The Emotions Within

Distress and Comfort

This man seemed to be waiting for something, someone. The emotions written on his face, those slight tears at the corner of his eyes, that sad smile - she could understand just from those that he longed for the people he lost.

This loss must have led him to become a recluse. This made her feel sympathy for him, for she related to that feeling too well.

"How long have you lived here alone?" she blurted out, while he cleaned up. It was a repeated question but she couldn't help it. She wanted to talk to someone relatable and this was a chance. She just wanted to get rid of the emptiness.

He felt something similar too, she guessed.

"It was a long time ago," he answered, looking up at her, and blinked quickly to hide those uncalled tears. It was clear that she was pitying him, and he didn't want that.

"Must be lonely," she commented, shaking her head a little then stared at the furnace.

"A little," he replied, his eyes shifting to the furnace too.

Another session of silence. They sat still, listening to the crickets chirp outside and the wood crackle in the fire before them. The wind blew like a ghost, rustling the leaves as it went by and the clouds covered the moon.

The queen wanted to get rid of the awkwardness she felt and break the ice, but her mouth would not open. Her entire body sat still, tight with no movement. Her breathing was calm and nothing quivered. She had no trouble to talk; she just couldn't find what to talk about.

The conversation may as well be dead by then.

"The weather is a bit chaotic today, isn't it?" There was nothing else to say. That was the only option she had left. It might have been a better choice to just sit there the entire night in silence.

"A little," he replied, ending the conversation once more.

She hummed in reply, and rubbed her hands to warm herself and covered her feet with her jaiñpien (a wrapped skirt.) She was bored, but she'd rather stay there than back into that lonely room of emptiness.

It had been a long time since she had a human companion.

"So..."

Her head perked up as soon as he uttered something. She was eager to keep from getting bored, and talk.

He was taken aback from her sudden reaction and rubbed his neck, clearing his throat.

"So... those rice cakes..." he muttered, clearly not used to any sort of human interaction either.

"Hmm?" She subconsciously learned closer.

"They...they were delicious," he said, trying to sound like as possible. "I en-enjoyed them. Thank you."

"Oh, uh, you are welcome." She smiled and rubbed her arms to get rid of the shivering.

"I practiced cooking them for my husband," she added, her eyes staring at the fire, reminiscing something.

"That's a nice thought," he said, facing the same direction as her. "...How did he react?"

"I...he...left just after we got married, said that there was an important issue, and had not returned for months." She crossed her arms and shivered again, pulling herself close.

"We barely had time to enjoy each other's company," she stated. "The neighboring kingdoms became aggressive at the thought of there being a new king."

"I'm just worried for him." She dug her head into her arms, muffling her voice. "I hope he's okay and not hurt, or dead. I don't want to be alone."

"I'm sure he isn't, by the grace of God," he provided words of encouragement, but was hesitant to console her further. There was something... something with him that resonated with her. He wondered why.