Ashen in Loss

At first, as it always is, the world was surreal. Canons blew, pistols fired, screams bellowed and the stench of betrayal, greed and jealousy followed through into every crevice and alleyway, where demonic clouds darkened the divine light of the sun and the moon.

It had been a mere few months since the start of humankind’s battle in greed and desire, but they were months that felt like a century. The city had lost too much, but it still had the faint echo of a beating heart, a sign of the little purity humanity had left.

The orphanage witnessed its first struggle when the first invaders landed from a distant land in search of riches. Food was scarce and the water supply was running low, yet in the chaos the children chose to remain hopeful. Despite his special education having been postponed, Bodhi, alongside Ekadashi, continued teaching the children the many things they had learnt in the past few years, the things that they were not yet able to teach them. And much of the city’s population had fled the city in fear; only the loyal stayed to protect their homeland.

However, in his excitement for learning and teaching, he buried himself in his books, and the real world that rumbled on in the background, was escaped from. This mindless state continued until a bright light of a pure soul awoke him. One auspicious day, Ekadashi exploded in his room with much needed good news, or so she thought. The soldiers that had come to invade were seen retreating. Their search for treasure had been left in vain. The treasures they had come to seek had all but disappeared, for they were imbued with magical properties, ones that could sense doom, a quality that Bodhi shared. And it was due to this that he knew, the worst was yet to come, however he did not know when, just that it was soon.

In the chaos, he still found time to visit his favourite cove with Ekadashi, which awoke with life when the children entered. However, its light had changed in the recent months, it had become more ancient and tired, as if it had somehow aged millennia in the few months of war. Nonetheless, the light was still there. Bodhi had noticed that Ekadashi often wore her bracelet and brought her pocket watch with her to their secret hangouts, and it warmed his heart. It was this moment that both their bracelets glowed, ever so slightly, however it was a light that they both missed.

Weeks passed, the soldiers failed to return and the hope of freedom slowly wiggled its way back into hearts, but it was too good to be true, as it always is. On the day of a full moon, Bodhi and Ekadashi, spent most of their time in the cove for this was when it shone the brightest. They both chose to take a swim in the pure waters of the cove and play with the fish in the sea, and so removed their priceless bracelets, and with the wine stained pocket watch, placed them on a rock nearby. Porpoise chirped in the distance, whales hummed hymns and sharks playfully bumped their noses against the two children. Far too long passed in this spirited trance and before they knew it night had fallen. In their rush they forgot the only three items that would be history’s memory of them.

Bodhi was the first to remember what they had forgotten, but by this time they had reached the gates of the orphanage. They both thought it best if he returns as he was the fastest, and so he did, the fear of being scolded driving him to move faster than ever before, for the people of the city were still uneasy about the sudden departure of the soldiers and feverishly anticipated they could arrive back at any time. And arrive back they did.

Bodhi had just about retrieved the lost items and was on his way back when he saw what looked like a lightning flash in the direction of the cove and sea and he heard what sounded like a firework and a sonic boom in the direction of the orphanage. Torn between the two, he rushed over to his home which lay ablaze. Mortified, he ran in, but was thrust out by another explosion leaving him unconscious on the side of the road.

When he awoke, what felt like a nightmare grew in flames before his darkened eyes. Lives and memories flashed before his eyes; they were lives of the ones he had lost. The orphanage was gone, everything he had was lost, everyone had gone. Passers-by did what they could, but there was nothing they could do. The children, alongside their carers had been reduced to nothing but roaring flames of heat. Bodhi took solace knowing that everyone was loved and lived the short lives they lived to the fullest they could. But his heart weighed heavy with loss and he never regained the light the heavens had showered him with.

Ekadashi died, she died on a day that should have seen triumphant celebration for the day of her death, the eleventh day of the lunar month, was the anniversary of her birth. Yet there she lay engulfed in flames. Memories of their love comforted his grieving soul which continued to grieve for many lifetimes. Bodhi never recovered from the trauma of war. He spent the rest of his life hoping with the entirety of his heart that Ekadashi died in peace, without suffering. He never got to find out.

And so,

‘Without the essence of fire and water

Happiness and sadness ceased to exist,

And the purge of humanity’s struggle

continued to reign on in the sands of time.

Pain regained its prominence

and hope and happiness withered away in darkness.

In complete silence.’