December 28, 2005

Her Beautiful Boy by Anime

Chapter 1. Abandoned Child

With winter came white snow shielding rooftops from grey skies, short days, and cold nights. Merium breathed out slowly, watching her own breath escape past her parted lips and curl into nothingness. She smiled and stepped through the sliding-glass doors, her face thawing instantly at the sudden blast of hot air. She slowly peeled off her gloves and loosened the scarf around her neck, the skin beneath hot and itchy. She scratched the irritated skin discreetly, pausing in font of the bright red baskets with their dirty metal handles before walking on. All she needed was a hat.

She walked through the new store. The feeling of being lost was slowly creeping over her as she briskly walked from one end to the other, only a bit irked by the alien and highly inconvenient set-up of the store. The plastic in her loosened boots were digging into her already-sore ankles. Her eyes felt tender from all the harsh light that was coming from overhead. She felt disoriented and nearly missed the outer-wear section. She walked up and down the aisle, scanning the hideous selection of the misshapen, so-called hats. She settled on a plain blue one that, quite honestly, felt pleasant to the touch. Feeling very triumphant she clutched the machine-knitted thing and tromped out of the aisle, not paying much mind to where she was going until she realised that she didn't know where she was.

Merium groaned in frustration and spun on her heal, halting mid-way. She stood there, staring at the three year-old boy bundled in a green puffy coat. She stood in awe, mesmerised by his silvery hair. At that moment she didn't think much of him being alone, but as soon as the shock subsided she realised that he was looking around, strangely solemn and quiet for a young child. She stood on tip-toe to see above the racks of clothes, but she could not see any mother looking around frantically for her lost child. Merium crouched before the little boy and was taken aback by his bright blue eyes, shining with unshed tears.

She asked him where his mother was and his lower lip trembled. She held out her arms to him and rushed into them. His face had crumpled into tears and was openly crying against the crook of her neck. She stroked his silky hair and kissed his tan cheeks, cradling him against her. She picked him up, and he clung to her like any other small child would with its favourite blanket. She carried him out of clothing section, stopping periodically to ask for directions to the front of the store.

It was apparent that everyone else was mesmerised by his strange looks, but it did not ease her heart. Merium held to him tightly, unable to fathom why someone would be willing to abandon such a beautiful boy. She constantly gave him reassuring smiles and kissed his forehead, crooning and soothing. He was very quiet and didn't fuss about, making it easier for Merium to carry him.

When she had finally reached the service desk Merium realised that she had no idea what to say. She tried to explain to the best of her abilities. The man working at the service desk nodded kindly and called over the intercom for the boy's missing mother to come forth and reclaim her child. Merium thanked him and leant against the counter, trying to loosen his vice around her neck. She sighed when she realised that it was useless and, instead, contented herself and him by singing what little songs she knew by heart.

Eventually, he let go of her and allowed Merium to set him down on the floor, with the unspoken promise that she would not let go of his hand under any circumstance. She called her mother to say that she wouldn't be able to make it in time for dinner due to odd circumstances that were seemingly too complicated to explain over the phone.

She was there until half-hour to closing time when police officers approached her, asking about the young boy. Merium tried to explain how she had found him, but found it difficult. They offered to take him off her hands, but she knew that they didn't mean that she had a choice. The young boy in question, still clutching her hand, tried to shuffle his way behind her to find from the burly men. She sighed and picked him up, announcing that she would take him home. They protested, but she refused to listen. Then, after about half an hour, they all left the store and Merium had the fact that she was now his mother thrown into her face.