When you have a chapter that is named after the story, things got awkward. Here we are with Teach Me How to Cry, Chapter 10, ironically called Teach Me How to Cry. Yep, I am so original, aren't I? Last chapter was one of feelings and moments where pieces of daily life separate themselves between the two- you had two broken parents trying to regroup themselves for their first fall and perhaps another one of their fails. Link and Zelda are back, just the two of them. This story is almost done, we have one more chapter to go. On the 26th, I declare Teach Me How to Cry to be finished. Enjoy Chapter 10!
Link eyed another bird, this time a cardinal, fly in from the outside and perch itself on the bandstand rigging where the lights usually sat. It sang a cheerful tune, but he didn't bother to sing back. Not necessarily a day for that kind of relationship with nature. Not at a time like this. He brought his attention to his hands, where a whittling knife and a piece of wood was being rudely crafted. At the moment, the shape seemed to take the irregular form of a cloud, with broken shards poked out in awkward spots. The sky was overcast, but somehow the bandstand was baking. He wiped the sweat from his brow, tapping his foot impatiently. She was late.
"Speaking of the devil." he thought.
Zelda Miranda came running in, another homemade dress catching in the dirt and grass of the hill. She stumbled, trying to make little noise. Link subconsciously stood, and hugged her. "Am I late? If so, how badly?" she asked, when the embrace was finished.
"It's only going on five." Link soothed.
"I went straight home from school for a little while. My mother asked me to. We had tea, she chatted mostly. My mother told me that she approves of you, but doesn't approve of you, if that makes sense."
"I suppose so."
"She didn't seem herself."
"Was she feeling bad after last night?"
"Yes."
"Is she feeling better now?"
She tensed, fearful and anxious of his response. "No," Zelda shook her head in dissent. "Not even a smidge. She started crying, crying for how another man ruined her life. I tried telling her that you are not a man for her, but for me. She didn't get that. My mother wailed so the whole neighborhood heard us. After how last night went, I thought there could've been some reciprocation room for us, but not even that. I ran away from her. Couldn't take the sorrow. I decided to come up here. How- how about you? Did you go home? I imagine your parents had something to say. They... they always do."
"Yeah, I went home. They didn't say anything though, must've already discussed it before I got home," Link smiled, attempting cheerfulness. The cardinal on the beam chirped, and he turned, pointing up into the rigging. "There's our bird," he greeted. Zelda sat back on the bench facing the bandstand stage. He complied after her. "Did anyone- anyone at school, say anything to you today?"
"Thanks heaven, no. Everyone was silent about it," she responded. Link resumed his whittling. "What are you making?"
"A sort of boat. It's the easiest thing to whittle. I was never really good at it, but before Toon died, he asked me to make one for him that'd he always treasure. He had it in his hands when he drowned. Lost my only true project. This object is the easiest thing to make," he regarded, pointing at the wooden shape. "But, I never got past them in my class at the recreation center where we lived. Then of course, we moved, and I lost the passion and desire. Tried resuming my art this morning. Poetry hasn't been so... weighing on my mind these past few days."
He handed it to her. Zelda's heart fluttered. "Thank you."
Link hesitated for a moment. "Would you like the pen knife?"
"Aren't they dangerous?"
"I guess. Hard to tell. I don't go around stabbing people with them... so, no."
"It's nice of you, but why would I need it?"
"Well, for one thing, it has my initials on it," he pointed, the letters L. S. etched in the wood. "Right there."
"Oh, I see."
"You could also keep it as a- a kind of keepsake. And besides, I'm forever losing penknives. Gee, I must have lost two dozen of them in my life. And, this way, if I give it to you, I'll always know where one will be if I lose another one," Link licked his lips, his palms sweaty. "Some day I'll come back to this town, and I'll get it," he said. Zelda looked up, rigid and shocked. She looked at him, eyes flooded with pleading. "I will, Zel. I give you my word of honor. Listen, we've got nothing to worry about, okay? Lots of people, they are together all the time, and they hate each other. Do we have that? I choose to differ. Being together isn't everything in the world. The penknife has an extra end, you just have to flip the switch near my initials. It's much sharper... probably could kill someone, but I trust you. It's used for sharpening pencils."
