#rainlog

A young woman was standing on the edge of a cliff. A cool wind picked up around her as she blinked, revealing bright green eyes. The type of green that thaws a winter and pushes baby plants out of the ground. 

They were staring off in the distance. 

There was nothing but gray skies and water meeting each other on the horizon.

She inhaled. Salty air filled her lungs, clearing her body and her mind but thoughts of the ocean. 

The waves crashed in a rhythm. Sitting down, she closed her eyes and let the wind play with her white, silvery hair. Even though the skies were overcast, her hair still glistened softly, reminiscent of an aurora. Her ombré pink scarf blew about behind her, like wings itching to fly the skies. 

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she remains deep in thought until a familiar sound lulled her out. 

"--l!"

She opened her eyes.

"--el!!"

She turned her head.

"Sel!"

She saw a young man walk up to her from below, with playful smile on his face and eyes as kind as ever. The wind tousled his brown hair, making him look disheveled but still charming at the same time. 

"Hey." His voice was as gentle as ever. 

She smiled.

"Hey yourself." She said with a slight giggle. 

"Mind if I take a seat?" 

She shook her head and patted the grass next to her. 

They didn't need to say anything. They know that their thoughts were both as turbulent as the other.

They came to the same spot for the same reason: a moment of peace. Even better, next to each other.

Sel leaned to the side, resting her head on his shoulder.

He put his arm around her, giving her shoulder a slight squeeze, silently telling her that everything will be okay

She let out a contented sigh.

They remained like that for awhile, enjoying each other's silent company.

⦵

As the horizon dipped into twilight, they slowly stood up.

She patted her dress, making sure no grass clung to her. He followed her example. 

"Well then, shall we go back?" He mused. 

Giving each other a look of acknowledgement, they started down the path back to their camp, each thanking the other for their presence.

He adjusted his glasses and looked above. She followed his lead.

The stars shone brightly above them. 

"H-hello Taun!" 

Taun grunted and walked by Sel, who had her head bowed. 

Why does she always avert her eyes? 

In his heart he knew--it was because he was a monster. A monster who destroyed her people. 

He doesn't deserve to be greeted warmly by a princess, especially one who has her blood running through her veins. 

He felt her disappointment upon his back as he quickened his pace. Regret crept upon him--now all he wanted to do was turn around and tell her he's not worth her kindness, but he couldn't even bear to look her in the eye. 

He grimaced. 

What a coward, he thought. 

He just wanted to be alone. That's how his life is meant to be. Forever. 

🌿 

Standing before the massive gnarly trunk, Taun outstretched his hand out and felt the hard, wrinkled surface. 

"I'm glad you're still standing here, my friend. After all, we planted you together." The twilight sun twinkled through the branches as a light breeze picked up, as if it was acknowledging the greeting. 

He climbed into a crevice within the trunk; it's the only place where you're high enough to see everything and where you cannot be seen. 

As soon as he was settled and stared out onto the horizon, he let out on big sigh. 

"What's wrong with me," he said as he gritted his teeth. "She doesn't deserve that treatment." He wanted to fall in despair, to punish himself for becoming someone he thought he would never be. 

But he was just so tired. Tired of not breathing the same air as her. 

The stars start to shine overhead, the passage of time went quicker than he anticipated. 

"Why?”, he yelled out into the distance. The earth echoed his lament back until it was silent. 

“Why is my fate..so cruel. Not only am I alive, but she has to look like her," he whispered. 

His head suddenly hurt. He didn't realize that he grinding his teeth so tightly. 

“Haaaa,” he breathed as he slumped down against the knotted bark.

"I...just don't know what to do anymore. Please save me from this nightmare..." he whimpered as he slowly closed his eyes. 

As his thoughts drifted up into his dreams, a single tear trailed down his cheek as he whispered, 

“…!”

What is that noise..?

“…iel!”

Is someone…calling me?

“..niel!”

I haven’t been called by that name since..

“Daniel!!”

He snapped his eyes open. The heat and light of the sun forced eyes closed again. Suddenly, a shadow appeared over his face and sent relief to his whole body. The scent of vanilla sweetly invaded his senses and massaged him back into a peaceful place.

“How long are you going to be sleeping there, Daniel? You promised to show me your garden”, the voice gently demanded.

What..? Who is talking?

He slowly opened his eyes and saw a girl leaning over him. She had bright pink hair, lovely lips, and a furrowed brow that indicated that she did not look happy.

“Lil..?”

“Yes, Lilith! It’s me. Gosh, did you hit your head somewhere? You really need to come outside more, you can’t stay holed up in your room and expect me to take care of you out here..”

She rambled on, but her voice sounded far away. He looked past her and saw a field full of rose bushes far as he could see. Trees lined up the perimeter, blossoming with white, pink, and orange flowers. The sun was high among the white clouds, so big and puffy it looked like you could grab them right out of the sky and eat them.

Daniel lifted his hand and touched the side of his head. It stung.

…Wait. Long hair?

As soon as he moved, Lilith stopped talking and observed him.

Strange…I thought I erased this memory long ago.

Why…am I…here?

Tired of watching him being lost in thought, Lilith stood up and outstretched her hand.

“You’ll feel better once we start walking, Mister Daniel”, she said with a small grin.

For some reason he couldn’t deny her gentle gesture. So he nodded and he took her hand in his.

“Lead the way, Lil”, he said breathlessly.

I might as well enjoy this while it lasts.

How would you describe that feeling in one word?  

What feeling? 

Mm, you know. Like the night after a summers rain. The turbulent yet tranquil sounds of a thunderstorm. That feeling you get when you feel a cool breeze across your body while staring at an empty field. 

Oh--like a quiet, brooding feeling where you also feel at peace? 

Yeah, sorta like that. 

I'm not sure, but we can always create a word for that together. 

He felt the warm, tingly sensation on his lips as he stirred awake from his melancholic dream.

The love of his life was gone and there was nothing he could do to turn back time.

…. He slowly opened his eyes to the world around him. Everything was fuzzy. He could make out some shapes and colors, but the dazzling light flooded his senses.

“Where am I?” he wondered.

Slowly the images began to sharpen. Objects began forming. Little by little, his eyes adjusted to the surroundings.

Shades of pinks, reds, and oranges lit up the sky above him. Clouds were tinged with subtle yellow hues. Beyond the horizon stretched shimmering waters that reflected the sunrise--or sunset, he couldn’t tell. Stars twinkled in the distance. Was it time to trace constellations in the night sky? Or let them fade away and come back another night.

Once his sight adjusted, his other senses slowly came back too.

Right then he felt something cold and smooth against his neck. It must be stone.

“I guess I fell asleep..funny, I don’t remember ever lying down”, he mused.

Slowly, he sat up to stretch.

He looked around and saw that he slept on a thin stone bridge that resembled an aqueduct of sorts. He was lucky he didn’t roll in his sleep, for there was nothing to keep a person from falling off. No rails, no perimeters, nothing.

The sound of the ocean waves crashing upon the shore broke his thoughts. He inhaled deeply, tasting the salty air of the ocean on his tongue.

A small breeze picked up and ruffled his auburn hair, which shone in the fading glow of the sunrise. The sky was slowly becoming brighter, which signaled him moving onto the next path of his journey.