Strands of Time

Warm rain. A perpetual, light shower falling across the gormless landscape, on a day like any other. She had lost track of which it was. Her memory had been affected by malnourishment. It all merged into one like the colours smudged upon an artist’s palette. 

She was walking hurriedly down one of the many streets in this labyrinthine slum. The hood was pulled up shielding her pretty, smudged face, framed by her greasy, long hair. Her eyes were averted towards the dirty ground, trying to distract attention, as to either side crowds of mountainous people hustled and bustled within this marketplace. It was like she was swerving through rocks in dangerous waters.  

To her side, she saw a small stall under a tattered canopy. At its base were boxes full of fresh, luscious fruit. Her pupils dilated. The sight caused her saliva glands to erupt. Once more, there was the discomforting, twisting sensation within her stomach.  

Ensuring not to be trampled upon, she darted through the crowd, emerged onto the side, and then stood there gazing fixedly at the array of produce. Rummaging inside her pocket, she withdrew a handful of scuffed credits. These had first been distributed as food-ration tokens, but the people within this refuge had turned them into a currency for trading various things including clothing, drugs, prostitution, and the elusive promise of a ticket out of this forsaken place.  

Under the canopy was sat an elderly woman. She had been staring contentedly into the crowd, surveying the array of different people, when in her peripheral vision she caught the glimpse of a small being. She turned to see the girl stood there wide-eyed and salivating at the mouth. 

‘Hello there, dear,’ she said warmly, and leaned forward, ignoring the strain in her weak body.  

The girl didn’t register and continued to gorp at the fruit, so the woman repeated herself. This time, she was drawn back into the moment and looked up into those friendly, wrinkled eyes.  

‘Hello,’ she said timidly in a high, vulnerable tone, before moving closer to inspect the stall. 

‘Are these real?’ The elderly woman chuckled. ‘Yes, they are.’ 

‘I have never seen anything like them.’ The girl marvelled. ‘Where did these come from?’ 

‘They were grown synthetically here within the refugee camp.’ 

‘Wonderful.’ The girl smiled. 

‘Have you never seen food like this before?’ the woman asked.

‘Never. Or, at least I don’t remember. There might have been food like this in my home.’ 

A small group of armed patrolmen walked past, so the woman gestured for the girl to walk closer.

‘And where was that, dear?’ 

The girl shook her head. ‘I don’t remember. I was very young when they came and brought us here.’

‘Do you remember your home?’‘A bit. The land was poorly. All the animals had gone. They came in big lorries and brought us here.’

‘Where are your parents?’

‘Mummy is at the hut looking after my two baby brothers. She sent me out to find food for us.’ 

‘And your daddy?’ 

The girl hesitated and looked down. The question caused her disconcertment. ‘He isn’t with us.’

‘What do you mean?’ The girl looked upwards with tears swelling in her eyes.

‘He died.’  

The elderly woman saw the distress, sighed sympathetically, and said softly: ‘I am very sorry to hear that.’

‘He died along with a lot of other people from my home. Our people had no food. Our people were very sick. Our people were very sad. Those men in the lorries came and rescued us. Brought us here.’ 

‘Can you remember where your home was?’ 

‘I don’t. It was far away.’

‘What is your name?’ 

The girl then pulled up a sleeve and presented a wristband with a barcode and number printed upon it. 

‘No, dear, what is your real name?’

‘Oh.’ The girl looked up in shock. ‘My name is Carla.’

‘And I am Felis.’

‘Nice to meet you.’ Carla smiled.

It was reciprocated. ‘…And you too.’ 

Carla leaned in to inspect the fruit, and as she did this her hair cascaded forward and something appeared from around her neck. Felis squinted and saw a metal object. 

‘What is that, dear?’ Felis asked whimsically.  

Suddenly, Carla was flooded with anxiety, stood upright and forced the object back underwear her torn top. ‘Nothing!’ she exclaimed.

‘Don’t worry, dear — I am not going to take that from you.’ Felis smiled reassuringly. 

Carla looked at her sceptically, turned to look over her shoulders, and then slowly revealed the object and held it within the under-turned palms of her muddy hands. 

It was a heart-shaped locket.

‘That is a fine piece you have there!’ Felis announced, gazing at the silver object. ‘Rarely, do I set my eyes upon anything so beautiful.’

‘My mummy gave it to me,’ Carla explained.

‘Do you have anything inside it?’

‘Yes.’ Once more, Carla looked cautiously over her shoulders before delicately opening the locket. On one of the inlays was a photo of a man. Opposite was a few strands of hair curled in a circular shape. 

’Who is that a photo of?’

‘It is of my daddy. My mummy gave this to me so that I won’t forget what he looks like.’

‘I see. That must be very special to you. And are those your daddy’s hairs?’

‘Yes.’ Carla then snapped shut the locket and hastily pushed it back underneath her top. She then averted her gaze upwards, away from the marketplace, and into the distance beyond the dreary scene.  

