"Is there a place where I can read this?" Noah nodded without concealing how weirded out was he by her actions. Soon, they reached an expansive room full of tables and chairs for reading, just like a standard library would have but fancier.
Auden opened the book, soon followed by a gush of light and dust piercing through the atmosphere. Both she and Noah coughed their brains out as they try to wave the dust off of their faces. This book sure was ancient. Shortly, the fog cleared. She peeked inside and found writings in ink. "Little Town Called Middel."
Her curiosity grew louder. Maybe this book would give her answers. Perhaps this would tell her the secrets Middel offered. Auden's maybes produce more extensive and more profound questions as she started reading the first word of the book. 'Each person has a designated star in the sky above.
When the stars align, a soul will go off to a new life. A new life to live, a new life to collect memories,' she read.
"What does this mean?" Auden turned her head towards Noah, who was sitting patiently next to her. He turned his gaze outside the window. The stars filled the vast skies, some were blinking, and some were moving. It was beautiful, beyond mesmerizing. She had appreciated nothing like this in her life, as far as she can remember.
"We have our star up there. When it reaches its position, it'll fall and you'll be born again in the other world."
Auden moved closer to the windowpane, as she tried to have a full view of the stars. Twinkling little lights filled her eyes as they lingered on the beautiful shiny orbs that were far beyond her reach. "How will I know what's mine?"
"You don't. You'll feel it, and soon after, you are reborn with no memories of Middel or your past life." Noah's answer made her remember the little girl at the bakery shop. "That can't be right. The little girl from the bakery shop said she can remember her mom from lives ago. It means that there's a way for me to remember my past life." Her chest was now full of hope.
That was her only hope. As happy as she can be in this place, it was still a mystery to her. Her heart somewhat needs to fill a hole, and maybe learning her past would make it whole. It would make her truly happy.
At the corner of her eye, she saw Noah smiled sadly. "It means that she'll be reborn again." His stance relaxed and sank deep into the wooden bench. "When people die, a flash of memories from the life they lived will play. Same as when people are to be reborn, they will see memories and recollections of the lives they lived for the last time." His words emptied into her thoughts.
Remembering means leaving. Remembering a life means living another.
From afar a faint light was falling south. A sign that someone's leaving Middel. Auden closed her eyes and uttered a parting prayer.
Her eyes drew back to the old book. Thoughts of the little girl's rebirth filled her mind. She didn't even bother asking her name. Having the idea of their last meal together broke her heart. There are lives we take for granted, moments we take as fillers. People never really know when life will end for them. People never truly understand what living was until it's the death they're facing.
"Will I remember again?"
Sadness grazed Noah's expression to which she didn't notice, but unknowingly her heart feels. "You will. You always did, and always will."
......
Auden waited patiently for the little girl, but no one came to her disappointment. The day passed slowly and tiresome. Not having enough sleep the other night was not of immense help. She spent her sleeping hours reading the book she got from the library.
"Hey, there zombie," Olivia kidded while fixing her counter for closing. "You've been quiet the whole day, is everything all right?" Auden showed a small smile.
She couldn't tell if she was okay. Sometimes her emotion got ahead of her. Her thoughts flew to the young girl. Her heart clenched at the thought that she would be gone too, with no chance of saying goodbye.
Auden absentmindedly rearranged the trinkets on her counter. It was the nth time she did it today. She stopped counting at five.
"I've been reading this book from the library about this town. People just disappear from here, don't they?"
Olivia gave her a sympathetic smile as she held her hand in a tight squeeze, it is almost as if she felt how she feels. "That's the reality of life, Aud. But hey, cheer up, there are tons of books from the library that will make you feel better than the one you're reading. Trust me."
Her eyes followed Olivia's back walking towards the cake freezer. There were still a few slices left of different flavors, but all was almost sold. It was an everyday occurrence. Thankfully, people here couldn't get diabetes. It's just physically impossible.
"Here, have this strawberry cheesecake to brighten your mood. I'll put it on my tab." Olivia plated a piece of cake from the chiller. It's strawberry and cream vanilla icing with a white base. Auden smiled and thanked Olivia. "Thank you, Oli. Join me?" they both giggled and settled in one of the tables.
She placed a piece in her mouth and it instantly melted. Gently, she closed her eyes and savor every flavor. She couldn't blame the people for their love of sweets. It's divine.
For a brief moment, they both starred at the cake slice on the plate. Their eyes both lingered but both minds were somewhere else.
"What's your story. How'd you come here?" Auden wiped her lower lip with a napkin. The store was fully closed now, with no people around except the both of them. She hadn't even seen Noah today. Busy? She couldn't confirm.
"Well, just like most people, I don't know. Cancer battle, I guess. I died at the hospital down the Highstreet, so that's my whole guess." Oli gazed down and smiled sadly. "Right now, I'm just hoping that I'll live a happier life the next time. You know, be healthy, have a family. Well, I don't even know if I had a family before. It's just crazy that I will not remember them again."
Auden's mind was once brought back to the future. They will remember everything, but it would be a sign of their soon departure. It was heart-clenching enough to wake up somewhere without memories, then you had to live when you had learned to love the company of everyone around you. It's unfair.
They sat in silence under the bright moon, peering towards the French windows of the shop. The ice-cold chilly night added to the melancholic atmosphere. Auden never thought that she'd be having this conversation; learning about other's stories was never her plan. But hearing one made her believed in the pain and magic one's memories carry.
"Time here is different, it's faster; as the book said," Auden said before taking another bite of the cake. Olivia chuckled and did the same. "Yeah, I heard about that, never really paid attention though. I have to stop caring, this place is a whole new level of effed up. But I'm happy to have met you."
"Let's get you home," Olivia said and stood up, she didn't let her say a word. Silently, Auden wiped her small tears from her cheeks.
They both fixed their mess and locked the store. That night they walked hand in hand while giggling in their shared stories. It was filled with love affairs, monster customers, and crazy events.
The following day, Auden enthusiastically entered the bakery shop only to learn that it was her day off. Well, lucky that a lone soul like her gets a day-off once a week. Unfortunately, she got no plans for today.
With no prepared itinerary, Auden walked past the marketplace. Kiosks were up early, which she thanked the good heavens for. Various goods were displayed and sold by local vendors; trinkets, soaps, dresses, food, journals.
Auden approached the stall with a young man selling trinkets. In front of her were a vast array of trinkets, from ceramics, pens, to origamis. They certainly had everything, but there was one certain thing that caught her attention.
"How much for this paper crane?" Paper cranes lined the display in different enticing colors. She took one of the golden cranes with midnight blue streaks. To her surprise, the crane wiggled and shook on her hand.
"Fifty cents for a crane. A dollar for three." The young gentleman shushed the paper crane, and it stayed still.
Her eyes widened in amusement, and she laughed in surprise. "It's moving," she dumbfoundedly stated the obvious.
"It does. Bring this lucky crane by the lake and whisper your wish before setting it free. All the locals will be there this afternoon."