Post by row on Dec 13, 2018 2:52:50 GMT -5
It was a long walk leaving the great wall. The cold shadow enveloped all travelers who prepared their pillage. People with hopes and dreams surrounded the white haired girl, carrying their own fire into the darkness. It all made Aiko want to smear blue ink over the scene. The colors with gave the city its life was gone this walk. Candles and lanterns under the wall reveal the many shades of grey along the streets. Finally, the sun bath travelers, filling their dreams for their long travels with it's gentle warm. It was then that the girl could no longer hide from the truth. She lost her home.
The forest never changes. The endless maze of vegetation with sneaky strands of light poking through would continue to ward off the inexperience. They would forever punish to bold and stupid as the wait for a bigger threat to free them from the earthly world. Aiko was the latter. Though she was able to escape death, the forest had still left scars in her heart.
Before she knew it, Aiko found herself standing inside of the small cabin. The clear windows kept in the festering shadows. 4 seasons faded the logs. The entrance was only inches away from being carving a line into the girls forehead. The door continued to creek as it did years ago when she first discovered it.
"Breaking in again?" a wooden cane landed on Aiko's head.
Aiko grunted, "Grandma, it's not breaking in if the door's unlocked."
The old woman used her cane to push Aiko in and shut the door. It was completely dark but the two where accustom to it. The woman had taught Aiko how to see without light as her ancestors once did. Aiko had to go days wandering the forest blind folded and relying on her sense of touch, smell, taste, and most importantly hearing.
As she walked around, she could detect all the trophies and relics which glowed in her eyes on her first visit here. She could smell the forest pine as if she was bathing in it. These things separated the spirit of this forest from the Iron City. There were no endless march of strangers. There was no could of smog from the ever burning furnaces. This was a different land on its own. Still, Aiko felt her heart being torn by her truth.
"It is when when company is unwanted. Don't you have an story to live?" the woman clumsily wobbled across the room. With a snap of her fingers, the candles woke from their cold slumber. The room glowed orange scaring away the darkness to its corners. The woman sat in a old creaky rocking chair and placed her cane on her pale brown bed. Her grey hair fizzled everywhere with no known pattern. The only place it dared no hang was in front of her faded grey eyes. Her tan skin was specked with grey dots and her face seemed as if it would slide off with the slightest pressure.
"I like this place. Can't I see it for a little longer?" Aiko found a smaller hard stood to squat on, "It is like home now."
The woman rock while tasting her chapped lips. Her head bobbled for a few seconds before she reached for her cane.
Her cane clicked and stopped her chair for a moment, "Home? Since when did I give you such luxury?"
"It smells like the forest. Its like I'm camping," Aiko smiled remembering how she actually never slept one night inside of this house.
"No. I ought to wake up your dreaming brain."
"Why don't you tell me another story Grandma Umeko."
"Child, you're too old for my fairy tales."
Aiko lowered her head, "I can get you water form the spring again."
"You are stalling child. I may be blind... but I am not stupid. Besides,"Umeko tapped her cane on wooden drum across from her seat, "I'm topped off."
A smile grew on the Umeko's face as she resumed rocking.
Aiko eyes drifted between between her legs. Her heart continue to rip apart. Waves of rage, despair, and desperation bubbled up through her lungs and into her mouth. It slowly crawled up her face causing it to twitch. Her teeth clenched fighting the urge to scream. Her hands came together in her peripheral. Finally a drop of water fell from her face.
It hit the ground silencing. Umeko could only sigh as she once again gave in the girl. Just like the years prior. This time, It would be her last lesson.
"You were gone for years. I presume you did not find them in the city?"
Aiko nodded.
"Tsukami's, they never were ones to stay in one place too long. Did you expect them to just wait idly for your return? Children don't just disappear for years and return. You would have died had i not... no. Had you not found me. Had you not found interest in these old bones. Had you waited a week later, whose to say I would be here. The stars are watching over you child... but even the stars have their limits. Do you understand?"
Aiko sniffled, fighting to hold it all in. She did build up the strength to nod.
"So what will you do now?"
Aiko did not respond.
