Day 6 - Mask

My travels brought me to another town today, one different from the others I've visited both in life and in death. This town bustled with so much activity that even someone such as me found it hard to make my way through the hustle and bustle despite my condition. It was both fascinating and annoying at the same time to see such a huge number of people and things moving around the streets, unaffected by everything that is happening everywhere else.

Like ghosts.

As the reminder struck my mind again I pulled out my pen and journal and wondered if I would even manage to find something noteworthy in such a town of busybodies.

The Light did not fail me.

~

Among the crowd was a young man and woman, apparently in their teens, and doing what seemed to be shopping for some sweets in a shop filled with chocolates, candies, and other treats.

"Yes, I would love this, my darling." the young woman said, holding up a tin filled with small heart-shaped chocolates. "Won't you buy this for me?"

"By all means." the young man said, reaching into his coat pocket for some cash.

"Won't you ever replace that old, battered coat? It is unbecoming of a man of your posture and status to wear such dingy attire."

"This is a treasured coat from my mother, my dear. I would not part with this for anything else in the world." the man said, paying their due to the shopkeeper and walking off. "Besides, it is not that battered. It can still be worn without much inconvenience."

"Well suit yourself." the woman said flatly. "I still think it looks ugly."

The young man shook his head and followed the young woman, who had walked ahead.

---

"This is not going to work." the young woman said angrily, lashing out at the apologetic young man, who could even barely speak in his guilt. "If you do not care for me anymore, then it is best that we part ways. Before any of us could even hurt one another more."

"I... I'm sorry." the young man said. "I thought I could find it in myself to..."

"Spare me your explanations. It was foolish of me to do this."

"Yes, and I was stupid to even try."

---

A banquet. A moment of celebration for a friend's engagement.

For the young man, a moment of misery.

"It is such a nice spread, is it not?" a friend of the young man said, as the two watched the dancing pairs from an upstairs balcony. "I would not wish for a better engagement banquet for our friend."

"Same here." the young man said. "It certainly has that presence of grandeur beyond the simplicity on the surface."

"You must have gone shallow then."

The young woman strode past them, casting a glance at the young man, yet the young man sensed a taunting finger beckoning him to lash back at the young woman's words.

"I might have, or I might have not." the young man said coldly. "That is none of your business, however."

"Suit yourself. You are such a killjoy."

The young woman went away.

"You two still have not gotten over it, have you?" his friend asked, as the young man returned to his drink. "It would be best if you told her that you no longer feel comfortable with her constant - erm - attacks."

"I try not to bother." the young man said, downing the entire drink in one gulp. "Sometimes I just think that it is her showing how much I have hurt her or just being her normal, usual self. I do not even know why it affects me so lately, but something has changed. We are both aware of it."

"Well, that is something beyond me, my friend. Just let her know if you are no longer at ease with the status quo. Otherwise it could be devastating."

"I will try."

As his friend left, the young man pondered over his wine glass.

Months of misery and suffering, and still the mask he had worn over himself to hide his own pains has not been truly broken yet. The facade of happiness and cheeriness still has not completely hidden the guilt and the pain welling up from behind its flimsy surface.

~

"Strange." I said, as the Light joined me. "I feel as if I have gone through such an experience in life."

"Everyone does." the Light said. "To show their strength in the world many have put up a face. A mask, as you yourself have written it. Life is a constant battle of supremacy in some way and many have opted to put up a facade of their lives just so they can be competitive at it. It is a natural order in life, one that may no longer be removed from the culture you have developed along with being civil and intelligent beings."

"Yes, that is true." I said. "If only everyone would be as understanding and as tactful with their words."

"You cannot expect that of every human being. Everyone is unique and different and has their own lives to live. That is what makes the world a more interesting place."

I felt her presence on my shoulders, as if putting her arms on it.

"I shall cut your work short here for now, as you have witnessed and written sufficiently." the Light said. "Think about these lessons as you venture further into your crusade."

With that, she disappeared. A door opened from a hallway behind me, revealing a new path within.