Honoring Those Who Are Gone
With a scarf around her head and flowers in her hands, Shierra stepped out into the cool morning to visit her friend’s grave. It was strange to think that it had been a full year already since Keena had passed on into the care of the gods. Sometimes, it still felt like it was just a few days ago that the other youngling had been buried. Shierra had not been familiar with the experience of death before Keena’s passing. She had heard plenty about those who had died before her time, but those people were distant and disconnected from the young girl’s world in which life thrived. Her parents were full of life, and her siblings were full of life, everyone in town was full of life. Keena changed all of it.
Keena had moved to the town a few years back, and Shierra had taken a liking to the girl almost immediately. Keena was about Shierra’s age, a pure waterling with spiky black hair, pale skin, and dull yellow eyes that somehow managed to sparkle all the same with a lust for adventure and life that rivaled many around. A kindred spirit, as it were! Keena was also very sick. The girl had the weakest muscles and bones, constantly sporting a cast or a sling. The Matorian did not let her illness dampen her spirits though. This was what drew Shierra the most. Other kids stubbed their toe and complained for days. Keena rarely uttered a self-pitying word. Despite the odds against her, Keena still loved living, and tried to live her life to the fullest.
Shierra could still remember their first meeting. The both of them so young, still in their single digit ages! Shierra had been chasing her older brother’s zanteer around on the beach. The zanteer knocked into the wisp of a girl accidentally, knocking her over. Shierra had been ready to run on by with just a brief apology when she noticed the girl wasn’t moving. She hurried over for a closer look, and saw the girl was awake and had a few tears in her eyes. Shierra asked her if she was pouting. The girl had looked up at her defiantly, and stated that she never pouted. Shierra had left it at that. It wasn’t until a couple days later that she learned the truth, seeing the girl again with a cast around the leg the zanteer had run into. Actually a little nervous, Shierra had asked about the leg, and thus learned Keena’s story.
From then on, if she wasn’t with her siblings, Shierra was hanging out with Keena. Between the two of them and their imaginations, Shierra doing the physical work while Keena provided the mental setting, the two girls traveled the world without leaving Matori.
As the years passed, Keena’s health deteriorated. Shierra stood fast by her friend. They continued getting together, but the area of play grew smaller and smaller until Keena was restricted to her home. Keena could no longer run, could barely walk, but every time Shierra saw her, the waterling had the biggest smile. Eventually, Keena had been limited to mushy food, could not carry anything heavier than a cloth doll, and was unable to get out of bed. Still, every time Shierra went over to visit, Keena would smile.
Near the end, Shierra asked Keena how she could smile even though her life was confined to the bed. Sounding much older than her ten summers of age, Keena whispered, “You, of course. My mama and my papa. The doctors. My neighbors. The wind. The sound of the water. My dollies. Why should I be sad when I have so much?”
Just a few months later, Keena’s body had exhausted itself. Now, Shierra had only a stone marker to visit. She looked down at the stone sadly. It was a shining green stone with Keena’s name etched onto it, along with an image of a xaraan. Keena had always talked about being a xaraan; being able to run fast and free...
Shierra sat next to the grave and laid down the flowers. After a moment, Shierra found herself smiling as she remembered the fun they’d had together, and started reminiscing out loud. Soon enough, she was laughing and talking as though Keena was sitting right there. Keena, who always smiled, and never pouted. A girl who could run everywhere, and a girl who could run no-where. Shierra could look back and knew she had learned a lot from her friend. Keena certainly would not want her to remember the good times they had shared together and be sad that she was gone. Friends were for remembering fondly.
When mama and papa spoke of those who had passed, they always had happy memories to share. Well, sometimes, once in a while, they were sad; but mostly happy. Shierra wanted to show Keena how special their friendship had been to her.
The evening had worn on, and Shierra was exhausted from talking and laughing and crying and laughing some more. Pressing a light kiss to the stone, the hybrid stood and headed home. She could now relate to those who spoke of loss... she would be like her parents though, and like Keena would have wanted her to be. Rather than letting herself be sad, she would be glad for the time they had been able to share together. After all, it really was something to celebrate.
Word count: 908 *5points
