(no subject)
Livevil peered down at a box that rested snuggly on her lap.
There was really nothing much in the box. in fact, it was as empty as when it was first made.
Sometimes the creature just could not understand why people kept asking her to throw the box away.
They kept telling her that it was an old, filthy box that had countless scratches and no corners left to hold.
They called her crazy when she tried explaining that if they look carefully into the box, it was not empty.
Livevil told them about the story of the four long scratches on the inside of the box. Two on each side.
They became a part of the box because she tried to squeeze in a tray of crayons that just would not fit.
In the end, the tray did manage to stay in the box , but so did the scratches.
The box had all the things she needed to learn how to draw.
The bits of paper with uneven edges she salvaged from the recycle bin. The crayons. Her imagination.
She then pointed to an angry orange line that went across the outside of the box.
Livevil let out a squeaky laugh and admitted that it was the time when she tried to draw the sun.
No matter how many times she tried, the clumsy paws just made the sun look like it had corners.
The annoyed creature drew a bright orange line boldly across the box and broke the crayon in the process.
She let out a gasp and promptly apologized for her tantrum, but the line was there to stay.
That was the story on how the crisp, white box got its orange stripe.
She tried to tell them about the time when she dropped a bundle of crayons into the box.
It was like an explosion of colours that splattered all over the insides of the box.
There were multiple colourful dots that the creature thought resembled a work of Pollock.
There was crayon carnage everywhere.
By this time, no one was left to listen to her.
They thought that she was a silly little creature who did not know better.
Livevil sat looking at the box that she had kept for years under the bed.
She poked at the box and tried to scratch out a few stains.
Which in the process, spreaded the stains more and increased the number of scratches.
The crayons had since been used up and the tray thrown away even before the demise of all the crayons.
All Livevil wanted was to keep the box that once held her lovely crayons which helped her learn how to draw.
Learning how to draw had in turn taught her to see the world in beautiful colours.
To observe, to appreciate, to grow.
I told Livevil that she could keep the box as long as she wanted.
I told her that she was right in saying the box is not empty though there was nothing left in it.
It had all the little marks and scratches that she knows by heart.
I told her I have my boxes too.
Some appear empty as well, which means one day they might fill up again. Or they might not.
I said that was not important though.
I asked if she understood, challenging the notion that this mono-brain cell creature can in fact think.
She said maybe and turned around to look at her battered box.
"We all have boxes right?" (Pausing for confirmation)
"That we put under our beds for different purposes...
At this moment, a zap of light seemed to miraculously activate Livevil's mono-brain cell to think and she rambles on.
"...just like people make spaces in their hearts for different people.
Some people want to stay with you, but some want to go somewhere else.
But it's ok. Without them, maybe I will never learn how to cycle.
Like how the other little thing down the road pushed me down the hill in my bicycle and told me to peddle hard.
I finally learnt how to cycle after hitting the lamp post down the hill many times.
Now I cycle everywhere on my own."
I smiled and nodded.
There are some people in your life who might not always be with you all the time.
They might not walk along you now, but you keep them close to your heart.
They may not be in your present or future, but they were once your past which made you who you are now.
They are people in your life you have set aside a space in your heart, not for the kisses and hugs,
but for the many words once said and listened, the many deeds once given and received.
Livevil held on tight to her empty box and told me not to throw away mine too just because people tell you there is nothing in it.
Next to her on the wall was a drawing with an oval sun.