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The floral scent flows through the field, the softness of the petals surrounds him, so does the carefree humming of a child he cherished the most. It was nice, calming— peaceful even, with the sun rising through the endless blue sky and the bees flying around, checking each flower for its pollen. There was a small smile on his face, he did not have the need to open his eyes to check his surroundings— he is safe, so is his daughter. The small footsteps of the child could be heard from behind, Mai, his daughter had let out a giggle— mischievous and child-like.
Those tiny footsteps disappeared soon after, for the first time Boomie opened his eyes, searching for her— there he saw Mai just beyond the field picking more flowers. He watched, patient as he waited for her to come back, for a while his hand went over his hair taking out one of the flowers that decorated it. The flower was tiny and fragile as it settled on one of his palms, he did not recognize which flower it was but he took note of its bright blue flat petals with yellow in the center, it was beautiful. For a while he was lost in his thoughts, taking note of how carefully yet messily braided his hair was, completely decorated with flowers that he both recognized and did not— even so he thinks Mai did a great job, she's his daughter after all.
A giggle made him look up, just beyond was his daughter with bees slowly surrounding her as her arms carried different varieties of flowers she was able to pick up. Her back faced his vision making it hard to see her expression, but he knows she's just as happy as he is, content with their daily routine of just simply bonding around the field of flowers after her studies. The giggles turned into squeals, he watched as Mai tried to reach out for one of the bees, just for the bee to move around and simply go over towards the flowers she carried.
Soon after she came back, talking about how she'll make him even prettier like a princess, which earned a small laugh from Boomie— he let her do so as he ignored a deep rooted feeling of uncertainty in his chest. Mai started talking about fairy tales, her voice full of wonder and curiosity, one of her made up stories included Boomie being a princess trapped in a flower field with an evil bee.
“Then the prince saved the princess and carried him back home!” She concluded, her tiny hands carefully decorating Boomie's hair.
“Who would the prince be?” He asked in return, letting the child continue her story on her own. It earned a huff from Mai, as if the answer was obvious. It almost made Boomie laugh, of course the answer is obvious.
“Mother is the prince!” Mai replied with confidence, talking about how her mother is the strongest, while in return he would be the coolest. The difference was funny in his opinion.
For a while, there was only Mai's voice, he did not have the need to worry about anyone attacking or a war starting again. For a while, he did not have the need to check his surroundings and expect someone to jump over and end his life— he paused for a moment. Why does he have a need to think about such things? He never worries about these kinds of events, not when he's peacefully living with his wife and daughter. Boomie started to think deeper, why would he have such thoughts? But before he could make up an answer himself, a voice took him out of his dilemma.
“And all done-!” Mai announced, Boomie took note of how seemingly different it was. It must have been just his ears and thoughts playing tricks on him. Slowly, Boomie had stood up, careful to not let any of the flowers fall out— taking note of how long his hair had gotten, was it already this long and he simply didn't realize? He stood frozen to where he is, making him stumble a bit when a hand tugged his sleeves. Mai looked up at him, confused as to why her father seemed silent so suddenly.
He offered a reassuring smile, carefully he lifted her up, earning a giggle from the child. He then started to take a stroll around the field, careful enough not to crush any flowers below in each step he took. Mai settled in his arms, her voice distracting Boomie from his own thoughts. The bees becoming a sort of entertainment for the two, he watched as Mai's eyes seemed to follow each bee to wherever its destined path led to. In a short time, her voice gradually disappears, her eyes drowsy as she leaned closer to rest her head onto her father's chest.
“Let's go back home?” Boomie asked, not really waiting for an answer as he turned around to walk back to where they've been.
Boomie doesn't know when it started to get darker nor did he realize how heavy he's been feeling. He looked down towards his arms, carefully adjusting his hold on Mai— he paused. Is this really Mai? What is he thinking, of course it's his daughter, who else would he be carrying back home but her? He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, as the time he opened it once more he's back sitting in the field of flowers— a child humming behind him.
This time he did not feel the warmth of the sun nor did he smell the floral scent of his surroundings— this time it was different. The potent smell of iron and ash had assaulted his senses, he coughed, kneeling on the dirt. He looked up, Mai’s back facing him as if the scenario was making fun of his recent memories of her picking up flowers— he stood up, unaware of how heavy his body was making him fall back down. What's happening to him?
He puts a hand over his head, why can't he remember?
He simply kneeled on the ground, hoping to at least remember something, maybe his daughter's face or maybe her actual voice— he couldn't remember his wife's face either. For a while he felt suffocated, his thoughts running wild, is this punishment? What could he have done to be punished like this? Was it for forgetting— or was it because of the choices he made?
He was spiralling and he knows it, only waking up when a hand shook him out of his trance. He almost shouted but only a broken wince left his mouth, his chest felt tight, vision blurry as he adjusted from the light. The sound of the buzzing bee could be heard and the smell of flowers he could smell, he tried to remember— right, he was with Shan and Parker in the flower field. Parker had long gone to do his own thing while Shan had asked him if she could style his hair. That's right, he's in Strength SMP and nowhere home, he's definitely far from home.
“So hey, you good Boomie?” The voice that definitely belongs to Shan asked. He lets out a deep shaky breath, now he realizes why the Mai in his vision seemed to be unreal, it wasn't her at all.
“Yeah.. I'm good.” He replied shortly, for a while he finally calmed down. Shan simply watched over him, deciding not to pry even further. Then there was silence, an awkward one, unsure of how to proceed with the recent events.
Shan decided to sit down not far from Boomie. “I finished braiding your hair by the way, a rating would be appreciated.” She finally spoke, trying to lift up the mood.
The sudden change of topic made him freeze, he blinked once and then twice, he was expecting a question as to why he had been spiralling yet he was simply asked for a hairstyle rating. Boomie huffed, and then he let out a small laugh.
“You could do better.”
That statement alone created a very grumpy Shan as the two walked back to spawn.
Despite the lifted up mood, Boomie couldn't help but think as his fingers caressed the strands of his now long decorated hair making some of the flowers fall off, why can't he remember?