Day: 122
Days Left: 5358
Lives Saved: 0
"And so you feel that you can't talk about your family with anyone?" Salim nodded in understanding. For the past half an hour, he had remained silent, respectively listening to Corinna vent about her situation. He had been surprised but delighted by her visit as Salim rarely received any guests unless it was Sumit or Rin delivering food packets to trade. Though he appreciated the unexpected company, Salim had only wished he had been given forewarning to tidy up his campsite. At the very least he had happened to be wearing one of his more presentable outfit ensembles; a pair of pyjama bottoms, sweater, and headwrap all in a similar shade of lavender. Even after centuries imprisoned in this wasteland, the man was still somehow conscious about his appearance and hosting guests.
"Hmmm..." Salim stroked his thin silver beard, considering his words wisely. "From what you have said, it seems that only Rin has shown disapproval to the subject. Harmony appears to encourage it. Why do you still believe that no one would want to listen when she has offered?"
Corinna sighed. "I know she probably does find it annoying, the same for everyone else. She's just trying to be polite."
"I am sure that she was genuine with you. But if you still do not want to burden her, then you are more than welcome to discuss your family with me instead."
"Are you sure?" asked the young woman, hugging her legs close to her chest. "I don't want to bother you too. I don't want to bother anyone."
Salim chuckled slightly. "You won't be a bother, Corinna. I've helped numerous others like you with preserving their memories. I, myself, have never had problems with my photographic memory. Never before had I ever forgotten anything until I was imprisoned here. I remember how scared I was when I first lost a memory, something that I had not experienced before. Fortunately, I wrote my entire life story before everything disappeared, and I was able to memorise word for word. Still, everyone is not as fortunate as I. To lose all of your memories... lose everything... I would not wish it upon anyone. That is why I want to help. Even if you forget your life or who you are, I will remember them for you."
Corinna returned a weak smile. She swallowed, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes.
"And if it puts you at more ease..." Salim continued. "I take much enjoyment from listening to people's lives. I have been imprisoned here for... a considerable amount of time. I have exhausted almost every hobby and recreational activity there is to boredom. Just last week, I mastered the yo-yo." He motioned to a small box of yo-yos, some broken and dirty, their strings in a tangled mess. "There is no one in the land with finer skills than I."
The old man smirked, cocking his head high as he boasted, causing Corinna to giggle.
"However, what doesn't ever become dull is people," continued Salim. "People only grow more interesting in time, and they are constantly changing. You will never truly know everything about one person. As you learn one aspect, something in the present has already changed. Studying a person's life is a hobby which has no end." Salim rested a hand on the stack of books nearby. "Even the lives I have recorded here will have changed immeasurably. I wonder how much I have written still remains to be true."
Attempting to read the spines of the books, Corinna wondered whose lives were recorded in them. Perhaps one day, hers would be among the collection too.
Salim gazed back at Corinna, his eyes softening. "Please promise me that you'll never feel like you're bothering anyone, Corinna."
Her shoulders slumping, the young woman replied, "I'm not sure I can promise that, but I'll... try."
A gentle smile spread across the old man's face. "I'm sure in time, you'll be able to talk to Harmony about this and your other friends. Speaking of... how long are you planning on avoiding Rin?"
Corinna shifted on the log seat in guilt. "Not long..." she lied.
Salim raised an eyebrow.
"I... I thought I'd wait at least a day, so it isn't awkward."
"It'll be more awkward the longer you wait." Salim sighed. "Very well, it is your choice. Whilst you are here, I would like to begin... with your earliest memories." He reached for a notebook, one that had yet to be filled. "Or perhaps a prominent one, something that first pops into your head."
For the rest of the day, Corinna told her story, or at least what she could still remember. Salim listened in silence, occasionally asking a few questions or to expand on a point that the young woman had made. Corinna sometimes was forced to refer to her notebook to memories that had disappeared from her mind, causing her to almost panic if it weren't for Salim who calmed her down.
"My... this is indeed impressive," Salim remarked as Corinna showed him the calendar she had made of all of her relative's birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and other important dates. "That must be quite a lot of parties considering the number of relatives you have... and a lot of presents to buy. How did you keep on top of it all?"
Corinna shrugged casually. "My sister Bess and I would buy them all at least five months in advance."
"Ah, I see that it is her birthday coming up." Salim pointed to the calendar.
"Yeah..." Corinna lowered her head. "She would have been able to hand everyone else's gifts, but I doubt she'll find where I've hidden hers." Corinna smirked. "She always tries to open her present early. This year I hid it in a place I know she'll least expect. I guess she won't receive it until I get out of here."
*
"Where is it?" asked Queen Corinna. It had only been a matter of seconds of Corinna Warren drifting to sleep before the image of the stoic monarch appeared in her dreams.
"Where is what?" asked the young woman.
"The present."
"The- why? Why do you- Are you going to give Bess her birthday present? Why would you do that?"
The queen was silent for a moment, a long moment. She rested an elbow on the arm-rest of her throne. "It has been on your mind for several days now. We have grown tired of it, annoyed by it. Tell Us where it is, and We will send someone to find it."
YOU ARE READING
Harm and Harmony
Fantasy#WrittenWithPride Offical Wattpad Reading List (Book One of the Harm and Harmony series) [completed/ editing] A human who wishes to survive in the darkness. A monster who strives to live in the light. This is the story of their fated meeting. Charg...