Call Me Ibrahim Chapter 8

Story
He caressed her face as she slept. This face would be the last thing he remembers. He had held her an hour ago. Herman was startled at first, but willingly gave in to him. Not a word was spoken. Her anger had melted away, but her warmth would never return. It's been far too long for it to come back. He may have given her what she wanted, but he could not bring himself to tell her why he couldn't choose her. The truth broke his heart.

He walked out of Herman's house and headed towards the sea. Denver had built him a ship. Shipbuilding was utterly useless here. In order to build a single boat, a shipbuilder had to scour his memories for a long forgotten art form. Denver had kept yearly records of any changes in the sea level. There might be a place in some other part of the world where land had emerged above the water's surface, like Everest.

Today, Ibrahim erased those records. He spent days in library with what felt like a renewed desire to live, to destroy those records. He was now gone from history. He remembered Elijah's eyes. Elijah's eyes had shone then as Ibrahim's shone now. He had done everything he had to do.

Sand crept up over his feet. He could see the boat. He sat in the sand and watched the ocean as it swept up over the beach to devour everything in its path. The salty air blew mellow. A round light was visible over the dark water. He thought it was the moon, but the sky was full of clouds. The light came closer and then stopped. A giant sea monster stared at him. Its body grew and shrank as it breathed, its smooth gray skin soaked with water. He met eyes with the monster. Don't you know I created you, he wanted to ask.

He heard footsteps behind him. He turned around to see the priest hobbling towards him. He held two cigarettes rolled from leaves in his hand. He plopped down, and with some effort, brought one of the cigarettes to his mouth.

"Want a smoke?"

"I don't smoke..."

"Just have one. This is the last time we'll see each other. Think of it as a parting gift."

"How did you know?"

"You know it's hard to keep secrets here. Denver keeps coming down to the beach so I cornered him, since there's nothing left for me to be afraid of." The priest took a drag from his cigarette, coughed and spit, and then continued to talk. "Do you have someplace to go on that boat?"

"There's a small island where I can live by myself."

"I see. Let it go, whatever it is. I don't know what's burdening you so much."

"Please look after Herman."

"I don't have much time, either. I'll do my best with the time I have left." The priest exhaled his last puff of smoke and unsteadily got up. "God be with you."

The priest left. Ibrahim touched the necklace around his neck and began speaking to a woman who existed a long time ago.

I have come this far, thanks to you. I wanted to break this, but I didn't. There's nothing left for me to do here. I want to live out the rest of my life free of any cares. I had a busy life. Is it all right?

Did I live a good life?

There was no answer.

I never reached the island. The second typhoon-shattered the rudder! Then, I lost the boat to an iceberg. I'm drowning. Long ago, these waters were called the Arctic Ocean, its cold waters embrace me now. That necklace that I had always held onto, I will let go of it now. It was a prison that bound up my entire existence! I pray that it reaches you. This necklace contains my dreams and everything I could not tell you.

I will not die! Though I may be weighed down by tons of water, I will continue to breathe. I will sleep until someone finds me and pulls me out of the water. I only wish that when that time comes, the world will be back to the way it once was.

How it once was, a long, long time ago.