experienced a strange recognition upon seeing this man, a familiar feeling overcoming Elsa for reasons she was not yet aware of. Around and about him, and between the unsightly forest border and the wheel-track leading into the main area of the town, was a natural pattern which resembled a threshold for the man exiting the forest, a circular red ivy careening around the contours of his physical shape, cradling him in a way that Elsa imagined the ivy offered its fragrance and fragile beauty, as a token for the blossoming recognition growing inside her, beckoning her to take pity on the broken creature before her.
That night, undressing and placing her garments in the washing basin, Elsa massaged her clothes through the warm water, tilting her head as she daydreamed about the day's developments. Her thoughts centered around this man who emerged from the forest. Elsa had never seen the stranger anywhere before throughout the town, as its small population facilitate that its people know each other fairly well, while there were some occasional exceptions. The blond man might have seen Lili walk into the forest and chased after her, though if he had any family, the town would have known he was missing. But there was another possibility—that the man was a forest dweller to begin with, and Elsa's imagination sparked to life numerous ideas, but she immediately felt guilty about them. Her parents taught her she should do everything to remain safe and sound in the towns, away from the uncertain creature which resided in the woods. She rushed to shut down the track her mind wanted to go down, put away her laundry, and went to bed.
CHAPTER 2
The next morning, while she attended daily church services, the congregation was abuzz about the mysterious man who saved Lili. The preacher tried his best to focus on his daily lecture, but the crowd was never as responsive as it usually was.
“Today I'd like to remind my beautiful congregation as Waldensians, we have made a sacrifice of poverty in the name of Christ. We are simple town, full of simple people, and if we wish to retain our nobility as Christians, we must continue this path of humble poverty. To be rich in Christ, but poor in funds, is to be the richest man in all of Creation. Amen,” he said, bowing his head at his wooden lectern. The church house, hot dust swirling through the sun rays, aggravated a sneeze Elsa spent several minutes withholding. She sneezed over the back of a young woman's bonnet. Several of the people ahead of her turned back to give her a stern look, sending embarrassed red flushes through Elsa's cheeks. She looked down to avoid their gaze.
“And we witnessed a miracle last night, outside these very doors. Should any of you doubt the power of our Lord, please look down at the front pew for proof, as our dear Lili sits with us once more, her lovely son Ennis by her side. It has been a long time since one of our own have ventured past the borders of our tiny village, into those Forbidden Forests, and longer still, that two of them have returned to speak and see as they did before they left us.” Lili huddled with her son on the front row, covered in a black shawl, frightened and weary of how the other church members would treat her. They were cordial to her, of course, and kind, as the townspeople were to everyone. But there was a titanic undertow of fear coursing the veins of this little village. They feared what Lili had seen, or worse, what knowledge she had brought back with her from her venture into the deep solitude of the forest. So fragile and innocent this town was, with utterly no defense against danger, with not a single violent member.
“Innocence,” the preacher continued, “has been preserved in this village yet another day.”
“And what about the man, sir?” a young girl spoke out from the altar. “What are we to do with him?” she asked.
The preacher looked out over his audience, at the girl
That night, undressing and placing her garments in the washing basin, Elsa massaged her clothes through the warm water, tilting her head as she daydreamed about the day's developments. Her thoughts centered around this man who emerged from the forest. Elsa had never seen the stranger anywhere before throughout the town, as its small population facilitate that its people know each other fairly well, while there were some occasional exceptions. The blond man might have seen Lili walk into the forest and chased after her, though if he had any family, the town would have known he was missing. But there was another possibility—that the man was a forest dweller to begin with, and Elsa's imagination sparked to life numerous ideas, but she immediately felt guilty about them. Her parents taught her she should do everything to remain safe and sound in the towns, away from the uncertain creature which resided in the woods. She rushed to shut down the track her mind wanted to go down, put away her laundry, and went to bed.
CHAPTER 2
The next morning, while she attended daily church services, the congregation was abuzz about the mysterious man who saved Lili. The preacher tried his best to focus on his daily lecture, but the crowd was never as responsive as it usually was.
“Today I'd like to remind my beautiful congregation as Waldensians, we have made a sacrifice of poverty in the name of Christ. We are simple town, full of simple people, and if we wish to retain our nobility as Christians, we must continue this path of humble poverty. To be rich in Christ, but poor in funds, is to be the richest man in all of Creation. Amen,” he said, bowing his head at his wooden lectern. The church house, hot dust swirling through the sun rays, aggravated a sneeze Elsa spent several minutes withholding. She sneezed over the back of a young woman's bonnet. Several of the people ahead of her turned back to give her a stern look, sending embarrassed red flushes through Elsa's cheeks. She looked down to avoid their gaze.
“And we witnessed a miracle last night, outside these very doors. Should any of you doubt the power of our Lord, please look down at the front pew for proof, as our dear Lili sits with us once more, her lovely son Ennis by her side. It has been a long time since one of our own have ventured past the borders of our tiny village, into those Forbidden Forests, and longer still, that two of them have returned to speak and see as they did before they left us.” Lili huddled with her son on the front row, covered in a black shawl, frightened and weary of how the other church members would treat her. They were cordial to her, of course, and kind, as the townspeople were to everyone. But there was a titanic undertow of fear coursing the veins of this little village. They feared what Lili had seen, or worse, what knowledge she had brought back with her from her venture into the deep solitude of the forest. So fragile and innocent this town was, with utterly no defense against danger, with not a single violent member.
“Innocence,” the preacher continued, “has been preserved in this village yet another day.”
“And what about the man, sir?” a young girl spoke out from the altar. “What are we to do with him?” she asked.
The preacher looked out over his audience, at the girl
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