"How soon will you be going away?" Zelda asked, looking at him directly in the eyes.
He avoided the question perfectly. "When my dad decides to move on. We get out right away. We don't take much with us. We can pack the entire house in a few hours. My mother usually sobs once or twice because it's time that the old place kicks the bucket. He usually lets me say goodbye to a few people before we go, as he has his own companions to bid farewell. My mother just sits in the lone kitchen and stares at the old magazines, screaming and wailing for this torture to stop. Then my father comes running home, soothes her, and we're on our way again. Like that." he snapped his fingers.
"When, Link?" Zelda pushed the envelope further.
His gaze averted to the floor, highly interested in the pile of wood shavings at the foot of the bench. "Tonight," he answered. Her face looked crestfallen, and she backed up from the bench, leaping on to the stage in a huddled ball. "They knew I was coming here to see you, but they didn't say anything. They didn't even plan to hurry. We can plan things instead, leaving this world behind and finding a new one. You, me, and your mother."
"There isn't anything to plan!" she shrilled from the stage, rocking back and forth. "Not again! NOT AGAIN!" her mind screamed.
Solace for Zelda Miranda was going to have to wait, it'd wait and wait like a longing spring in a dying winter, where Plymouth seemed to be a safe haven, or how time slowed to the speed of an insect in amber. She'd never get her moment, moments of clarity dispersed with snippets of laughter, of romance, of relationships in sunlight, deaths basked in green light. Why those brief memories only stayed awhile before fleeting away into the night, what was the reasoning behind it? She shook and shuddered, yelled and lost her mind, but the world kept spinning on a mad daze. Mad, mad world.
"We can indeed plan!" Link yelled at her.
Zelda snapped from her ball, eyes glazed and down. "I used to formulate ideas and scenarios of my own, you know. That imaginary cliff? One day, I was going to build one. Just stand up at its peak, plan terrible things. I was afraid things such as that would hurt, something I prefer to stay away from. Now... I may design this cliff. And do those terrible, awful ideas. They can't hurt that bad."
He went to her, voice firm and urgent. "Striding up the hill, waiting for your presence, that's all I did was plan. Good things, bad things, and worse things. I'll write to you, email you, call you- whichever mode seems best. I'll do it every day. Nothing will change that. Sometimes, writing letters is better as there is so much more to write than say. You'd like it. I'd like it. There'd be so much to share, so much to go over. You'll enjoy it. At least I haven't vanished completely, right?"
She turned to him. "Do you have to do what they say?"
"For a little while."
"I don't want you to go away. I don't want anyone to go away, anymore." Zelda squeezed her eyes shut.
"After I finish school I can do whatever I want. My mother and father can yell at the top of their lungs to call me back, but I am not going to turn my head and face that direction anymore. First thing, coming back here and getting you. My word is an honorable word when it's given to those I truly care about. My parents will always have a place in my heart, I'll love them for all my days. And you'll be there too. Deeper. Stronger. More forceful than any pulse my parents could ever radiate. Going away isn't bad."
"It's terrible." she rasped.
"Nothing is so very terrible," Link comforted her, hugging the distressed girl. "There was once a house down by a lake near where we used to live. The house was all boarded up, deserted, and much smaller than any house we had ever seen before. All the kids said it was haunted, were terrified of it so much some kids would soil their clothes just passing by it. Being honest, I was scared too. Mentions of ghosts being sucked up by vacuum cleaners with a white-haired professor frightened me the most. I was worse off than the rest. It turned out that the man people mentioned was a great older gentleman named E. Gadd, and he became a great friend of mine. My parents decided that we would live in the house. I nearly ran away, at the age of ten. I was not going to stay there especially after all the tales Turns out the house was normal, normal as possible."
"Sounds great..." Zelda began to cry, looking at him. The weeping elongated into a tearing sob, one that shattered sound barriers. She put her head down, letting the tears flow and murk up the ground. Flickers of shadow and sunlight danced between her hands and behind her eyes, droplets of acid and bitterness washing away with a stream of sadness. She felt a tight embrace grasping her sides so tight that breathing was laborious and heavy. Shudders started to spasm, choking sounds vibrated in her throat. She sank down to the steps, hissing and losing all bearings on her emotion. As soon as it came, the crying subsided, and Zelda sat up, wiping at her eyes.
