Another Word For Waiting

The Battle Won

Typically, noon implied a brief meal with Hana, conversations not being a constant in any way. Some days we would talk about trivial things, such as the weather, what crops were in season, how Hana's mother, Mera, had been, and how was your grandmother, Gretel, doing?

Other days were spent in a comfortable silence, either because there was nothing to say or nothing I wanted to say. Either way, noon meant Hana's companionship. Which was absent today, if the disfigured attempt at salad in front of me was any indication.

Hana's absence was a rare occasion, one that I don't think I've ever experienced. I stared at the salad sitting on the table in front of me, the light sifting through the window, illuminating every ugly detail. How I had survived before Hana was a mystery.

Before the people of my village had disappeared, an unspoken rule had been put in place after I poisoned nearly everyone; Asha should not make food.

The man before me was laughing. Granted, I loved that laugh and the way it turned his pale face bright red, like a tomato. Fate knows the man needed more color in his life.

Today, however, his laughter fueled my anger. I imagined it as a bright little ball in my core, growing brighter and denser until...

"Banned from preparing any food! Ha, Asha, this is the funniest thing you've ever done! It takes real skill to accomplish such a feat!"

...until it exploded.

"You better watch it, Mr. Kills-Anything-He-Touches!" Was that a wince? Yes, I thought so. He didn't like how I brought that up, hmm?

"I just don't understand how they die I swear-" His hands went up in an 'I surrender' fashion, as I stabbed his chest with my finger. The effect was lost as I realized I had to tilt my head up to glare at him.

"They were simple flowers! How do you manage to kill all of my potted plants!?" Ew, I sounded like a dying bird. Note to self, stop screeching when in anger.

"How do you poison all our friends with a salad, where I gave you the ingredients!? Andyourplantsweretakingallofyourattentionawayfromme!" His hands moved wildly about as he countered and his hair bouncing in inky spasms, before freezing as he realized what he had just admitted. That handsome face of his turned bright red before I could count to three.

"You were jealous. Over potted plants. You're so pathetic, Asa," What an interesting turn of events. Now I was the one laughing, as his face turned a deeper red.

"Shut up..."

I found myself laughing sadly over what was probably a deadly salad. Shaking my head, I threw it out, before leaving the lonely cottage. I glanced down the hill towards New Amkhalid, the busy streets seemingly small and insignificant from up here, but I knew Hana was there somewhere, and I suppose since she persistently visited me, I could visit her this one time.

So I started down the slope, hitching my skirt up so as not to slip. Several times I had to get down and literally climb down the wild slope, dirt caking into my already tan skin. Every step was tedious, sweat gluing the dirt in more. It had been a long time since I had been down to New Amkhalid, but I didn't recall it being such a stubborn climb.

By the time I had finally reached New Amkhalid, the sun was in the Western skies.

I was floored by how much New Amkhalid had grown, with crowded streets filled with a muffled endless roar of sound that never ceased in its entirety. There were no paths, only cobblestone streets built in a rigid fashion. It was clear how life buzzed around, instead of flowing along.