036: remembrance

The scent of incense mingles with the smell of falling leaves, as wisps of smoke slither through the crisp autumn air. Sitting before an outcropping of stone, a lonely old soul meditates, her robes blending with the golden grasses of the clearing. A single tear flows into the deep riverbeds carved into her face, though a faint smile lingers.

Footsteps do little to break the old soul's concentration, as a youthful beauty emerges from an unseen path through the trees. "Grandmother," she says in a sweet melody, "what keeps you?"

With a small sigh, she answers in a whisper.

"Memories..."