Pick a Word, Paint a Story #16.

manuelhooks (71)in Hindwhale Community • 23 days ago (edited)

CAMERA.

It is a magical device from the past, an optical instrument capable of freezing a moment in time, creating a vivid visual and tangible memory of the past, practically hitting times pause button, giving us a visual portal to relive a moment in the past.

Regardless of how magical this device may sound, I once had one, and its abilities were almost limitless. Like a magic wound, I will concentrate, and with a flick or snip, the moment is captured, like a firefly in a well-sealed jar. Sometimes, it will flash with the resemblance of the light that came with the magic words Abracata boom! - boom!!. But at some time it was just so quiet but still did the magic.

This magical device was my first camera, a 12-megapixel Canon with a 16x zoom capability. I am using was because its all in the past. I lost this beautiful time staller to the cruel fingers of a kleptomaniac, a bad and disgraceful spirit - sneaky and does not respect the common law of ownership, taking from places it did not keep. I did cry over the loss of my cannon camera but was comforted by the flicking lights like that of fireflies in many jars, the sheer number of times and events locked in these memory jars, holding the memories of events, people, and places I have been.

We got bonded in a place called Alaba market in Lagos, Nigeria. When I had to sacrifice 35,000 Naira on the altar of trade in an electronics shop. I could not resist its slick nature with a retractable lens and small screen. I went into the shop to buy a PS2 but came out with the cannon camera.
The sacrifice was worth every kobo, as its smoke rose up into a receipt, I became its legal owner to use at my discretion. The camera and I synced with the help of its user guide, and I was becoming increasingly able to utilise its numerous features.

It was loyal and kept me company everywhere I went, ready to freeze time at my command. While tucked in a little protective sack to prevent scratches with a short wrist lace to keep it from accidentally falling down. Most useful stuff are as fragile as the wings of a butterfly. While it saved me well, it relied on my protection. I guess I failed it when I left it unattended on the table in my workshop. That was the last known location, that is where it last stood.

The mourning has lasted long and it is time to move on. I have missed you so much and have had many dreams of your return. A sacrifice for another similar technology will now cost 163,000 Naira, a little more than 4 times what I sacrificed for the one I had.