In Continuum.

The Metal Bird

The metal bird pierced through the white mountains like a knife through butter. Bearing inside its stomach, hundreds upon hundreds of mundane live forms, trusting the eyes and the wings of the metal bird to bring them from one place to another. Some fear the height at which it soars, and they attempt to distract themselves with tiny moving paintings and melodies from plastic head gears. Then there are the rest, the impatient ones, trusting the vibrance of the dream world to take away the boredom that is the long hours of the bird's flight. The metal bird is humming a song right now, one single note that resonates through its body. The monotony is coaxing more life forms to join in with the impatient ones, taking leave from the journey and dive into yet another that requires not the metal bird, but the closing of their eyes and the infinity of their minds. One life form attempts to write a story upon yet another moving painting that is under his command. White framed and elegant, this little piece of machinery has proved useful against the might of boredom many a times. Almost another two rounds of the hour hand around the time giver before the metal bird decides to perch upon a branch, and the single life form begins his account for what happen yesterday, a day that he shall not soon forget.

The sleepless night before left its mark upon his eyes, for they were swollen like apples that hung upon his forehead. He yawned as he sat at the edge of the moving stairs, unable to keep his attention on any one object for longer than a few seconds. The night before was horrible, he thought to himself, the horrible thoughts swirled in his head like a mighty cyclone, merciless upon the shores of the sea. It wasn't so much about himself, but about the person whom he loves. A storm is coming, and the fragile wood that holds up the house of his loved one will not stand the rain and the winds. If it was a punishment by the Gods for the sins he has committed in the past, then the Gods have once again triumphed over his trivial soul. The dark circles widened underneath his eyes as he tried to keep his eyes on the crowd, and the sad attempt at keeping himself awake was energized by the sight of the one he loves, the one that stood out from the crowd like a golden star.

She climbed the stairs to where he was sitting, a silent greeting was exchanged between the both of them. The storm seems to have gotten the better of her house, the way things seem to have crumbled around her like feathers in the wind. Yet, she forced a smile from the edge of her lips, while his arms were out-stretched signaling the need of a long embrace. They hugged for the longest time without a single word exchanged just yet, just the presence of each other and the warmth calmed both their souls, while other souls busied themselves with business of their own. She settled herself down in between his legs with her back towards him, and he sank his face into her freshly washed hair. The familiar scent attacked his nostrils and tamed the unsettling beast inside his head, and he was glad even if it was only for a second or two. They talked, about the storm and what it is to come. "Our defenses," he said, "I am not sure if they are going to hold for long." He took her hand into his, running his finger down her palm and feeling the cold sweat in between her fingers. He was nervous, about the dark future of things, but mostly about the loved one who was sitting right next to him. For the most part, her eyes stared out into the distance, at nothing particular and everything at the very same time. She was holding the watery jewels back, afraid to reveal them to the crowd, afraid that they'd be judgmental, to be so cruel like they are. He puts an arm around her shoulders, as if it was a cue for her head to turn to his. They both knew the consequences of their actions, what they have to do to rebuild their home after the great storm has passed. None can be sure if that is going to happen, but both of them knew that it is the greatest threaten to their love for one another. The light in her eyes dimmed for a moment, and a veil of shadow passed over her face. His heart broke at that moment, for he was also responsible for the coming of the storm. Who knew that the sins of the past would catch up with him so soon, or the effects so far and wide. He never wanted to hurt her, never wanted to aid the killing blade. And yet, every bruise upon her knees and every cut upon her heart has been, in some ways, contributed by his actions. Guilt overwhelmed his body as he tried to utter the following words, the same words that she said to him only the night before when all else seemed lost. "Don't be sad, bright eyes", said the Pelican, and everything was alright. Even if it was for a split moment, it was alright.

The day carried on as usual, like how it would be like if the storm never came in the first place. They made a trip to the town center where the market traded goods from lands far far away. With plastics they traded for goods, and they bought items to place underneath a great big tree. Snow is unheard of in this part of the world, and yet the spirit of the occasion was high within their hearts. The cold winds blew around them, the remnants of the storm still alive in the streets. Yet, the closeness of the both of them held their chins high, for they felt invincible against the might of darkness, and everything else that stood between the both of them. They feasted amongst a vast strange crowd, the same dish set before the both of them while accompanied by fluids in orange and brown. The bags of goods they traded settled down in between their legs and around their bodies, and for a moment the horrors of the storm passed and all was sunny again. They told jokes about their past and the present, saw the other life forms in other tables while they minded their own businesses. Some looked identical, while other strangely out of place. As one, they too were different from all the rest, because they were two people who were really one. Sharing the same invisible memory in a distant nebula, they drew thoughts and ideas from the same source and would constantly be surprised. Like the imaginary shape that they made up, or the biscuits with cartoon animals printed upon them. Everything about each other felt oddly familiar, and yet they were not daunted by the nature of it all. It was a comfortable feeling, like being buried underneath layers and layers of blankets on a cold winter morning. It was good, and it felt so right.

