Interlude 2: When You Were Young


Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a lonely young girl. She was a strong-willed child, and sometimes came across as overbearing to the other kids that lived nearby. Because of this, she didn't have many friends to play with. She spent countless days in silence, playing with her dolls, imagining entire worlds and stories that never could have possibly existed. In time, those stories became her escape.

She often traipsed around the nearby woods, playing in the refreshing waters of her homeland, having adventures that could only happen in a land as peaceful as that one. It was on one such day that she spotted him.

He was a lone figure, standing in a clearing in the midst of the forest. He swung a small wooden sword carefully, with well-practiced skill. For a while, she just stared, mesmerized by the scene before her. Finally, she hid herself behind some bushes, and continued to watch.

The boy grunted as he jumped around, mimicking the swordplay he had read about in his favorite novels. After a while, he fell down on his rear amidst the cool grass, gasping for breath.

And right then, he had the biggest grin on his face.

The girl was captivated by that smile. He radiated pure joy as he breathed heavily, sweating like a pig. Most girls would have been disgusted by that rough, uncouth boy, but not her. His adventurous spirit sparked her imagination almost as much as the stories inside her head.

She felt her foot moving, trying to take a step towards that boy, but her heart wavered. Would he reject her like the other kids had? She didn't want to push herself in uninvited.

After several minutes of strenuous debate, she finally settled upon watching from afar. Yes, that way she could truly appreciate his solitary strength without bothering him with her presence. She made that sad choice as if it was only natural.

As the evening shadows grew longer, another young boy arrived at the clearing. He put his arm around the other, grinning mischievously. Soon, the two of them left, joking and carrying on like best friends.

The little girl watched his back as he left, while the late afternoon sun framed him among the trees. As she watched him go, she felt a little sad… no, her heart was screaming at her to chase after him. But in the end, she pushed that feeling away, drifting ever farther from her true feelings.

That was simply how that girl had learned to live, and old habits die hard. Even as the years slipped away, she would still remain the same: always watching his back from a distance, with a yearning in her heart that could never be filled by anyone else but him.


Next:

Episode 16: Those Who Are Cherished