forget the unforgettable |ems/mattio| blitz

Alwyn Truus

It had been a few days since Alwyn had made his way to the cemetery to clean the graves and place new flowers. He had to wait for more to grow while others wilted from the heat. It was hard growing a garden when rain barely fell, but he had enough to last for a little while longer. Fragile hands tugged at his jacket, pulling it tighter around his arms. While it wasn't the winter months yet, Alwyn felt it in the air.

Leaves were changing colors in the trees, and some of them matched the variety of flowers tucked away in his hands. It was important for him to never forget those who have passed away.

Pausing just outside the cemetery, Alwyn took a deep breath feeling the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. He was entering sacred ground, but many didn't see it that way. Some of the stones were broken while others were kept clean. He couldn't imagine leaving and forgetting a loved one left behind.

Soon he was nearing where Esme and Bailey rest, and that was when he saw him. They met before, and Alwyn recognized him immediately, but he couldn't remember his name, so he did the best he could.

"Hello, sir, would you like some flowers? I heard they can help."

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Alwyn Truus

Sometimes he wondered why the flowers were so important. For the longest time he journeyed with Kraygon to the graves placing flower after flower, but now he simply goes alone. Perhaps Kraygon was too sad, too tired, Alwyn didn't know, however, it wouldn't stop him from doing something he loved. He looked at the flowers, eyes darting back and forth before turning to the man standing around.

Flowers came in almost every color Alwyn could imagine, and helping people became an important way of life, yet he never expected to find someone inside the cemetery.

Blue was probably his favorite color, and it was one that he held close.

Red was one he wanted for Esme since she always wore red.

Green for Bailey.

He didn't know their favorite colors, but right now it didn't matter. It was the thought that count.

Alwyn plucked a couple blue flowers from the batch in his hand; "Yes, sir, I got some blue ones right here." He held the flower out for the man to grab, "You can have them."

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Alwyn Truus

Alwyn stood in place watching as the man smile before gently taking the flowers from his hand. Death was painful, and it was something Alwyn had experienced. It held him back for the longest time, but right now he could make a difference. He could try to keep their resting places clean. Not many people had done that anymore judging by the tombstones he walked by before. Alwyn watched as he placed the flowers on a grave, and he tried leaning in a little bit to see the name etched within. So many times he saw the faces without the names.

"You're welcome, sir."

Then he asked for a darker blue, and Alwyn went to work sorting through the flowers resting in his hands. Twice this man had lost someone, and the one that had just passed was one from the previous games.

Benstaloe.

The kid volunteered.

Is this the same man I met before?

He continued sorting through the flowers, and he found a darker blue. It was the only one that he had, and yet he was still willing to give it away. He tucked the rest of the flowers away, and he held out the lone flower he had;

"It's the only one I have, sir, but it's yours." He lowered his head trying to find what was right to say, but nothing would take away the pain of losing someone. "I'm terrible sorry for your loss, sir. So very sorry." He only hoped he didn't take it the wrong way.

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Alwyn Truus

Again Alwyn watched as the man took the flower from his hand and placed it on the grave. It was such a repetitive motion. But Alwyn never said a word. He watched the man mourn the loss of someone he loved. At least that was what he thought, but he knew a lot of families were different. Not everyone loved to laugh and spend time together. Some didn't even have families. But at least friendship and compassion could go a long way.

His eyes dropped to the flowers wondering if the man wanted anymore, but it was then the man remembered before, and Alwyn smiled from ear to ear trying his best to remember the man's name as well. It had been a few years ago almost. But Alwyn couldn't help but wonder if he saw him in the district square or the shops or somewhere else.

"Alwyn Truus, sir." He replied to answer the man's question. Memories flooded his mind. This man had only lost someone before, and Alwyn was coming to decorate an almost new grave for Bailey. Happiness didn't exist very often, but he carried a hope inside. All he wanted to do was make the world a better place even if it meant one day at a time. "I'm afraid I can't remember your name either, sir, and for that I apologize."

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Alwyn Truus

A lot of times people overlooked him because of his age, but Alwyn didn't mind. In fact, he was used to it. He learned to live. Kindness went a long way, and it showed him happiness when he was caught in the eye of a storm. His biological family threw him away like a piece of trash - he was grateful the Truus' family took him in.

Family was more than the blood running through veins. It had a bond that ran much deeper, and that was the love he experienced. Esme and Bailey may not have had a blood relationship, but they showered him with love anyway.

Rodney.

Alwyn put the name to the face by repeating the name over and over in his mind - it was the only way for him to remember. Sometimes the name stuck, but other times it vanished away; hopefully this wasn't one of those times.

Rodney thanked him for the flowers, and Alwyn's face lit up with joy. Helping people was why he was born into the world he was forced to call home. Sometimes it didn't make a difference, but a lot of times it went further than he could ever imagine.

"You're welcome, sir." He paused looking down at the flowers before looking at all the mangled graves. So many were in need, but right now that wasn't his goal. "I have a bunch more flowers at home. I can show you where they are so if you ever need them you can find them."

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Alwyn Truus

The world was such a strange place. Perhaps Alwyn was a rare type of person, or maybe he always ended up in the wrong place. Whatever the cause, he wasn't sure. Most of the time he journeyed to the cemetery, and it was the only time he ever left his house except to spend the coins he saved to buy some seeds when his plants needed assistance.

Maybe inviting a man he just met in the cemetery to the house wasn't the smartest idea, but Alwyn didn't care. He wanted to give Rodney a chance to choose his own flowers as they bloomed high into the sky. He was proud of them, and wanted to share them with the world. Doubtful parents scold him for spending so much time and effort into something so little, but to the young man, they made all the difference.

Trust was all he had, and every single person in the world had it whether they deserved it or not, and many of times it set him up for complete disaster. Yet he always gave it back just the same amount as the times before.

A genuine grin spread across his face, his entire body lit up with joy. It had been a long time since anyone admired his flowers, and maybe there wasn't much to it. "Any time you want a flower for any reason, you can always stop by and pick some out. I have plenty growing, and try to grow them year round, but in the winter months it's hard especially when the temperatures drop below freezing."

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