Memories (Muriel x Reader)

Memories || The Edge of the Forest

Asra and I head through town as we work our way through the many vendors, and patrons cluttering the street. Asra stops for a moment at a vendor selling cut fruit and buys a small basket of some. He strikes up some conversation with the fruit vendor, and he's sucked into talking for a second

While Asra gets his chit-chat on, I let my eyes wander thecramped alleyway. There are many people cluttering the stalls selling fabrics, vegetables, fruits, and plenty of trinkets as far as I can see. 

I let my eyes stretch far as I can see and they lock on a tall, dark sillouette peeking from around the corner.

When our eyes meet he jolts back, almost surprised I saw him in the first place. 

He's so tall it's hard to miss him. 

He seems to glance over at Asra to break our eye contact.

I look at Asra too, noticing he's done talking to the fruit vendor.

He's looking in the same direction I was. "What were you looking at?" He asks, handing me a toothpick with pineapple on it. 

I look back to the long alleyway. 

What was I looking at..?

I think for a second trying to recollect my sudden memory loss. Shaking it off, I continue with Asra through town.

"We should think about opening a small vendor like this.. pitch it up outside our shop." I say, as Asra raises his eyebrows at me. 

"Yeah? Ya know, I thought about that. You can take the liberty of doing that, since you're interested in it." 

"Well don't think you're getting out of the work. You're the one the collects what the hell I sell."

Asra chuckles as he finishes the last of his fruit. "We'll tag team it." 

I find myself feeling excited about the new opportunity for a cute stall, decorating it and lighting it up. Asra's reaction when he comes home. Its all so exciting.

We round a corner and my excitement fades as I see the edge of the forest.

"How long will you be gone, Master?" I ask, as I cluth his arm harder.

"I don't quite know..depends how long my family will need me."

I let the silence hang thick for a second. I have so many questions. 

"Can I ask what you're leaving for?" 

He looks at me hard a second.

"I don't think you'd understand." 

???

"Dont think Id understand?" I say as we stop under a tree, entering the forest.

"Trust me, I'm a master at living with things I dont understand." I say, letting him take his arm back, and plop his traveling pack on the ground.

He shuffles through his bag, leeting out a long sigh.

He hands me a letter.

"Read this when you get back to the shop. And only when you're in the shop. Promise me you won't read this except for anywhere other than the shop."

He seems serious. But...i wonder..

would e have given me this if I didn't ask about the letter.

"I hear all the questions pounding your head." Asra says.

He hugs me abruptly, and tight. 

"Just know you'll see me again, and soon."

He pulls away, and says nothing else. He pinches my chin with his index finger and thumb, and lean in to peck me on the cheek.

He trots away quickly, and I feel my cheek tingle and ache. I reach up to it as I watch Asra walk away, and I feel petals forming a rose growing out of my cheek. 

Panicking, I feel the rose up more and let the petals fall into my hand. My cheek goes back to normal as fast as it sprouted the flower.

What was that?