Work Text:
As the day calmed down, and Gai climbed into bed, there was naught but one thing his father could do to calm his head.
Tucking him in with a chaste kiss as a treat, Dai sang and sang, tapping Gai’s back to the beat
To the melody, warm, as the flames in their heart
As their life full of youth
As their house coming apart
For Gai, still a child, without hope that he could see
Struggles to remember most things that came to be
That which he associated closely with love and care
And yet he could remember the dreaded, smoky air
From that night, many ago
While the war was at its peak
When the coal buried her body
Now, though far, it would still reek
Back to present day, Gai, now dozing off had dreams
Of their little wooden shack that let cold air pass through its seams
Of a mother, holding him close as he would lean closer more
Of her singing drowning out the battles fought outside their door
Of her face, which he imagined shone bold as would the lights
Although he could not be so sure despite the many many nights
She spent with him
Slept with him
Sung the boy to sleep
So he would not remember what happened
Not the slightest peep
But her plan worked much too well
For the spell could not come undone
The curse of faded memories
Erased the faces of everyone