New Sight

"...This is awkward." Klay whistled. Iva blushed at the sight of us and elbowed him in the stomach, causing him to cough unpleasantly.

    I can't move, not with Aiden still on top of me, though. I can feel him staring and smiling slyly at me but I refuse to meet his eyes. Seconds later, I couldn't take it anymore.

    I absentmindedly pushed Aiden back and got up, dusting the grass and mud off my clothes. "S-So, err, hey guys let's go?" I managed to say, awkwardly.

   I heard someone groan from my side. Oh sh*t, I might've pushed him too hard. "Aiden! Are you okay?" I helped him stand from the ground. "I'm sorry," I said.

   "Yeah I-I'm fine, you're stronger than you look, I must say." He chuckled as he let go of my hands. Our eyes met and I saw something flash from his, like a memory or something. I raised my eyebrow. What is it?

    "So, yes, uhm guys?" Iva cleared her throat. "We should prolly head back to camp now." She lead the way and we followed suit.

    We walked silently, none of us spoke and I'm somewhat grateful though. This had been the most eventful day I've had after two years of locking myself at home.

   I can see the tents now, I can hear people laughing as they made bonfires. It's almost sunset. We've reached the gate and I turned back to see if they're still following me. I stopped walking and they looked at me.

   "Thank you, guys, for rescuing me in the middle of the woods. It was stupid of me to run away when I don't even know where I am or how to get back. You didn't had to come for me but you did and I'm grateful for that." I looked up and smiled shyly.

   Iva walked up to me and squeezed my shoulders in a hug, "It was no problem at all." She smiled as she let go, "We're glad we found you safe, Doc found you first on his way to hunt some deers and he saw you sleeping under a tree. So he texted us to come and get you." She explained.

   "Oh, so that's what happened." I smiled. I should thank Doc later. I know him since he was the one who invited me to this camp. And for the first time after a long while, I'm glad I came.

   "Hey, Leue? Do you want to join us in our group or did you already join in one?" Klay asked and I saw Aiden looking at me expectantly. "Yeah, Leue you should join us if you haven't yet joined one!" Iva said excitedly.

   Since I first got here I didn't really planned on joining any group, I wanted to be alone – which is the very opposite of the purpose of this activity, of course – but I didn't thought I'd make any acquaintance, more or less, friends. But now? I change my mind. I joined this camp so the least I could do about it is to make the most out of it.  Forget your trauma, Leue, enjoy the moment while it lasts.

   "I'd love to! I haven't joined any group yet." I smiled at them and saw the relief in Aiden's eyes. Klay bumped his fist with Aiden and walked past us but not before they messed with Iva's groomed hair.

  "Hey! You two are going to pay for this! Arrgh!" Iva shouted but the two already ran for their lives. I can't help but laugh at the sight of them, they're like kids!

  Klay is the most goofy one out of the three, Iva is more reserved than the two but she's comfortable to be with and Aiden?... Well, I'm not really sure what to feel towards Aiden. He knows about my past but he doesn't look at me like how other people does when they found out about what I've done. Maybe it's not really a big deal for him, but it is for me. I just hope it'll remain secret between the two of us.

   After minutes of laughing at Iva's complains about her now-messy hair, she finally calmed down and smiled. "Let's go!" I nodded and we both giggled as she linked her arms with mine. We strode past a sea of people. They were laughing and having a great time. We took a glass of coke from the food table. I noticed the people here are so lively.

   I'm starting to doubt if these people are like me. Well, none of the people I've met here, so far, showed signs of anything similar to mine. Maybe they're just willing to be here. And so will I.

  We found both Klay and Aiden sitting on a log, talking about something serious, I guess, they didn't even notice us going their way. Iva took the chance to avenge her hair. I can't help but laugh. Iva poured her coke to Aiden and Klay's shirt, they were startled and tried to get a hold of Iva but too late for them. She ran towards me and pulled me with her. We're now both running and laughing at the same time. The lights are on and the sky is now dark. Iva suddenly stopped. I looked at her, confused.

   "Whoa.." She said looking past me. I followed her gaze and saw the beautiful sight beyond this world.

   The lake reflected the starry sky, almost like I was looking at it's perfect replica but not quite. The waters glistened like stars and the sound of the slow current was music to my ears. I heard two people approach us, probably Aiden and Klay, but no one said anything. The sight in front of us is too marvelous to behold.

   I fear if I blink or breathe a little too much, the painting in front of me would be tainted. Or if I make a simple mistake, all of the walls I've built, would break in a blur because I know that I'm only one step away from the darkness inside my mind. And I fear it would take me back like it always did, before this day happened.

  "All shadows of clouds the sun cannot hide

Like the moon cannot stop oceanic tide;

but a hidden star can still be smiling

at night's black spell on darkness, beguiling."

   The three of us looked at Iva as she spoke a poem. "It's a quote from Munia Khan." She smiled and nodded ahead. "She's right though, isn't she? We can't hide anything from the darkness inside of us... but we can choose to live with it by accepting the consequences that we cannot control." Silence filled our ears, once again. I heard her sigh.

   Aiden came from my side and I looked at him with a confused look. He didn't say anything but his eyes told me everything I needed to know. He wasn't going to tell anyone about my past. I smiled a thank you at him and he smiled back.

   "That was a nice poem Iva. And very true indeed. " I said as we all took one last look at the pristine sight.

   We finally headed back to our tents, we didn't get to eat anything but no one, except Klay of course, was hungry so we decided to call it a day. Iva joined Klay, most likely making sure he won't eat everything he sees that's edible. There were still people outside their tents talking and laughing, basically enjoying their day like I am with mine.

   Everything felt so nostalgic, like I used to do this before, I used to be this version of me.

   We stopped outside my tent. We were supposed to sleep by threes per tent but I refused to follow that rule since I'm not really a people-person, so Doc made an exception for me, in return I should mingle with people and I'm glad I got the chance to do so.

  "Thank you, Aiden, for the company. And for keeping my past a secret." We stared at each other, his eyes are smiling.

   "You're welcome, Leue and your past is yours to tell." He said sincerely.  "I got your back Leue." He squeezed my hands, a reassuring stance.

   "Thanks Aid." My breathing hitched as I realized what I said.

    I can feel him stare at me but I didn't want to face my embarrassment yet.

   "Anytime, Leuesanna." I know he smiled when he said that. No one besides my family, him, and my high school friends or classmates knew my full name but I hated it since it's too long to pronounce. I guess he really knew me back then, huh.

  I went inside my tent and took something from my bag. It's a picture of me in high school, I was smiling, probably laughing as well. I always carry it with me. It reminds me of a life I don't remember. Makes me feel more human to know that I can still forget.

  I stared at it for a while and then I saw something, someone, beside me holding my hand. I didn't payed it any attention before but now... My eyes widened in disbelief.

  Why was Aiden there with me in the picture? Or better yet... Why were we holding each other so closely and why can't I remember anything in this picture?