Photographs and Memories (one-shot)

PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORIES (one-shot)

by: AshleighPhearl

I still had a photograph of you

I’ve kept it all these years

I guess it would make you laugh to know

It still bring back the tears

From another place in time

When your love was mine . . .

A deep, soulful musical sonata was endlessly playing in my decade old music box. Every time it sings out a melody, a familiar pang of agony crossed my inner depths leaving a scar that was really hard to relinquish.

IT WAS mid-summer of that year when our paths crossed. It was so beautiful, that I thought it would last to eternity somehow. . .

“Smile!” I heard a bubbly woman shout from the top of her lungs. She was holding an old-fashioned camera and began taking pictures. Her subject smile widely exposing their protruding teeth and gums.

She looks so exuberant amidst the scorching heat of the noontime sun. Soon the endless flashing of cameras emanates the open field, totally disregarding the intense heat that started to seep into her skin.

Distant away from her direction, I silently watched her as she carefully took pictures. Everything she came across is her subject, from a youngsters playing outdoors down to a plain rock formation she stumbled upon. Bemused somehow of her unfathomable action, yet it didn’t hinder my deep curiosity of taking a step to know her better.

ONE FINE morning, I took my sketchpad and pencil with me. Settling myself under the shade of a bonsai coconut tree, I started doodling.

I was already in the midst of my doodled subject when suddenly I was blinded by a flickering flash of light. And there I saw her constantly taking pictures of me. My lips twitched and formed into an amused grin.

She waved at me and smiled back, then traced the steps towards my direction.

“Hi! I’m sorry if I disturbed you.” She said with the tone of sincere apology.

“No worries. It’s fine, really!” was my reply. Good thing I didn’t stammer. Being near with her sent me shivers, a tingling sensation that I hardly comprehend. Its way beyond my understanding, I guess.

“Fine sketch you got there!” she said referring to my artwork. “Though . . . it kinda resembles me.” She added, winking at me

Too late to hide it, I flushed when I realized she took a good look on my works. But seeing her big smile plastered on her face, I knew she wasn’t upset. Maybe surprised by my impulsive imagination, I can only guess, other than that it seems completely fine with her.

I just meekly smile at her, realizing my doings.

She smiled back as if she’d understand my muted response. It was a silent communication, a process that only the heart can twig.

SOON, it happened that she became my instant comrade, my chum, my best buddy. We always accompany each other on our silly, absurd treks. We walked several miles just looking for a subject, so on and so forth. Sound a bit of foolishness, but that’s how we spend each other’s time.

As day elapsed, I felt a strong attraction towards her. So afraid to admit thinking it might end up everything we’ve once shared. I just decided to keep it in myself. As long as she’s with me it will be fine.

SHE was sitting on the edge of a plateau holding my sketchpad and doodled something. She’s so engrossed on what she’s doing that she didn’t even noticed I deliberately took a stolen shot of her.

She looked infinitely young and beautiful as I peer into the eyepiece. Her long, straightened hair danced through the mid-air as the wind continuously blowing its cool breeze.

I held tightly the camera, anticipating for another stolen shot but was stopped shortly when she abruptly covered herself with my sketchpad. I crack a hearty laugh upon realizing I was caught off-guard. She joined me in a boisterous laughter and our animated voices echoed in the air. . .

A picture of innocence, your eyes

They moved me even now

If I had the confidence I tried

To bring you back somehow

To another place in time

When your love was mine. . .

I hastily wiped the single tear that escaped from my eyes. It seems the phenomena happened yesterday that I can still shed a tear like that. Yes, the occurrences still affect me this much. So much that the unbearable pain still hovering inside, drowning me into subterranean pits of sorrow and distress. . .

“Do I know you?”

I stood flabbergasted and stunned at the same time. I thought she was just playing a joke on me, but seeing her serious expression justifies that she was not joking. I was taken aback by her sudden outburst. My entire system can’t digest the heart-wrecking revelations. . .it’s too agonizing.

How come that she didn’t know me where in fact we’re together the other day? How come she easily dismisses me from her system? How?

Without a warning tears streamed down my cheeks. I quickly turned my back to her. I can’t afford to let her see me weeping. It’s quite too much. Excusing myself I headed for an exit.

Maybe I’m just a sentimental fool

Bringing back memories from a photograph of you . . .

A teardrop fell on the piece of paper I’m tightly holding. The brevity of the note transcends everything. Every word scribbled, every phrase told, and every sentence delivered lurched inside me. Her utmost feelings and emotion was thoroughly relayed and all contained in that terse note. . .

COLLECTING my wits and gathering enough courage, I decided to search for her whereabouts. I finally made up my mind. I’m going to tell her what I really feel for her, that I love her so much and that I’m willing to do everything just to make her remember every moment we’ve shared. It’s now or never, at least I tried.

I’ve picked up my knapsack and was heading doorway when I heard someone calling outdoor. As I open the egress, a postman showed up and handed me a mail. Since I’m in such a hurry, I just pocketed it and left.

MY foot leads me to a plush manicured lawn. The stillness and calmness of the place is very much unsettling. Only the chirping of birds and the delicate swaying of tree branches can be heard in a distant. I trailed the concrete, narrow pathway. At the far end, I can see where she is.

A warm fluid brimming in my eyes blinded my sight. On bended knees I deftly trace her. A stifled sob that I keep on controlling a while ago finally escaped and eventually I cried my heart out. This wasn’t exactly the instances that I figured out when I came here to see her. It’s beyond expectation that this gonna happen. A bit too soon.

I breathe deeply and straightened myself. I looked intently on the bold carvings engraved on the stone. In loving memory of . . .

“Hi, good morning I’m looking for---” I was cut short by the woman who opened the door for me.

“Y-You d-didn’t receive the letter we sent?!” she said stuttering as if it was very hard for her to utter a single word. I wonder she recognized me easily though it was the very first time I came along in their place.

“Oh . . . the letter, yes. . . I just came across a postman earlier and handed me a mail, I was such in a hurry that I didn’t bother to read it first. Why? Is there something wrong?” I noticed that the woman lower lids bloated, an indication that she just shed a bucket for the past few days. She didn’t reply in my inquisitions. The letter perhaps will elucidate all the unspoken tales.

I sat on the lawn facing her graveyard and fished from my pocket the letter her mother sent me.

My dear,

I love you very much. I’m saying this before my memory, body and soul betrays me. Sorry for not telling you about it. My time has come to end but yours just started. Smile, don’t weep. I’m taking pictures of you ‘there’. J

Much love from me. ∞

Attached to the letter is her photo and her doodled sketch of my face. I was smiling widely there.

I still had a photograph of you

I’ve kept it all these years. . .

I BLINKED. Back in the present time, I still stayed on the shade of that bonsai coconut tree. Squatting in the sand but not anymore sketching and doodling. Instead I’m holding her several years old photograph, and living in retrospection.

I raise my head and allow my eyes to wander in the panoramic vista of nature laid before me. The sun was already setting, saying its farewell but promises to come back the next morning. It will either shine in splendor or

behind mast of clouds.

Tomorrow will be just another day. Another torture day for the past still haunts and lingers in me.

I let out a deep sigh and buried my head in my palms. It was then a streak of light flashes through interrupting me from my deep contemplation.

“Captured a perfect instance of candid moments!” was a voice of a woman holding a Canon EOS 450D digital single-lens reflex camera. As she meets my gaze, she formed her fingers into a V-sign and mouthed “peace”.

My mouth twisted and stifled an amused smile.

~~~~~THE END~~~~~