TIME HEALS, BUT ALSO DECAYS
1307 Words
INANNA'S P.O.V
I have been pulled and pushed in all directions this day.
I followed Claire into the market. As a matter of fact I was pulled along to the market. Apparently, slaves here can go as far as the market. They won't venture too far as they know the consequences. We spent most of the day walking around the busy market. That was until a group of street kids pulled us to join in their game.
I didn't resist, I just did as they wanted. As for Claire she happily obliged. We skipped ropes with them until Claire decided that it was time we went back. She said the slaves are allowed to come to the market ,but for a specified period of time.
Nonetheless, the fresh air was definitely needed by my body. When we get back it is almost noon, we went out in the morning and it is now almost noon.
We still walk around the compound for a bit, until it is time for lunch. But I don't follow her to the canteen because I am not in the mood to eat, so I head to my room instead. I step out of my slippers and hop onto the bed, letting my feet rest a bit.
I have been on the hay bed for just a few minutes. And I'm ok, I'll admit I didn't want to go out but it was ok, it wasn't so bad. It felt so good moving my limbs, doing something that benefits me and receiving no punishment for it.
I know this is the only place I'm going to get such an opportunity. when I leave here, everything will be as it's supposed to be between a master and his servant. Claire comes inside after a quick knock, holding a tray of what looks like rice and stew. It smells like deer is what was used to prepare it.
She takes a seat at the edge of the bed, then places the tray in front of her.
" Come on, eat up." She nudges my feet. But don't speak. " I don't mind you not talking, but you need to eat. You looking healthier now. I guess you gain weight fast." She says. That's when my stomach growls. I ignore her smirk and pick up the food to eat. It's not bad, it has quite a nice taste to it. I don't even remember the last time I ate a deer.
It takes just a few minutes to finish it all, my stomach is very pleased right now. Claire tries to takes the tray from my hand right after I'm done.
" I'm going out anyway, so let me just take it along." She says, prying the tray from my hand. I let her take it. She steps out and I'm back to lying motionlessly on the bed. However, it doesn't take her long to come back in. This time she doesn't sit at the edge of the bed. She climbs onto the bed, then lies on her stomach beside me.
" So, what is your name?" She asks but I don't answer, I keep my eyes on the ceiling.
"Oh, come on. You gotta give me something." She groans. Gosh this girl can talk, I think to myself. I ignore her ones more. Having seen that I'm not going to speak, she lays silently on the bed until she falls asleep. Who falls asleep on a stranger's bed.
*********************
It's nightfall now.
fter Claire's nap on my bed, we're currently sitting at the left side of the building. Watching the stars and crescent moon in the pitch black sky. It's a bit cold, but I can handle it. I've been through worse. Papa made me sleep outside one night on a rainy day, because I couldn't make any sales that day. I ended up getting very sick the next morning and he had to take me to the hospital.
He told a lie about me being out too long in the rain; it's not a complete lie tho. But through it all I said nothing, it would have been of no use if I spoke up.
The night breeze is exceptionally refreshing.
The scent of trees from the woods in front of us adds a nice touch to it. It's a cool breeze that is not tainted with the wickedness of some of the people on Anon. I used to think that, just like the night sky, there will always be specks of light in my dark life.
But not anymore. I'm not going to make a fool of myself by thinking like that only to be disappointed and heart broken in the end.
However, I can say that I feel relaxed and at peace right now.
When she's not talking, Claire makes for good company.
"You know, you've not spoken a word to me today. As a matter of fact, you've not spoken a word since I met you. Is it that you can't speak or you choose not to speak?" She asks, making me turn to look at her, c**k my head to the side and shrug my shoulders, then return to the scenery in front of me.
"I should at least know your name, now that we are friends." she says and pokes my side with a finger.
A Friend. That word sounds very foreign to me. If talking non-stop is what makes someone your friend then I have no use of one.
"Master found me a few months ago, on the outskirts of town. Bleeding and unconscious. Even if he's about to sell me for money. It's better than going back to where I came from. My people accused me of sorcery; which is absurd, after a fire burnt down our house. It was my father and mother's anniversary dinner, my whole family was there." she says.
"A total of 22 people died that day, with me as the only survivor. I know people tend to fear what they don't understand." Sorrow taints her voice when she speaks. She looks right ahead of her, not turning to face me.
" I continued to stay in that town, but I was still an outcast. Living off scraps of food from others. Stealing to survive with the jet black sky the only roof on my head at night." Tears make its way down her cheeks when she is done.
No sobs. No whimpering. Just a poker face with pain filled eyes. Just tears.
We sit in silence for some time after she's done with her story. A story I did not ask to be told, but appreciate anyway.
And she is right, it's absurd to accuse someone of sorcery. we are supernaturals for goodness sake. It shouldn't be a big deal if someone is born with magic. But I guess they just didn't know what to say about her being the only one to survive a fire that killed 22 people.
"All I'm getting at is that, I feel like I have found a kindred spirit... in you." she says, after her raging heart settles.
For now at least. Her kind of sorrow. The kind of loss she is feeling is not one that leaves when you shed a few tears. It will take time, and acceptance of what has happened. Time heals, alright. But it also decays. I only wish for the former for her. Because for me, I think my hope has already deteriorated, along with anything else the hand of time has decayed.
I turn to her when I get up, ready to retreat for the night.
"I...Inanna. my name is Inanna." With a raspy voice from not speaking for two years, I say.
It's the least I could do for her. She did entertain me with her story, afterall.
- Writer
