Remembrance BACK POST

Posted on Sat Jul 15th, 2023 @ 10:50pm by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Captain Gary Taylor

Mission: MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: ZOJOJI TEMPLE
Timeline: Just before the filament collision.
2273 words - 4.5 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Dressed in a dark blue Kimono edged with Sakura petals and a vivid red Obi, Lia stood waiting for Gary to emerge from their bedroom. She had planed this visit to see Angel and let Gary give her a doll, she herself carried nothing more than a small red cloth pouch. Just what her husband would wear to the Garden she didn't know, she knew what she wanted him to wear. But the choice was his, this was his visit to see his daughter.

Gary was solemn. he knew Lia was waiting for him so they could go to the Garden and visit Angel, their daughter. It was strange, Angel died as an infant and Gary felt a crater size hole in his chest when he thought of her. He looked down at the bed and the doll he had for her. His eyes got teary and he felt a lump in his throat. "Angel." he croaked out. "Your mom and I are coming to see you. I apologize for not seeing you sooner. It won't be so long next time. I promise."

Then he proceeded to get dressed. Black pants, white shirt. Black suit, black tie. black socks and shoes. He didn't know if that was what Lia wanted but he had researched it and this what he got. After a bit he was dressed. He picked up the doll and went out to Lia. "You look beautiful." He said honestly.

"You look very business like, I was hoping you might wear your Kimono. But Angel awaits, so lets go and visit our daughter. She headed out of the door, and waited outside for Gary. As he arrived she held her hand out, "Smile, you look handsome and cute when you smile. And first impressions mean a lot." A smile now appeared on Lia's lips, "It ain't hard hubby of mine." She wanted this to be a happy time, both she and Angel wanted Gary to be happy and one with his daughter.

"I wasn't sure. Have I disappointed you Lia?" Gary asked concern in his voice. He took Lia's hand and gave her smile. "I just feel I'm off to a bad start." He muttered. Though he smiled again and it was brighter. Lia could do that. Always pick him up. "Yes. they do." He agreed. "I hope I make a good one." He was ready to see his daughter, be one with her.

As they walked along the corridor, Lia just looked at her husband. "Disappoint me? Why and how could you disappoint me?" She stopped and now turned taking Gary's other hand in hers, "Your not off to a bad start, your going to visit your daughter. There's no right or wrong way to do that, although it may seem strange to talk to a statue that represents her. You'll do great, Angel will love to see you." Turning back she resumed her walk towards Holodeck 1 and the Temple where the garden sat.

"I didn't wear the Kimono. You said you were hoping I would." Gary answered as Lia held both his hands. "I am looking forward to that." He admitted. "I, I want to see her as well." He looked at Lia. "We'll all be there together as a family. As it should be and that makes everything right." He squeezed Lia's hands, "Thank you for the pep talk."

Glancing at the ground Lia smiled, "I just thought because we're going to a very historical Japanese temple, it would have been nice to turn up in traditional dress. But that's just me, you know how I am about Japanese culture. But you haven't disappointed me, you never could these days." She thought hard about how she felt on her first visit, "We are a family, and soon we'll have another little girl to guide towards adulthood. Angel will help us do that, as will my husband and Angel's Father."

"I researched it and it said black was the traditional color for a funeral. I won't make the same mistake again Lia." Gary answered softly. "Yes, we are a family and we will always be a family. Our new daughter, will learn about Angel and Angel will help us with our little Lia." he smiled at her. "Let's not keep Angel waiting any longer. I wish to visit our daughter."

Lia now giggled, "Funeral? Your not going to a funeral, you're going to meet your daughter. That sad occasion has long since passed, now we're going to celebrate her short life." She leant in and kissed Gary on the lips, "Now lets go visit, Angels awaiting."

"Well, I feel like I am. On our next visit, I'll wear the Kimono." Gary nodded at Lia's words. "Yes, a celebration and let's not keep her waiting any longer than we already have." As he finished, he returned Lia's kiss. "I love you Lia." He said softly.

"You need to remember one thing, Angel is our daughter and these visits are to celebrate her life. We're not mourning her, burying her or standing at a graveside. We're talking to an intermediary, using the Shinto religion to carry our love and devotion to her." She now bowed before her husband, "The culture we're about to use has many such beliefs, I find this one helps me keep and hold on to Angel as I wish I had in this life."

Gary nodded solemnly at Lia's words. "I know Lia. It is just hard for me." he stopped and looked at her then smiled. "Don't worry. I won't be doom and gloom. I will be upbeat for as you said and rightly. This is a celebration of Angel's life and her presence in ours." He squeezed Lia's hand. "I won't disappoint you or Angel."

Showing Gary her little red cloth pouch, Lia shook her head. "This goes on the statue once we arrive at the correct one, and as I've told you. You can't disappoint me or Angel, your my husband and her father. The only one you'll ever disappoint is yourself, stop holding yourself to such high standards." Turning towards the holodeck she pointed, "Now lets go see our daughter, or to coin a phrase. I'll poke you with a sharp stick!" A large grin now appeared on Lia's lips, "Wanna hold hands?"

Gary looked at the red cloth pouch as Lia spoke of both the pouch and him to stop holding himself to such high standards. Which, was easier said than done. He had always held himself to a different set of standards than he held others. Nonetheless, he nodded as they approached the holodeck. A grin appearing on his face as he said, "Please don't poke me with a sharp stick and yes, I want to hold hands." As he shifted the doll he carried and extended his hand to clasp Lia's.

