1 The Camera

If only she had the power to forget the past. The memories she made with him were like a tsunami, engulfing her within its powerful tides. She recalled the days he helped her overcome her fears by taking her for ice skating or rock climbing. Out of all the places where they went together, hand in hand, the memory which stood out was their so-called 'hideout'. It was the rough end of the rocky Mountain where he took pictures of her to capture them in his memory. It was as if those were butterflies flying freely in glee until a young, curious boy captured them and kept them in his cylindrical home. He thought giving it an apple was sufficient, but little did he know what it truly needed was to be set free. She now held the same camera in her hand and took a look at all the butterflies he had captured. Once the album ended she held it tightly close to her and kissed it as if it were more than 'just a camera.'

She looked far across the horizon; at the Sky, the moon hiding behind the sun, and the stars that eagerly awaited for the light to fade and the night to come. She took a deep and heavy breath. The fresh air hit every part of her body. Everything was chilly, except for the warm and sad tears that flowed down her cheeks and fell into the river, becoming a part of it.

 She Climbed down the mountain and headed towards a boulder. Engraved on it was their initials and the date of their marriage. She rubbed her hands over it and the flashback came to mind. The day he properly proposed to her, without any pressure from his parents. He leaned on one knee and held in his hand a beautiful ring. It was the same ring that she saw his mother wear. Even Though they were already married, they still joked around.

The more she thought about him, the more difficult it became to forget him. She pictured herself sitting on the Boulder the way she was seated that day. It occurred to her how much he made her laugh. He told her jokes, wiped her tears, and kept silent when all she needed was an unspoken communication with him. She further headed towards the dark green vegetation on the hill. Upon arriving on the spot, she recalled it all. That hill was where he gifted it to her. She searched for the rocks which indicated their presence then dug them up. She now held the bag in her hand and dropped it in her hand then rubbed her fingers over it. She now had what most mattered to her; the camera and the first gift that he had gifted her. She had all that she needed except for who mattered the most and who she needed the most.

Now all she was doing was crying in remorse and regret. All those memories came flooding back. They were like monstrous, poisonous snakes that chased her wherever she would go. the monster would have fangs, each fang-filled with a memory of him which was enough to poison her for the time being. The monster was we're like a robber who had robbed the happiness out of her life. First her father, then her brother, and now him. The one who taught her how to bear their deaths left her; betrayed her unwillingly. She wished that she could have saved him. She missed every bit of him, every strand of hair but what she missed the most was his nails. He used to nail bite them whenever he was nervous or when his father would abuse his mother. She always said to him, "Why don't you stop biting your nails?" and he always replied saying, "I wish I could! You know I would do absolutely anything for you, but you know what? If I die, this is what will signify my presence." She'd cut him off every time and say, "If you die, then there is no purpose for me to live. Now there she was, still sitting at the edge of the mountain and biting her nails nervously, in his remembrance.