Chapter Fourteen - Part One

Miracle Irene

Archie Parthenia

I had found Blythe Roya in tears earlier today at the library, a black book in hand as she wept loudly for everyone to hear. The library was oddly silent except for the perpetual buzzing from bookworms that roamed the shelves.

"Is that Medina's?"

She was shocked to find me wandering the library the same as her. I hadn't cried yet, I let the sinking feelings swim in their pond of guilt, dormant for the time being.

"Yes." She replied.

I slumped against the wall, wary of bugs, staring at the book that should have disappeared along with Medina. I supposed it was a myth that your story disappeared with you. I nodded at his Grim Chronicle, "Do you know how he died?"

Blythe moved her head as if to say yes but sobbed into her hand at the mention of her fiance. I had known the two of them had fallen in love, and I was happy, especially after his ordeal with Advika. I recalled how nervous he was the day he proposed, humming that song he always did when he was worried about something.

Zahra's lullaby is what he called it. I never knew of its origins but sometimes the apartment would be filled with that song, as if it carried with it an emotional burden and release. You could hear it in his voice, according to Helen he used to cry singing it and most days he wouldn't know why.

But those days were far behind us now.

"Did you know there was this librarian he loved once, her name was Roya, like my surname."

No, I did not know that. I raised my eyebrows, pondering if maybe it was a part of the charms that drew Medina to Blythe. They weren't an odd pairing by any means, they fit like two halves of a whole. It was freeing knowing Medina would spend the afternoon in the bliss of Blythe's company. After all, I trusted her with my life, and he trusted his with me.

And I failed him.

I walked forward to Blythe, whose eyes held a silent plea. I held her as she cried, awkwardly situated as she smeared her tears into my shirt. The library had fallen silent as if to mourn Medina's passing, his actual second death.

Blythe murmured so quietly I almost missed it, "Do you want to know how he died?"

I let go for a moment and thought hard before thinking of my memories of Medina, the kind man with a scary face. I smiled as I remembered our first meeting, he was all over the place, he was a mess but it was what made him appeal to me. Even though I knew him for a fraction of his livelihood I felt honoured to have met such a down-to-earth man, one with sincerity behind his actions, one who treasured everything that came. One that called us his home.

I turned my heel as my eyes glossed over, "No."

Then I walked out.