I'm certain, that in the moment my heart skipped a beat. The tickling feeling alongside with happiness were overwhelming as well as the rising temperature of my body. "So?" I buried my head into his shoulder trying to hide the obvious answer. Suddenly his hands slowly move down to mine, gently caressing my skin on the way, until we end up hands in hands. They were cold and sweaty. Is he nervous? The thought makes me smile even more, if that is even possible. "There's one place I'd like to show you." He whispers into my left ear. I felt his warm breath on my neck, which cause shivers go down the spine. He's so close! "Do you want to go?" I nod in consent. My whole body was shaking already, speaking up would only mean risking almost guaranteed stuttering and giving right away the nervousness he obviously thirsted for.
After awhile we've arrived at a more quiet place with only a few people on the edge of the harbor. He was headed towards a rather modest stall with themed decorations. Colorful lanterns of every size, crochet lucky charms, masks and other trinkets were hanging all over it, including the old lady selling them.
"Do you remember?" The sentence gave me immediate goosebumps. "What?" His face was calm, but the sweet smile I was looking for was gone. The unsettling feeling was only growing. "The mask." He says calmly. "What's with the mask!" The words outrun rational thinking. What does he mean? Was it a joke? A trick? I thought he was taking me somewhere, where it could be just the two of us...
"Is there something wrong with them young lad?" The lady behind the counter says with disappointment in her voice, that stabbed my heart. "Excuse me, ma'am, that wasn't meant for you, I was talking with-" "Isn't the one hanging on your belt one of I made?" She points at the mask. It was fairly different from the one I had before. The new one was hand painted with deep green and outlined with detailed golden strokes which add to its beauty. "That's right." I put my hand on the treasured present. "I'd like to thank you for you amazing work, I carry the mask everywhere with me as an reminder of the dear person, that gifted it to me." With a forced smile she slowly walks towards me. "Seeing a person so full of love always makes me tear up. " I instinctively look for Aether's eyes only to find out he was watching me already. A heat wave suddenly rushes through my body right when our eyes meet."I once had loved ones too." Her words made more thoughts popping up. Do all of the accessories she wears represent people? But...there's so many... The rusty accessories were clanking against each other as she was trying to sit down on a small stool with difficulties. "Do you mind listening to an old lady?" She asked while rubbing her eyes. Is she crying? I turned around for Aether's consent, but he was nowhere to be seen. Before I could go look for him, the lady started talking with seriously tone. "I thought making memorable goods for people was a good thing at first" She continues after a short, but noticable pause. "But with time the genuine smiles my work brought, gained an undescribable weight to them. My works became like chains, slowing everyone down until all of us stop fighting to get out completely." Suddenly she looks me in the eyes. "Memories are to be treasured, but there's a reason why present is called like that, don't waste it away.
It's too late for me, the stall and the regrets are all I have and is my punishment to bare, but you, you still have energy and time! Please, break out from the chains!"
Her attempt for a strong voice rather turned into a shaking whisper.
"Forgive-"
She faded away along with the unfinished last words. Even the stall with her creations were gone. The only proof of her existence was an anemo vision laying on the place where the lady was once sitting on and its spark was dimming down until it disappeared completely.
To be continued...
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you have any suggestions feel free to hit me up!
Love yall ♡
