Pristine

He has been walking for 147 rises. Aimless with a purpose. He has a deep sense of knowing the unknown. There is a place that exists and waiting for him. Not only in his mind does this place house love but it physically houses the reasons for his passion. The reason for his trek across barren land, dilapidated cities and the feeling of solitary confinement in an open world. No communication with another being except for the voice in his mind that whispers her name. And now even that voice is starting to leave him like the numerous companions who did not have the eyes to see his vision. He started his journey with 10 individuals. He didn’t like the company but he knew he couldn’t do it on his own. He lost two people to the wolves, 3 people to illness and the rest to mutiny. They no longer believed in the vision. “In the world of the blind, the bookmaker is useless” and that’s how he felt. He was tired of making the them understand. But he knew she would understand. She always has. All it would take is the will of a passionate lover to make it to that seemingly forbidden place that protects his truth. After all he made it possible for her to get there. if it wasn’t for his sacrifice she would be a memory like the dozens of town centers and cities that once vibrated with energy of life now silent and nostalgic. She too would be silent. But he knows she lives! He knows her heartbeat when he feels it. He’s been feeling that pulse and breathing in particles of her scent for 147 sunrises. He can’t stop now. As he reaches a clearing in some dense urban vegetation, he sees it. The sign he was looking for. The marker noting he was headed in the right direction. That sign was an indication he was only approximately two miles from his destination. He grasps his pocket as if to hold a hand. Eagerly he begins to walk and he feels energized. the past 6 rises have been the hardest but infatuation has been his adrenaline. His leg badly injured by the wolves. Any exposed skin was raw from the anger of the sun from not taking care of one of its favored children. Clothes not nearly presentable to the special occasion that awaits but such absence will always cause one to see the soul and nothing else. And that’s what he saw when he looked at her memory in his mind. A beautiful soul that wanted nothing else but to reconnect with its twin flame. As he gets closer to his proclaimed paradise he stops. Perhaps it was nervousness. Maybe it was the thought of what he might say to the one he endured so much pain for. But it was in the distance that he saw her. She is Even more beautiful than the image in his mind. As she bends over to grab a bundle from the ground a child runs up. Hugs her tightly and runs off. He smiles ever so slightly but that smile unevenly turns to a scowl as his peace is interrupted by the presence of a large healthy handsome male her age. The dashing and well kept young man scooped her off her feet and spins around as if he heard the news of them welcoming another life. Crushed by this unexpected curvature of events the traveler slithers his hand in his pocket and pulls out a beautiful silk handkerchief. If it wasn’t for the intricate embroidery and what it possessed inside he would’ve discarded it many rises ago. He opens the weathered shield to reveal a rose gold locket in pristine condition. He Opens it and the younger child that embraced his angel a minute ago is 3 feet away staring at him asking why he has water on his eyes. He says nothing. Folds the cloth back around the locket and gives it to the child. As the child unwrapped the treasure she looks up to see the traveler gone. Dinner time approaches the child wanders back to the camp where her older brother and sister eagerly await her arrival. As they sit down to eat the woman formerly known as love sees the locket and tears instantly rush out her eyes. Where did you get that? She asked. “The sad man gave it to me” replied the child. As love reaches for the locket she cracks it open to see her and the twin flame she dreamt about for at least 150 rises. She lost count after her tear ducts dried up from repressed depression. “Where did you see him!?” Love exclaimed. The child showed her where she met the flame. She dispatched The brother with seven other men of the same strength and youth to set out a search party. They combed the land for three rises to no avail. And now love sits with no expression staring at the flame who’s warmth she craved. The flame she wished to thank with her life and love because of his sacrifice. She owed him life. Knowing he was so close to her only made the pain worse. Why did he not want to see me” she thought. Did he have another who he currently showered with the love he once gave her... Locket still in perfect condition. Like the love she’s always had for him. And this locket like her love is Just the way she gave it to him. Pristine.