The woman grunted before rocking her chair, "Your future plan... no youngsters are to naive to make those. Your hobby is exploring, learning history and cultures around you. Your heart longs for your family, the one YOU left for whatever reason to selfishly toy around with me. The way I see it you have two options. Go make your own story and find a dream to fill your heart, or go find your family."
Aiko's eyes moved up to the Umeko's prune toes.
"You will not stay here and rob me of the peace I want before I move on."
"But..." Aiko was quickly interrupted.
"Child, You must understand. Old people, we have few dreams. We lived life, made our choices, fought our battles. Now we sit and wait wondering when we can join the stars in the sky. While we wait, we hope to pass our words to the generation before us. So thank you. You have me a chance to enjoy that feeling. You were like a grand daughter... no, you are my grand daughter. The one I could not have because of my choices. Because of you, I was able to bring out a slither of life in this old body. But that is it. I am finished. This body is weak. I grow tired. I cannot be your new mother. I cannot provide you the home you gave up. To let you stay is to let you feel the pain of losing your home twice. Then who house will you break into? I promise you, they will not meet you with a cane upside the head and a good story. Do you understand child?"
Aiko rubbed her eyes but nodded.
Umeko sighed, "Just this one time. I will allow it, come cry on my shoulders."
Aiko wasted no time. She held the woman gently as the flood gates opened.
"They... I saw the tombstone... I saw my name. I don't want to lose anyone anymore. I dont want to lose you too. I... I don't know what to do. I am so sorry..." Aiko wailed continuing to apologize for her own mistakes. Umeko would only pat her back while softly shushing.
After Aiko calmed down, Umeko smiled. She felt a little more energy pump through her body.
"I think I can tell you one more story. But THEN YOU LEAVE! Understand?"
Aiko rushed to her stool with starry swollen eyes.
"There once was this village. They were born in complete darkness. It was cold, unforgiving but they told stories about a world of light and color. This one girl made it her dream to find this light so she could share color with everyone. When she was free, she would venture the darkness looking for signs of light.
One day, she found a tunnel. It took a half a day to explore it to the end. At the very end, she found a pile of rocks. The villagers in the darkness told her that it was a dead end. However she decided to dig through the rubble. Every day she would move one rock. After a month people started making fun of her.
They called her a slacker, childish, and even naive. They thought she was wasting time and her life. She did not stop. For years she would make the trip. It was hard as her village would give her extra chores and do anything to stop her. Her health would dwindle. It took longer and longer to make the trip. However, she never gave up.
Then one day girl went missing. The village search everywhere for her and eventually came to the tunnel. As they explored, they noticed the tunnel was was much longer and the ground was covered with rocks. It took a whole day to reach the end and once there they saw the girl one the ground grabbing a rock.
It was the biggest rock they seen in the tunnel, much to big for a weaken girl to budge. They tried to pull her away but she begged to be allowed to move it. She begged to be allowed to open the tunnel just a little more. The people got together and moved the rock. The rock wall around it collapsed and a weird thing poked out.
It was warm and brighten the space. The villagers tired to touch it but their hands passed through it. Wanted to understand it, they pulled away more rocks. More of this thing shined through until eventually the rock wall was gone and they villages saw it. They saw a world of color, a world in the light. They cheered and grabbed the weaken girl. She smiled at the beauty around, the warm that hugged her pale skin, the green floor that tickled her feet as the wind blew through her hair. She was able to see the light one time. Then she closed her eyes and returned to the darkness forever."
Aiko rubbed her eyes. She was young but she understood what happened.
Umeko sighed, "You got your story, now go make your story. It is getting late for me and I don't want you to miss the sunset."
More tears ran down Aiko's head as she watched the woman's eyes slowly closed, as she heard the creaking chair grow quiet.
"Thank you Grandma... I think I know what to do," Aiko quietly got up.
The girl picked up the woman and gently laid her in the bed. One by one she blew out the candles. The chair came to a halt. The warm smoke faded into the darkness as each ember on the candled fell asleep. Finally Aiko left the home. The sun reached it's highest point and made Aiko's tears glisten. The girl turned searched around for the biggest sticks she could find and placed them in front of them home. Then she scratched out the woman's name and a small message.
