry look exactly as he did back in high school? Steve would probably have been hard-pressed to recognize him if he had grown taller, or had a beard and moustache. But he was still as baby-faced and short as ever.

Was he simply mistaken? But no, the boy had an uncanny resemblance to his old friend. A relative perhaps? A younger brother?

Either way, Steve had to know. Quickly messaging his boss to let him know he wasn’t coming in for the day due to an illness, he decided to approach the boy and find some answers.

“Um, hello?” He said hesitantly, raising an awkward hand in greeting as he approached the bench with the lounging teenager. The boy raised his eyes to meet his, and the glint of recognition in that familiar gaze washed away his doubts. And also raised more questions. “I’m Steve Harrison. From high school?”

Henry’s face stretched into the same mischievous grin as always. “Hey Steve! Nice seeing you here. You live in London now?”

He smiled back hesitantly, taking a seat across from his old friend. “Yes, I got a job as a receptionist. How have you been doing?”

“Oh, the same as always,” Henry laughed, neatly deflecting giving a clear answer. Steve narrowed his eyes in suspicion. The boy didn’t seem to notice. “You’re looking healthy. Go to the gym often?”

Steve decided to tackle the issue head-on. “Yes, I do. And you look the same as you did ten years ago.”

He didn’t elaborate. There was an awkward silence as they both stared at each other. He wouldn’t make it easy for Henry to come up with an excuse.

“All thanks to a good skincare routine,” He said nervously, eyes shiftily searching for an exit from the conversation. “The products these days are real miracle-workers, huh?”

Steve simply raised a disbelieving eyebrow, showing exactly what he thought of the rather far-fetched lie. Henry squirmed uncomfortably beneath the hard gaze, and eventually broke. His tense posture relaxed minutely, and his eyes lowered guiltily to stare at the dying yellow grass.

Glancing up hesitantly to look at him, his hands went to the headphones that even now rested on his head. In a single smooth motion, they fell down to his shoulders, and Steve gaped in shock at the sigh revealed to him. He understood everything now.

Giving him a small, guilty smile, Henry tilted his head to show his ears. “Ever heard of elves?”