The snake bore the both of them homewards, along the same path traveled by other snakes only in two directions. The snakes stopped routinely upon the track, and the end of it was where they got off and headed for home. The day was drawing to an end, marked by the death of the fire ball for today. Yet it shall rise again the day after, like everything else that has come to pass in their lives, no matter how deep the shadows may seem. He entered her lair with much caution, greeting the owners of her lair with much care and interest. He did not want to offend, or course any more trouble that has already happened. So they closed the door behind them and settled down in the room. The goods were taken out and compared, then admired after being talked about for a while. An orange vast bore water from a fountain, and she carried it into her room for him to drink. The water rushed down his throat, freshening him and bringing him back to life. Her worried eyes met his as she looked down, and within those eyes he could tell that she knew. She knew of the hardship that he has went through, worried sick that he'd fall once again to the tiny devils that still ran wild in his veins. She cared for him, and wanted him to rest well instead of trying to stay awake. He refused her offer time and time again, and only tried to move on to other things to talk about. After all, only a few hours stood between then and the end of the day, which also meant an inevitable parting between the ones who were in love. Sadness flowed from her eyes when she stared into his, turning her head away just in time before the emotions revealed themselves. She sang a song on top of her voice, attracting the attention of the other dwellers of the lair. She sang, because she didn't want to break down in front of him, or at least she tried. He knew so well what it is like, and he too held back the tears that made rounds around his eyes. "Don't worry my love," said he. "I shall be here with you, till the very last minute of the night". She smiled, they embraced, and all was well once again.

Should they have stopped talking or singing, the silence around the room would have swallowed them whole without hesitation. Yet, there is a time when the music has to stop and the chatter has to go away. It was time for him to leave, it was time for her to remain behind. They were both going off to faraway lands on the following day, for a period of time long enough for their hearts to die a thousand times over. They gave each other the longest embrace in silence, her arms wrapped around his back like stubborn roots of a tree. Once again, he buried his face into her hair, taking in the last of her beautiful scent in his nose. Take it in, he told himself. Remember it, cherish it, hold it. They broke away, and her watery jewel rolled down her skin, leaving a trail behind like a glittering river. With that, they left the room and then the house, after speaking of the weather in the distant lands to the owners of the lair. Small talks, they always do well with distraction.

Farewell awaited around the corner as they came down through a long shaft within a tiny box, and the two took a stroll to the nearby park where they found a bench to sit upon. There was still time, always five minutes more from the five minutes passed. Alone against the rest of the world, she once again failed to close the dam that held back her tears, and they settled this time upon his shoulders like little crystals of light. He comforted her, telling of the things that they'd do when they both return from their journey. The damage has been done, they both know, and they shall be mended once they are back in each others' arms. The mending is going to be difficult, like untangling a ball of oil wires with your bare hands somehow. The end seems unclear, but they knew just one thing: they want to go through it all, together. Besides, plans have been made and promised being hooked up, pressed down, and blown a dozen times over. A feast upon the shores of the sea, a trip to the place where the animals roamed, and so many more things that he shall return to finish. He wasn't going to run away, though that was what she feared. He promised, once again, that he shall never leave her, despite fearing himself that she would do that to him instead. It was later when they both found out, that they shared the same fear for each about about themselves, that they both feared that the other person would leave. Perhaps it was the invisible nebula at work all over again, feeding them with ideas and fears from a distant place. He wanted her to be brave, for that was the only way he'd be that way. An electric shaver approached from a distant with a green light on top, and they gave each other a final embrace before the electric shaver bore him away. "Hey," the girl said just before he entered the electric shaver. "I love you so much."

"Silly girl," he said, still putting on that brave front. "My silly, silly girl." He entered the shaver and told the driver where to go. The door was closed and noise outside ended almost abruptly. Through the frozen waterfall made of sand, he blew a kiss through the winds and was caught by her fists. He turned back to the road ahead that was dotted by dull lamps and menacing shadows. The long tunnel swallowed the electric shaver whole, and the rumbling of the wheels underneath joined in the mix with his chaotic thoughts. It was then that his front shattered into a million pieces, upon the floors of the electric shaver, revealing the truth. He broke down in the backseat where nobody could see, burying his face into his palms and teared like a baby. He wanted to be home in his bed, in the arms of his mother, back whence he came when nothing else mattered, to her home once more to plant a kiss to her bubblegum lips. A wave of emotions swept through his body and down his spine, the chills of the night faded in comparison to the ones in his heart. Yet, he had to be brave, he had to be. It was the only way, he figured, that they'd emerge through this storm as one whole - one love.

We shift back to the metal bird which the life form continues to write. Half a revolution around the time giver before it perches upon the branch. His tears were mistook for fatigue, and his sobbing was confused with sniffles from the cold. He wiped away the tears and took leave from his seat. The narrow space in the lavatory closed in upon him, choking the life out of him. He hungered for her somehow, hungered for her to be next to him. It shan't be too long before that happens again, when everything would be back to normal. He has to be brave, he has to be. The metal bird is making its slow descent now, and he cleared his eyes and nose before pushing his way through the folding doors. "What took you so long?" his mother asked, as he buckled himself down into his seat. "I was crying my heart out in there", he said, yet another truth disguised as a lie.