Day 27
I traveled back to the village where I learned how to speak. The village of Luton is the same since the last time that I came here. Its as if time stopped here. The only thing that indicates change is fact that the villagers are aging. I got to see Maelon again, he was the one who taught me common language and helped with my growing up. He would have taken me in if it wasn't for his nagging wife and many children. Of all people in Luton, he is certainly the kindest. Time hasn't been kind to Maelon. His left leg has developed a limp. I asked about it.
"Oh that? Don't worry." He said, "This is just what happens when you get old. Sometimes your body doesn't work like its supposed to. The muscles in this old leg is starting to weaken. I had a healer look at it but there isn't much she can do about it. So I'd say not to worry about it."
"But you're not that old." I insisted.
He didn't give me much of a response, instead just shrugging it off. I think there is something that he isn't telling me. But I decided drop it. After all, if he says that its fine or not to worry about it, then I shouldn't. Maelon wouldn't lie to me. We chatted for a while about a bunch of stuff. I told him about my recent travels, leaving out the part about my mom. He told me about his blacksmithing job and how it was going. Most of his kids had grown up and moved out or married. His wife still was nagging but she had started to leave him alone since his leg was injured and all. Towards the end of the conversation, he pulled out a small box and placed it on the table.
"You know…before I was a blacksmith, I was a hunter." He started.
"I know." I said excitedly, "You were one of the hunters that found me in the forest with my mom."
"Yes. Well we didn't find just you." He explained, "Around your neck was an amulet. Some of the other hunters wanted to steal it so I took it before they could. It was around your neck so it is rightfully yours. Besides…for all we know it could lead to your original parents."
I opened the box and looked in to see an amulet with a blue stone in the center. Looking back up to Maelon, I could see his curiosity but I didn't share it. The one thing I would never be curious about is my birth parents.
"Is this a gift from you?" I asked.
"Well it was originally yours and it might-"
"Are you giving this to me?" I asked, "I don't care about my birth parents. They weren't the ones who raised me. They aren't family. But you….you are the closest I've ever come to a…well…"
"A father?" He asked with a warm smile, "I've always considered you one of my children, even if my wife doesn't. And yes… it is a gift."
"Then I'll take it!" I said happily.
It took me a little while to put on the amulet, as I had to figure out how to put it on. With a little help from Maelon, I was able to wear it around my neck. This was a gift that I will treasure forever. However, I noticed that Maelon had become suddenly quiet.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"…I have something to tell you." He said, "I am very sick. The limp is due to a muscle failure but it has more to do with my brain. I'm slowly loosing control of my body. Soon I'll be unable to do things like walk, talk, eat, sleep without assistance. My wife has already arranged for a servant to come and help but I know that my days are going to be numbered. The idea of being unable to do simple things like feeding myself….I hate it. So I have made a request to all of my children. Don't come back until I have passed. I know this will be a difficult request but…. I want you to remember me as I am now. A strong father figure who was always smiling."
It felt as though a boulder was shot through my chest when he said those words. I had just admitted that he was a father figure and suddenly the world was taking him away from me. What was worse is what he asked of me. It meant I couldn't spend his last days with him. At that moment, I broke down into tears and held him. I didn't want to. I didn't want to leave him. I didn't want him to leave me.
"T-there must be some way to heal-" I managed to say through tears.
"No." He interrupted, "Even if there was, I doubt that we would have the money for it. I do not want anybody to waste time or that much money on me."
I kept holding onto him. Tears fell onto his shirt as I realized that he had accepted his fate long ago. But I wasn't ready to accept it. My grip on him only grew tighter.
"It's time to go." Maelon said holding me, "Everybody has a time. Everybody has a place. This happens to be mine. Remember that I do care about you and the rest of my children. But….I'm not going to have you remember me as a mindless idiot who can't even walk by himself or use the bathroom. I want you to remember me this way. As a strong person who held you."
We stayed like that, holding onto one another. Despite everything he said, I know he was hurting. Knowing that the only family members he'd ever see again was his wife. But in the end, he made me leave. If I stayed, he would have had one of the guards remove me from the house…. Once again, a parent has been taken from me. Once again I'm alone.
The world really must hate me…