PHASE 0: AUDITIONS

Applicant #46: Before the Fullest of the Moon

APPLICANT #46: BEFORE THE FULLEST OF THE MOON

The sound of rotten laughter from the palace, where an annual promenade is being held, ends when the gradation of staunch perennial plants begins. Amidst the forest, the line of Black cottonwood tapers to a small pond, with enormous earth walls engirdled within---seemingly hovering above the hanging low trees overhead.

Those that aren't entertained to go to the ball stay back at their abode, now deep on their slumber; but two intently sleep-deprived being lie on their back as the ironically faint glow of the full moon touches flit radiance of wisp light on their faces. Ember's head is rested on Otten's arm, her lips touching his neck, as his free hand trails on every feature of her face; committing to his memory its every detail and every imperfection.

Fireflies seem to cavort in the loose air, owls hoot on the barks of the trees, and a quick silver fish kicks its tail upstream, trickling the once steady surface---a scene far way better than the palace dance.

Everything is indeed magical, but unlike the other princes and their princesses, that is not how their once upon a time begins. He is no royalty and she is but a forest wanderer. He has no horse to offer her a ride; she has no great story to tell.

And unlike the perfect stories of all the fabled characters, they are both shackled in the wrath of each other's family towards one another.

As a part of the blacksmith kin of the South Terrain that has been vanished to the depths of the canyon for forging their creations with magic, Otten is forbidden to have any dealings with anyone from the culture---especially with anyone from the kith of the black witches of the North Winds; with Ember. It is an oath that has been sworn by the succeeding families throughout the years. It is a rule that he has certainly, but not regretfully, broken.

They have told her that his kind only offers remorse and distress. They have opened his mind about the deception her family brings. They both have chosen not to believe. Because they infer---and has proven---that the best way to know a person is not by what others have to say. It is through feeling what the heart says when getting lost in their eyes.

No such war has been declared for months of being together. No match has been ignited behind the mountains. No blood has been shed in the tranquil bed of grasses that encompasses the earth. No one has ever stopped them. It's the choice that keeps one going but it is also the choice that makes them regret.

For every midnight of the full moon, as long as they are together, memories will always be deprived from Otten that is fated to always forget, and torment will it be for Ember that's destined to always remember.

Maybe it is not what both families would have wanted. But also maybe, it's the way of the Being of the Moon to devoid the world of a creature more perilous than the blades from the South and more magical than the enchants of the North.

The clock tower hasn't bellowed yet but tears are already welling on the corners of Ember's eyes that are evidently tired from always crying; tired for always seeing Otten leave; tired for always waiting.

Otten may not love her equally as she loves him, but still he cannot stand seeing her in pain. "Forget me," he says before they both shuffles until they're sitting next to each other, face to face, heart to heart.

"How can I? I always remember," she asks albeit her thoughts are of blend of longing and apathy. But she's wanted that. She's already there and she knows there's no point of turning back. They have built their mountain so high, and free falling will be a long way down.

"Then stop caring." His voice is starting to get firm and cold and his eyes gradually losing the abundance of tiny love.

She just lets her trembling hands cup his face before uttering the words she doesn't think she will ever get tired of saying. "I will always care for you even if we're not together. Even if we're far, far away from each other."

And she does.

After the sixth time of the bellowing of the clock tower in their six months of being together; after she places a kiss that tastes agony on the corner of his lips for the sixth time, before the sixth time of seeing his retreating back fading behind the shadows into the woods, she cries but never, ever stop from caring.

Every month of getting Otten to notice her and fall in love with her again turns to every year. Then yearly turns to every four until Ember stops showing and Otten settles with a family of two kids. But she's there, somewhere along the line of memoirs and dusts---staring from afar.

He does not remember that there is this girl that is everyday hurting because of his profound happiness with someone else, but she does. She knows that once upon a time, he has fallen for a guy that always forgets. She knows that before the fullest of the moon, they've had something a little more extraordinary than magic, a little more surreal than an intimate kiss.

They've had love.

Once upon a time, she always remembers.

And she will always do.

Even after ever after.