Sinclaire Academy: Untold Stories

The Burner of Ships

The Burner of Ships

"What's your name?" The lady softly asked the little girl.

Twirling her curly pigtails, the little girl stared back the woman slightly wondering kung bakit hindi niya maaninag ang mukha nito. "Nausica"

"What does it mean?" Lumuhod ang babae sa harap ng bata.

The little girl bit her lip, trying to remember. Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago niya nasagot ang tanong. "The burner of ships"

The lady smiled but the girl's vision started to blurry. Para bang unti-unting nawawalang ng itsura ang nasa harapan niya. At unti-unti rin itong naglalaho hanggang sa tuluyan na itong mawala.

Nausica woke up with a sharp cry escaping her dry throat. Hot tears burned her eyes nang maalala niya kung paano naglaho ang babae sa harap niya.

Nagmadali siyang bumaba ng kama at takbuhin ang distansya ng closet niya kung saan naroon ang shoe box puno ng mga litrato.

With a heavy heart, she opens the lid and takes one picture out.

The woman smiling back at her was the woman in her dream...

Mas lalo siyang umiyak hindi dahil nakakatakot ang panaginip, but the fact that she forgot what her Mom looks like.

How could she forget the most important person in her life?

Umiyak si Nausica hanggang sa mawalan na siya ng boses at luha. She hated herself for forgetting kahit na sa panaginip lang iyon.

A soft hand landed on her shoulder then a warm body engulfed her in a hug. She managed to cry out a new wave of tears as her Dad hugged her. Sigurado siyang narinig nito ang iyak niya kaya siya nagising.

Hinagilap pa niya ang ibang mga litrato, trying to memorize every expression her Mom made in ever picture.

"I-I forgot what she looks like," she whispered frantically. "Dad, I forgot what she looks like."

Just the mere thought made her panic all over again.

   Nausica tried to pull herself up the next day. Tahimik lang siya sa byahe nila papuntang Hangrove. Ilang beses rin siyang sunulyapan ng Dad niya, probably contemplating on asking her if she's alright or to leave her alone.

Of course she wasn't alright.

Almost eight years nang wala ang Mom niya and she's been with her Dad ever since. Hindi naman siya pinabayaan nito. And they've become closer after the tragedy. Nag panic lang talaga siya kagabi at hindi niya kinaya.

Her aura is usually carefree and happy but may mga times talaga gusto niya nalang i-shut down ang sarili niya.

She mostly slept during the ride at nagising na lang siya nang papasok na sila sa town.

Nausica let out a deep breath and met her Dad's gaze with a bright smile.

She has to lift herself up on her own because that's what Mom told her.

He dropped her off at Town Square like she requested a few weeks before. Gusto niyang may pagkakaabalahan habang andito siya. Hopefully they take willing volunteers.

Marami namang shops dito at restaurants.

Nausica kept walking and tried her luck sa mga shop na mukhang mababait ang may ari.

But she already walked around half of the square with no such luck. Halos full lahat dahil malapit na ang holiday season. Sinubukan na rin niyang mag hanap ng apartment or maybe a house na tutuluyan nila pansamantala habang dito naka destino ang Papa niya for the training camp.