Taking Gary's hand, the pair finally arrived at Holodeck 1. "Computer, load Lia one ZOJOJI TEMPLE, Garden of lost Children." =/\="Program loaded, do you wish to enter?"=/\= The computer responded. She turned to Gary, "Well? Do you wish to enter?"

Gary met Lia's look. "Yes, I want to enter. This has been a long overdue reunion and I want to tell my daughter I love her and miss her a great deal."

The doors slid open to reveal a garden filled with stone Jizo statues representing unborn children lost to miscarriages, abortions, or stillbirths. Some of the statues are decorated with red pouches and toys to help families through the grieving process. The pouches are draped around the statue while incense is lit and the priest chants, Lia turned to Gary and spoke softly. "There it is, the Garden. That priest is chanting for another lost child, if you wish I can ask him to join us and chant for Angel. Or do you want to do this on your own?" She waited for Gary to think it through, knowing how she felt on her first trip here there would be much to consider.

Gary stopped and looked at the garden and the statues that filled it. Many had a red pouch decorating them, like the pouch Lia carried for Angel. He saw the priest chanting in the distance. Incense fills the air. He shook his head slightly, "No, don't ask him. Not this time Lia. I want me, us to talk to Angel. She is our daughter. I can do this." He replies resolutely. "Lets go and see Angel."

Lia entered the Holodeck and bowed towards a large statue with what appeared to have a halo around its head and something in its left hand, she then bowed towards the priest and pointed down a row of statues. Standing upright she beckoned Gary to do what she had just done, before starting down the long row of small statues. Lia slowly walk passed the statues bowing to the odd one as she went, then she stopped and bowed deeply at a statue with a Starfleet emblem sitting at its feet. "Konnichiwa musume Angel." She stated as she replaced the red pouch on the statue. "Your father is here today to talk with you. Please welcome him." She turned to Gary and pointed to the statue, "Please meet your daughter Angel, welcome to her home."

Gary followed behind Lia, he bowed to the priest as well. he also bowed to the statues they passed until they reached Angel's statue. He watched in silence as Lia replaced the red pouch on the statue. As Lia finished talking to Angel. Gary bowed and placed the doll at Angel's feet. Then he spoke. "My precious Angel, thank you for welcoming me to your home. Please forgive me for not coming sooner. I will come more often, now that I know the way. I have missed you a great deal. I think of you every day. My heart is heavy without you." He paused as tears began to fill his eyes and run down his cheeks. "I love you so much my daughter. I miss not having you here with your mother and I, sharing in life's adventures. We are and will always be a family and you will always be my, our daughter."

Moving behind Gary, Lia placed her arms around his waist. "I did the exact same the first time, to know our daughter has such a place to rest her soul takes your breath away." She gave Gary a slight hug, "Listen to your heart, listen carefully. You'll hear your daughter respond, honest. Don't be scared, it freaked me out the first time. But you'll hear her, a tiny voice but you'll hear her."

Gary nodded as Lia both spoke to him and placed her arms around his waist. He nodded as she gave him a slight hug. He did what Lia urged, he listened to his heart, drowning out all other sounds. He listened, he desperately listened for Angel to speak to him. For several seconds there was nothing and he thought Lia was mistaken, then a voice. tiny to be sure but also crystal clear. spoke. "Father or I should say Daddy. Welcome, you honor me by coming with mother to speak and spend time with me. Know, you both are special and dear to me and I love you both a great deal. Thank you for the doll. But more importantly thank you for caring and loving me. I know this was hard for you father. You keep your emotions tightly wrapped and no one knows your pain. To not be afraid to express yourself or let your emotions out. As you said we are a family and we can be honest with each other."

Watching her husband listen to their daughter, Lia wondered what was passing between Gary and Angel. When Angel had spoken to her, it had been short but personal to Lia. Stepping back, Lia now bowed her head and listened for Angel. Giggling and a vision of a small baby with a radiant grin on her face came to her. A smile passed over her lips, and somewhere deep inside a warmth grew. She would always miss Angel, but if she can keep coming here at least she could remember and enjoy her daughter.

Gary was silent as Angel spoke to him. He was sad to be sure he missed their daughter but coming here had helped him grow closer to Angel and he would be forever grateful to Lia for suggesting he come. He bowed and was silent as he waited to see if Angel had anything else to say to him.

Moving alongside her husband, Lia placed her hand in his. "I think you may have met your daughter in a way you didn't expect, but as long as this place stands you will never loose her again."

Gary turned to look at Lia, "She spoke to me, I heard her." He now looked back at the statue, "I will come again, and I will talk to our daughter. I promise."

"She'll be here, I'm glad you've met Angel. Now we can both move forwards, and know Angel will always be here with us." Lia bowed to the statue and placed a small white hanky on the floor close to the star fleet emblem, "Dry your eye's Angel my love, your parents love you now and for ever."

Gary took Lia's hand in his and squeezed it softly. "Amen." He added quietly. As he too bowed at the statue. "All our love Angel. Now and forever."

Commander Lia Taylor
Chief of Security
USS Elysium

Captain Gary Taylor
Executive Officer
USS Elysium

 

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