Even Gods get Forgotten

I press an hand over my shoulder massaging it while the water covers me just beneath it... The training today wasn't hard at all, but somehow I feel tired.

I sigh letting my hand fall back in the water...

-Maybe all those events or the moving here and there are affecting me...-

I look down at my hands as some water plants brush over my fingers, dancing elegantly... What meets my eyes next is my reflection.

My face is still the same, a bit more mature as I am fully adult now and a bit more serious as all I've seen for the past months was death and blood...

And...

A bit skinnier. This war has emptied many plates, ripped many clothes and dried many wells.

Running an hand over my chest and abdomen I can feel the bones under the muscles...

My ribs keeps showing more and more as the weeks pass

There have been longer wars in the past... And there have been a lot more poverty around the country...

But this time it's different, it's sucking everything away. Drying the lands and undressing humans of all their rights...

What I want to understand is WHO is behind all of this and how I can end it.

I shake my head and rise my eyes up in the sky...

The round moon shines bright, cornered with beautiful starts looking down on us...

-I wonder what they are thinking... Looking at us being so pitiful...-

The silver light is calming and warm as an embrace.

Even the trees seems to react to it as a light wind brushes trough them singing

I close my eyes still facing up...

It's like a mother... Or am I just like a child?

~"

Laying on one side with the head over a faceless mother, who sings sweet poems, while running slow fingers in your hair...

I feel so small and vulnerable under such presence.

-Shh... It's alright... I'm here-

-How would that help mother...?-

-Since you were born, I was there... Kissing your bruises and hugging you whenever you cried for loosing your favorite toy...

Giving you strength and encouraging you... Singing for you and feeding you. You're my precious one...

My joy for the future...-

The mother bends down to kiss her child dissolving

-Sleep well...-

"~

-This...- I see a drop fall in the water... It's a tear from... Me?

This wasn't a memory... That wasn't my mother nor has anyone ever treated me this way.

But it was still real

I don't know how, but it was part of me...

I haven't seen anyone's past nor am I hallucinating. It was like when you smell a determined perfume and, even if you can't name it, memories will comes rushing to you...

-Are you done?-

I turn around with wide eyes to find Zhou on the beach

-Oh... It's you-

-We're you hoping in someone else?- asks him rising an eyebrow.

Indeed I was

-Uhm... No, anyway what do you want? To come all the way here at this hour-

He takes a towel I prepared and rise it over his eyes as I walk out of the water, He lowers it over my shoulder and turns around as I get dressed

-I was just curious-

-About what?-

-Why you come here... And why at this hours... Or why you take so much each time.

It's been only a couple of days since you arrived and you came here each day, You're not hiding anything right?-

-What do I have to hide anyway? I own nothing and know nothing-

He sighs and his eyes become more gentle -I know... I was just... Nevermind, War's driving us all crazy-

-You can speak freely-

-Hope...- he turns to the dark sky as it enlighten his pale skin

-I was just hoping in a miracle. With all the things we heard about you... I was praying you had a solution...-

He sighs -I'm tired of it all... As any human is-

One thing I began to understand is that this guy has his own way to express things...

He may not sounds logic but the concepts he talks about are straight from his heart... He need to be read, not listened to.

And once you do... You won't find the tought and angry soldier you see with your eyes.

But a little child curled up, scared of being hurt or forgotten...

-Zhou'Ge...-

I rest an hand on his shoulder, making him turn his head with sparkling black eyes

-I don't know what miracle you're searching for... Nor do I know if a miracle is what we need.

We can only keep on fighting together with all we have, for those who are left behind... Maybe that is the true miracle-

-You're wise... And you're stronger than anyone... I place my trust in you-

-I'm not your General nor your Emperor-

He shakes his head -No you're not...

But I know you played a big part in fighting this war until now and you will keep on doin it... I also know that I'm not the first one to follow you.

But I'm starting to believe that if we come together under your example, a brighter future might shine-

I almost cleanch my hand around his shoulder before taking it away

-Don't take me as guide or as your hope... I might disappoint you all. If you just want to take me as an encouragement then... Then I can do it...

To think I once had the selfish desire of becoming an example, to be one of those stories in a dusty library you find by accident and opens your brain to new possibilities...-

-That desire... For us all that is too high to aim, but for you it's too low... You won't be an hidden book in a dusty shelf but a pilar of history-

-Even Gods get forgotten by time, Zhou'Ge...-

His eyes tremble -Teach me-

-What do you want to learn?-

-To feel the Qi, I know you can do it... I might not reach your level but even the tiniest bit would be something-

-It is not said that you will succeed even if I teach you-

-I know... But even if the probability of me being helpful is thin, then I'm willing to fail too-