My eyes opened up to a great blue sky.
"It was all a dream, huh?", I muttered beneath my breath. Picking myself off the ground, my face looked dark, as if it were devoid of any emotion. My crippling self worth had taken its toll.
"Phew, what's gotten you in such a sour mood?", an old man's voice was accompanied by the smell of burnt tobacco and loud coughing. "Somethin' good happen?".
Pulling my hand to grab my sword, I held it firmly in my hands. Wait, it's not there-
"Lookin' for this?", he revealed the sword I had been carrying. "A good piece of equipment, perhaps this could be my repayment for buildin' that fire for ya".
He gestured towards a small pit, filled with burnt twigs and branches.
I merely looked at him, keeping my distance.
"Oh come on, cut me some slack, I'm just tryna tease ya", he threw my sword back to me. "Where'd you come from anyways? It's not safe out here... 'specially not at night".
I merely continued to stare at him, I can't act carelessly anymore, I thought.
"Sigh, come on... let's get you some place safe", he shrugged walking away from me.
Looking to the sides, I wondered whether I should run or not.
"You comin'?", he called out.
…
"Come 'ere twerp", he stomped his way toward me, even though I had my sword pointed toward him, it really didn't seem to matter as he evaded the tip, smacking me on the head.
It seemed that it didn't have a choice to begin with.
- - - - -
*Creak*
I was led to a small log cabin, it wasn't much further away from where I collapsed.
"Don't be shy, make yourself at home", he put up his large winter coat on a hanger in the corner.
The wood floor, screeched beneath my feet with every step. The smell was unpleasant but bearable— more so of cigarettes and alcohol than anything else. A fireplace stood to the left, on top of which were many certificates and a single portrait of the man and a little girl, though he looked much younger.
"Oh those?", he noticed my gaze on the frame.
"How the years go by, once you're a feisty 'young-un' tryna make a name for yerself, next you end up in a sold ditch, wondering when the years went by", he made a weird finger gun gesture.
He stood next to me, picking up the frame in his hands.
"Stuff happens and y'know how it goes", he sat on a chair. "Now I'm just passin' my days, waitin' to kick the bucket"
"I'm sorry...", I muttered in a hushed tone.
"And why is that?'", he didn't pay any heed to the fact that I had finally said something. He merely smiled as he spoke.
"It seemed you were sad", I answered.
"'course I'm sad, I was sad I missed yesterday's breakfast. But you learn to live nonetheless", he leaned towards me, poking his finger in the middle of my chest. "You've got a good heart, a good heart means a strong heart. Whatever it is, you'll get through it".
He looked at me as though he had this ever-wise demeanour, as if he could see right through me— right at the heart that he pointed towards.
"Who's the girl", I asked another question. I didn't seem to realise how I may have been acting rude, but my curiosity was stronger than my sympathy.
"She... healing takes a long time kiddo, sometimes it takes your whole life. I'm still waiting, even now".
I said nothing, but my heart stung at his words. I found a certain comfort in knowing that we were both victims of cruel fate.
"Anyways that's enough talk, you're probably hungry, aren't you?", he waited for my response. "Nah you're definitely hungry, I see that look in your eye".
He laughed as he pulled out a bird from his pouch, "But you'll have to wait, needa pluck the feathers and leave it hangin' for the blood to spill out".
And so I watched the man, observing his every move. It seemed that all the walls I had put up, no longer existed. Neither did he ask me about what happened, nor pry into my past unlike me. He was a good man, I chose to believe that.
- - - - -
"Here we are", he pulled out a bowl of stew and set it on a small table.
"Come on, eat it", he handed me a wooden spoon. "Put my heart and soul into it".
Taking a spoonful of stew, I blew on it before-
"Is it really that good that you're gonna cry?", he joked, smiling. "I really outdid myself today".
He pulled out a piece of cloth from the drawer and handed it to me, "Here use this, or you'll over salt the stew".
I really hoped I wouldn't wake up today. Or that dream would last forever. But maybe if I could continue to share moments like this with new people, it wouldn't be so bad.
He left the bed to me, opting to sleep on the chair. Though i felt bad, he insisted on it, saying that he often slept on it anyways.
The night didn't feel as bad as I thought it would.
- - - - -
"Leavin' already?", he asked. "It's only been a day".
"There's some stuff I have to do", I replied.
"Be safe", he commented. "I don't wanna find you in the snow, almost dyin' again".
Thanking him once again, I looked to the forest and the path that lead home. It's my first birthday away. Feels... lonely.
Walking along the path, I came across a stream. It's water had already frozen over. There I noticed a tall man, in a large coat that looked like bear skin, on the other side. Long black hair and a scar that stretched across his face, he definitely looked like someone not to be messed with.
He stared at the ice that covered the lake, "what are you staring at, kid?".
His tone was harsh and rough. Annoyance clear in his voice. Though, he did not wait for an answer, simply walking away from the stream.
Continuing on the journey, I recalled every second of every day that had passed. Reminiscing about my early childhood. The maids that would scold me for making a mess. Brad who'd train me while mocking me constantly. Mother who sung in the garden, as I laid on the grass. Father, who constantly came home battered and bruised.
- - - - -
Everything is gone now...