Lost in Memory, Frozen in Time

     She shined against the smiles of the crowd as he performed. Constantly locking eyes, a feeling that was different from the thrill of acting on a stage yet very similar in the idea of fulfillment and worries that disappeared once he looked into those powder blue eyes. The show was a comedy from Titus Maccius Plautus, a famous dramatist from a few centuries in the past, and right when it ended he immediately rushed out to meet her. She gave out such an impression that once he spotted the ebony hair that highly complimented her pale skin the boy knew immediately and suddenly grabbed her hand, "Your name?"

     "Excuse me?"

     "Your name. May I know your name?" His skittish behavior made her want to tease him a little but stayed quiet as he continued to speak, "Excelsio Juniperus, but please call me Excelsio. It felt like we had met before, but if I had encountered someone as flourishing as you, I wouldn't dare let it be forgotten."

     "Fragaria, since it seems we are on a given name basis." She looked a bit closer at him, "That voice! You're that actor who I thought kept staring at me. You're unrecognizable with the mask you had on."

     The actor's entire head was covered by his mask. He wore a brown mask indicating a male role just a few minutes ago when Excelsio was performing. It wrinkles at corners of the eyes and mouth area, slightly closed eyes that looked like flattened half moons, and a sneaky grin that adds on to the wise, happy, old man picture. The expressions were extravagant and large enough to plainly see at the ends of the small theatre.

     He offered to go to the marketplace together, but it accidentally sounded more like a command than a question. It was a lively place full of vendors trying to catch the attention of customers, the two bought some food to eat while walking, they held hands to not get separated from each other and looked like a couple to the people around. When the day ended Excelsio escorted Fragaria back to the building she was staying at. Before he had let go of her, he searched his pockets and brought out a necklace made from melon beads that were turquoise in color. The first thing that escaped her lips, "When did you buy this? Please take it back, its expensive."

     "It reminded me of your eyes except greener, so please accept it Fragaria" he was pleading and with the look on his face she could not bear to decline. They then said their farewells and Fragaria turned in for the night.

     Reflecting on the previous day Fragaria knew immediately what to do when she woke up. It was an exceedingly early morning when she rushed out of the inn, desperately looking for him. Spotting Juniperus at a small theatre she called out his name. He looked up and couldn't help but smile, she came back. She really did! But why? Could I have done something wrong, and she wants to talk? Or something I did something incredibly right and-. Fragaria was much closer and just by looking at her all thoughts had vanished. They talked and talked for hours about each other.

     Excelsio Juniperus wanted to create plays of his own. He has been a traveling actor for multiple years, but it wasn't very pleasant. The lady right in front of him listening was the first who seemed to respect and appreciate him, and he ended up loving her even more. His career only brought fame toward the playwrights and contempt for him. Nobody got close to him, treating him like a disease. Maybe an actor turned playwright who at least had a bit of popularity could be looked at a little differently, was something that had often been in the back of his mind.

     Fragaria ran away from home, yearning for a sense of freedom and a carefree life. The entire duration of her 22 years of life she was hungry for a thing that was not food. She forgot that feeling and what she was looking for until she fell for Juniperus. It felt like the life she lived prior wasn't anything special just filled with rules to obey. The time finally came for her to request, "Will you allow me to stay by your side? I know how to write, and I have some wax tablets where I'm currently staying." Without hesitation he eagerly accepted knowing how necessary it is to have scripts written and just the thought of her always being by his side sent butterflies fluttering.