"As an adventure end a new one begins."
Then Aiko left with tears flowing down her face but a force smile on her face. Umeko, Mom, and Dad would want her to smile when starting a new journey after all.
WC: 1919
Total WC: 1919
The forest never changes. The endless maze of vegetation with sneaky strands of light poking through would continue to ward off the inexperience. They would forever punish to bold and stupid as the wait for a bigger threat to free them from the earthly world. Aiko was the latter. Though she was able to escape death, the forest had still left scars in her heart.
Before she knew it, Aiko found herself standing inside of the small cabin. The clear windows kept in the festering shadows. 4 seasons faded the logs. The entrance was only inches away from being carving a line into the girls forehead. The door continued to creek as it did years ago when she first discovered it.
"Breaking in again?" a wooden cane landed on Aiko's head.
Aiko grunted, "Grandma, it's not breaking in if the door's unlocked."
The old woman used her cane to push Aiko in and shut the door. It was completely dark but the two where accustom to it. The woman had taught Aiko how to see without light as her ancestors once did. Aiko had to go days wandering the forest blind folded and relying on her sense of touch, smell, taste, and most importantly hearing.
As she walked around, she could detect all the trophies and relics which glowed in her eyes on her first visit here. She could smell the forest pine as if she was bathing in it. These things separated the spirit of this forest from the Iron City. There were no endless march of strangers. There was no could of smog from the ever burning furnaces. This was a different land on its own. Still, Aiko felt her heart being torn by her truth.
"It is when when company is unwanted. Don't you have an story to live?" the woman clumsily wobbled across the room. With a snap of her fingers, the candles woke from their cold slumber. The room glowed orange scaring away the darkness to its corners. The woman sat in a old creaky rocking chair and placed her cane on her pale brown bed. Her grey hair fizzled everywhere with no known pattern. The only place it dared no hang was in front of her faded grey eyes. Her tan skin was specked with grey dots and her face seemed as if it would slide off with the slightest pressure.
"I like this place. Can't I see it for a little longer?" Aiko found a smaller hard stood to squat on, "It is like home now."
The woman rock while tasting her chapped lips. Her head bobbled for a few seconds before she reached for her cane.
Her cane clicked and stopped her chair for a moment, "Home? Since when did I give you such luxury?"
"It smells like the forest. Its like I'm camping," Aiko smiled remembering how she actually never slept one night inside of this house.
"No. I ought to wake up your dreaming brain."
"Why don't you tell me another story Grandma Umeko."
"Child, you're too old for my fairy tales."
Aiko lowered her head, "I can get you water form the spring again."
"You are stalling child. I may be blind... but I am not stupid. Besides,"Umeko tapped her cane on wooden drum across from her seat, "I'm topped off."
A smile grew on the Umeko's face as she resumed rocking.
Aiko eyes drifted between between her legs. Her heart continue to rip apart. Waves of rage, despair, and desperation bubbled up through her lungs and into her mouth. It slowly crawled up her face causing it to twitch. Her teeth clenched fighting the urge to scream. Her hands came together in her peripheral. Finally a drop of water fell from her face.
It hit the ground silencing. Umeko could only sigh as she once again gave in the girl. Just like the years prior. This time, It would be her last lesson.
"You were gone for years. I presume you did not find them in the city?"
Aiko nodded.
"Tsukami's, they never were ones to stay in one place too long. Did you expect them to just wait idly for your return? Children don't just disappear for years and return. You would have died had i not... no. Had you not found me. Had you not found interest in these old bones. Had you waited a week later, whose to say I would be here. The stars are watching over you child... but even the stars have their limits. Do you understand?"
Aiko sniffled, fighting to hold it all in. She did build up the strength to nod.
"So what will you do now?"
Aiko did not respond.
The woman grunted before rocking her chair, "Your future plan... no youngsters are to naive to make those. Your hobby is exploring, learning history and cultures around you. Your heart longs for your family, the one YOU left for whatever reason to selfishly toy around with me. The way I see it you have two options. Go make your own story and find a dream to fill your heart, or go find your family."