Felis leaned forward and followed Carla’s direction of sight towards the outskirts of the refugee camp. Barely visible through the rain, in the distance there was a large, imposing wall barricading them away from the thriving metropolis on the other side.  

Carla then said, ’I have spoken to other people here. They tell me that in the main city they have the technology. Machines that do magical things. A way for me to bring my daddy back to life.’

‘What do you mean?’ Felis asked.

‘Them people can bring my daddy back to life.’

‘I think what you are referring to, dear, is cloning.’ 

Carla looked at her once more. ‘Cloning.’

‘That’s right,’ — she then bit her inner lip and shook her head — ‘but I very much doubt you will be able to do that.’ 

Carla frowned. ‘Why not?’

‘It is very expensive. And it isn’t easy for us refugees to get in there. They keep us here locked away in this horrible camp.’

‘But I have these!’ Carla then produced a handful of the credits and cupped them desperately within her hands.

‘I’m afraid you will need more than those, dear.’

‘Well, I will find more!’ Carla replied boisterously.  

‘And besides…’ Felis then hesitated, knowing she had to choose her words carefully. ’If you were to do that, I am not sure it would be the right thing to do.’

‘Why?’ Carla protested.

‘Because if you use those hairs to produce a clone of your father, it won’t be the same person.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘It wouldn’t be your daddy, but a copy of him. I don’t know if it would be the person you hope for him to be.’

‘But I want my daddy back!’ Carla erupted with tears.

Instinctively, the woman stood up and limped out from under the canopy, painstakingly knelt onto one knee, and then gave Carla a hug. With great sorrow, she felt the girl shake with tears.

‘My dear, I am so very sorry.’ She stroked her hair. ‘I think the best thing for you to do is hold the memory of your father. You need to focus on your mother and brothers.’ 

Suddenly, Carla pulled away, brushed away the tears, and then looked up at the woman, enraged. ‘Why did he have to die? Why did he leave us!’ Her bloodshot eyes searched the elderly woman.

‘It is just the way of the world, my dear child,’ Felis said softly, stroking her hair.

‘But if my daddy knew what was happening, if he knew how the world was becoming sick, why did he want to bring me and my brothers into this world? Why!’

‘Your mummy and daddy didn’t bring you into this world just so that you could suffer. I am sure they both love you very much. Despite everything that can happen in this unmerciful world, every generation faces their challenges, but there are always ways to overcome these hardships in order to survive.’

‘Sometimes, I wish I had never been born.’ Carla rubbed her sore eyes. The woman sighed pensively. 

‘But you have something to live for, my dear. There is always something to live for.’ The woman smiled and used her thumb to brush away the tears from the girl’s cheek. ‘We all have to make the most of what we have been given. And you have your mummy and brothers. That is the most important thing — you have each other.’

‘But my daddy should be here looking after us. He shouldn’t have died.’

‘I know, dear. I know. But you have to find a way within yourself to let go and move forward.’ She then looked into the crowd, frowned, and then looked down at the girl. ‘Will you promise me that you won’t do anything silly? Promise that you won’t put yourself in danger to get into the city?’

Carla looked at her distraughtly. ‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because I know what desperate lengths some people have gone to in this camp. I don’t want you to be harmed.’

‘You mean about getting into the city?’

‘Yes, dear.’

Carla sighed, then said, ‘I promise.’ 

Felis then leaned forward and gave Carla another hug. They remained there for a moment, the frantic marketplace disappearing around them. Then Carla stood back, took out the locket, and started rubbing the cold surface, deep in thought.

‘I think your daddy would be very proud of you.’

Carla looked up at her jubilantly. ‘You think so?’

‘I know so.’ Felis smiled. 

Carla grasped the locket tightly within her muddy hand, took in a deep breath, and then carefully placed it back, where her father belonged.

‘Here, take these.’ Carla looked up and saw Felis holding a handful of fruit in her hands. 

‘For me?’ she questioned excitably.

‘Yes, dear.’

‘But, but I don’t have enough credits to pay for all of those.’

Felis then placed the fruit within a bag and handed it to Carla. ‘You don’t have to worry about paying me. These are a gift.’

Flabbergasted, the girl took the bag and then looked at the woman. ‘What is a gift?’

‘It is something you give to someone for free — a gesture of goodwill. Like that locket that your mummy gave to you.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course.’ Felis stroked her hair and then stood up. ‘Now run along and take those to your mummy and brothers.’

‘Okay!’ Carla smiled.

‘And make sure to come again to see me, won’t you?’

‘I will.’ Carla nodded and held the bag tightly. 

‘Now run along, little one.’

‘Thank you.’ 

And with that, they exchanged smiles, the woman stood aside, and then Carla started running off in the direction of her family. But as she started to become immersed in the crowd, she stopped, looked back once more, saw Felis retake her seat and wave at her, and then once more reached under her top to hold the locket. She held it tightly and for once it didn’t feel so heavy around her neck.