Days Past (Prelude)
The sun was setting gold. Rice and barley fields caught its light to display in even greater brilliance. Yazi loved evening time. Ka’i was done with school, and so were all the kids around. Each day, they would all gather at the Sinu’s farm to run around and play games. There were eight of them in total, ranging in age from five to fourteen. Yazi was third oldest, the Chi twins were both 5, he was 7.
The open, blue sky looked wonderful on this day. Everything was perfect.
“Ka’i! Yazi!” a familiar voice called out.
It was time to eat the evening meal. Yazi walked into his family’s modest, yet comfortable home, his nose instantly filled with the smell of a well-broiled chicken being served over rice. Every meal was nourishing and delicious, no matter how simple. The Sinu family gathered around their table, which stood just slightly taller than a foot off the ground. Yazi’s mother and father both grew up on farms in Tanshu and never left. It was a rather prosperous town, with many happy inhabitants.
Yazi finished his meal with a smile on his face. It was now time to pray and read. Each member of the family went to their own space to pray, with no distraction apart from the burning incense.
“Great Father, I pray for Mom and Dad and Ka’i and Desei and Kuza and Lei’i and Miza and Marei and Kota. Please keep them safe as long as I live and forever more. Thank you for your many blessings.”
Yazi must have prayed that prayer a thousand times by now. Some days he felt it was unnecessary, praying for protection and safety, but not today. Today, it made sense. Today, he realized he never wanted to go a day without seeing any one of his companions. They were his life.
The sun had now set, and darkness filled the sky. Warm torches allowed Yazi to see around his house now. Yazi’s friends were there again, this time to watch the stars. Bright constellations and galaxies illuminated the insides of Yazi’s eyes. The stars were simply wonderful.
