Back to my childhood. I remember the boy; with the raven black hair, who enchanted me. We climbed trees, played games by the river, and swam, in the crystal water. One day, to Impress me, he swung from a branch, into the shimmering crystals, the hand of the overpowering current sized him and dragged him mercilessly under. I ran. After that I could never turn back. Turn back to the beauty, turn back to the crystals, and turn back to my long forgotten memories. Until now.
I felt the cold heartless gun press against my side; dragging me back to reality. The anger behind my captor's calm eyes scared me; he is able to destroy me, but why has he prolonged this torture now that my usefulness is gone?
He pushed me to the cold, wet ground. I stared upwards; it was the tree. Our tree. Where he swung, where our names are calved for all to see. Was this stranger the beloved boy from my childhood? I tried to murmur the words that summed up all of my questions; but no sound ever left my mouth.
Finally he spoke.
“Do you remember me?” I heard the desperation in his voice. I shook my head, I tried to talk; but the drums were so loud I feared that I would shout and in doing so risk my own safety. He looked at me with longing in his eyes, but the anger still remained. The ground jumped all around me.
“You have to remember!!” he yelled.
“The drums. The drums are what connect us!” he stressed.
“Remember that day? When I tried to impress you? I swung into the crystals; I was forced under them.”
“I remember you!” I blurted out without thinking.
“Good. When you ran away that day; the pace of your footsteps created the drums and our connection.” I was frozen to the spot, my body, petrified, forcing me to stay on the ground. I looked at my boy, now a man. What happened to him that day? Why didn’t he try to find me sooner? So many questions, yet no word I could say expressed them.
He pulled the mysterious bag from under his arm; at least now I thought one of my questions would be answered. Out of the mysterious bag came a huge blanket, which he wrapped around me. Then he pulled out an amulet.
“You gave me this amulet. Remember? I’ve had it with me always.” A sad look over came his eyes and the anger faded away.
“Do you want to forget me? And rid yourself or the drums that have plagued your life?” I only considered this for a moment, but as If he could read my thoughts he said:
“All you have to do is burn this amulet, I will disappear, and all memories of me will fade once and for all.” I sat there shocked at the thought of all my memories of love and the boy would fade forever. But I also thought the drums that had stopped me from living my life; the drums that made my blood boil would be gone. He extended a hand to me; I accepted willing, lifting me to my feet I took the amulet form his hands, the drums beat ever louder, I saw red, the amulet flew through the air towards the crystals shimmering In the moonlight. I stood there for a second and stared in to his eyes; all of the anger was gone.
The crystals rushed towards me I could not breathe.
The sun-baked banks lay beneath me when I woke. The drums were gone, and all I felt was peace. My boy no different from the day he left me extended a hand; I embraced him.
Now I live among the trees and the crystals young forever, with my boy. No fear, no sadness, no death.