"Some people say men don't like it when their wives cry, but on the same token they are the guys who don't like laughter either. A proper modicum needs to be found in those brains, you cannot have the best of each side. I think if you can do one, the other is easier to perform. Will you write to me, Zel? If you need to, resume crying, but a nod will suffice."
"I'll cry later. Writing can be done." she said with just confidence.
"Okay." he shrugged.
"I'll write to you. I promise."
"And tell me about the play? That'll be a thing I can't miss out," Link offered. "I think it'll be swell. Don't mind about what Marth said, he doesn't understand you like he should. He will apologize, and accept that. Even be his friend if possible, but don't let it drag you down."
"It was nice of you to defend me from him." Zelda gave a slight grin.
"They say his nose is going to bent during the show, as it needs to mend. Too bad I bent it, he just had to get a message through his brain to never say something like that again. When you're doing the play, every time you look at his nose, you can think about me. Another keepsake."
"The school is going to take pictures. Miss Adeline said you. I'll send you some. They might even videotape it!"
"That would be nice. But it's best to know you won't ever stop-writing-or anything." Link detracted from the warmness and comfort of theater.
"Oh no! I won't ever stop! I couldn't, not ever. Because-" she stopped.
"Why?"
"I can't-"
"Because, why?" Link prodded her carefully
"I can't say it."
"Go on and say it!"
"I'll whisper it." Zelda suggested.
"You need to say it. You need to."
"I love you." she blurted, turning beet red in the face.
He grinned. "I love you too."
"Why is that?"
"Because I know you. That's why."
"Say my name... please."
"Zelda." Link complied.
"I like you saying my name."
"Wonder why."
"Because I love you?" Zelda raised an eyebrow, all the memories of just a few minutes before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"Indeed," he grinned cheekily. The two rose, hands linked together. "Let's walk down the hill and into town like we do other evenings. We don't need to talk, as the night will speak enough for both of us. When we get to the corner near school, we part our ways, Just like we always do. Just as if it's only good night until tomorrow."
Zelda nodded, clutching the whittled boat in her hands. "Al-alright."
The two walked in synchronization, steps matching each others as they walked out of the bandstand. The sky was gorgeous, lights and sunlight flickering in blanketed sheets, cascading lines of sharp amaranthine, edgy sunburst, radiant roses, stunning cardinals and violent amaranthines... behind this wallpaper and print of gorgeous colors, the two kissed. Passionate and strong.
Link taught her how to cry. Zelda was whole.
There we are! Wow, Chapter 10: Teach Me How to Cry of Teach Me How to Cry, haha. We've got one chapter, filing up the last three characters of our story- Zelda, Link, and Palutena. Happy and read to write this end, indeed I am. You guys have stayed with me till the end and I appreciate the kind gestures. It's been an hour since I started typing this chapter, and I'm glad to put it on here now. *exhales* Ready!
Metroid-Killer- No one is dying. Do I need to scream it at you? Lol, Peach is not dying. Marth is not kicking the bucket. I want one somber story at least, without having character death be present.
Seth The Great- I'll admit, I was shocked to know that was your favorite line. I figured it would have been one of Snake's, but perhaps a different one was what I was assuming you'd pick, but good reason behind it nonetheless. Yes, thank you for analysis of the chapter. This is one of the more deeper pieces I've done in awhile, and you're appreciation of it buckles my heart tenfold.
ExodiusLK- Thanks for the compliment. And yes, Robin's comment on her father was extremely necessary. But I won't tell you why, that's for your own discovery. ;)
One more step to go. One more. And I'm debating on how I want to end this. I've got an ending alright. And I think you all are expecting it, but I'm not so sure. Chapter 11, Bided Farce, is coming out Monday. Prepare yourselves. Thanks for reading guys, it means so much! Please review, I'd love to have my replies grow and explode for the last chapter, as I'm gonna thank you all at the last AN with #11. What was your favorite line of Zelda's and Link's in this chapter, and why? How do you predict this will end? I'll let your mind settle on that. With that, I bid you all farewell. Love you all!
~ Paradigm