Aiko's eyes moved up to the Umeko's prune toes.
"You will not stay here and rob me of the peace I want before I move on."
"But..." Aiko was quickly interrupted.
"Child, You must understand. Old people, we have few dreams. We lived life, made our choices, fought our battles. Now we sit and wait wondering when we can join the stars in the sky. While we wait, we hope to pass our words to the generation before us. So thank you. You have me a chance to enjoy that feeling. You were like a grand daughter... no, you are my grand daughter. The one I could not have because of my choices. Because of you, I was able to bring out a slither of life in this old body. But that is it. I am finished. This body is weak. I grow tired. I cannot be your new mother. I cannot provide you the home you gave up. To let you stay is to let you feel the pain of losing your home twice. Then who house will you break into? I promise you, they will not meet you with a cane upside the head and a good story. Do you understand child?"
Aiko rubbed her eyes but nodded.
Umeko sighed, "Just this one time. I will allow it, come cry on my shoulders."
Aiko wasted no time. She held the woman gently as the flood gates opened.
"They... I saw the tombstone... I saw my name. I don't want to lose anyone anymore. I dont want to lose you too. I... I don't know what to do. I am so sorry..." Aiko wailed continuing to apologize for her own mistakes. Umeko would only pat her back while softly shushing.
After Aiko calmed down, Umeko smiled. She felt a little more energy pump through her body.
"I think I can tell you one more story. But THEN YOU LEAVE! Understand?"
Aiko rushed to her stool with starry swollen eyes.
"There once was this village. They were born in complete darkness. It was cold, unforgiving but they told stories about a world of light and color. This one girl made it her dream to find this light so she could share color with everyone. When she was free, she would venture the darkness looking for signs of light.
One day, she found a tunnel. It took a half a day to explore it to the end. At the very end, she found a pile of rocks. The villagers in the darkness told her that it was a dead end. However she decided to dig through the rubble. Every day she would move one rock. After a month people started making fun of her.
They called her a slacker, childish, and even naive. They thought she was wasting time and her life. She did not stop. For years she would make the trip. It was hard as her village would give her extra chores and do anything to stop her. Her health would dwindle. It took longer and longer to make the trip. However, she never gave up.
Then one day girl went missing. The village search everywhere for her and eventually came to the tunnel. As they explored, they noticed the tunnel was was much longer and the ground was covered with rocks. It took a whole day to reach the end and once there they saw the girl one the ground grabbing a rock.
It was the biggest rock they seen in the tunnel, much to big for a weaken girl to budge. They tried to pull her away but she begged to be allowed to move it. She begged to be allowed to open the tunnel just a little more. The people got together and moved the rock. The rock wall around it collapsed and a weird thing poked out.
It was warm and brighten the space. The villagers tired to touch it but their hands passed through it. Wanted to understand it, they pulled away more rocks. More of this thing shined through until eventually the rock wall was gone and they villages saw it. They saw a world of color, a world in the light. They cheered and grabbed the weaken girl. She smiled at the beauty around, the warm that hugged her pale skin, the green floor that tickled her feet as the wind blew through her hair. She was able to see the light one time. Then she closed her eyes and returned to the darkness forever."
Aiko rubbed her eyes. She was young but she understood what happened.
Umeko sighed, "You got your story, now go make your story. It is getting late for me and I don't want you to miss the sunset."
More tears ran down Aiko's head as she watched the woman's eyes slowly closed, as she heard the creaking chair grow quiet.
"Thank you Grandma... I think I know what to do," Aiko quietly got up.
The girl picked up the woman and gently laid her in the bed. One by one she blew out the candles. The chair came to a halt. The warm smoke faded into the darkness as each ember on the candled fell asleep. Finally Aiko left the home. The sun reached it's highest point and made Aiko's tears glisten. The girl turned searched around for the biggest sticks she could find and placed them in front of them home. Then she scratched out the woman's name and a small message.
"As an adventure end a new one begins."
Then Aiko left with tears flowing down her face but a force smile on her face. Umeko, Mom, and Dad would want her to smile when starting a new journey after all.
WC: 1919
Total WC: 1919