Sunday, July 7, 2013

The Beard Diaries: Cameroon

Nearly a week has past since I awoke in, what I've come to learn as, Africa. As the days pass and a I grow stronger, I continue to adapt to the culture here as well as my place in this situation. The language remains a mystery to me, as I have only known one my whole life. As such, communicating has been the main barrier between myself and the community around me. There are only a few amongst the thirteen humans that truly understand my struggle. I have met several like me in the surrounding African community, though most continue to reject my kind. During the first few days of my consciousness, I came to realize that my host has been tasked with creating works of art on clear pieces of material. Another like me also has a a host who would create similar works. He has become my dear friend and, perhaps, my only friend. Though we cannot communicate directly, it is clear that he shares the same desires of freedom and a voice of our own. Yet another grows amongst the thirteen humans, though his survival is not certain. The constant struggle against the machines that continually "cut us down to size" (as the humans say) is shared betwixt every budding member of my small family.
My host has never beheld something as I am. Because of his unfamiliarity with our kind, he has struggled to cope with the burden that we often times present upon our births. Long fleshy limbs, attached to a larger mechanism which controls their movement, run over top and between my being. The majority of the contact between my host and I have been civil. Though my occasional protest has prompted the limbs he possesses to hard and rake them across my back. The feeling is quite unpleasant, and I have refrained from continuing such actions. The thought of creating such an itch has all but left my thoughts entirely. Our relationship has grown considerably more friendly as the days have passed, and what was once a great burden has become a partnership that has been beneficial to us both. The humans are not always as appreciative towards me, as they have been towards the others like me, as I have a genetic disability that hinders my growth. One day I may still reach my full potential, if my host approves of my continued existence.
Africa seems, to me, to accept my existence on several different levels. The local community hosts many of us in varying shapes and sizes. Though they do not let us reach our fullest potential. This is most likely due to preconceptions that have held down the progress of our societies since the invention of the multi-leveled cutting machines. Such advances in human technology will obviously prevent many of us from reaching our full potential. There have even been rumors of a device that whirs and roars as it cuts down my brothers and sisters. I, however, do not fully believe that such a device exists. Such a monstrous contraption can only be the creation of Satan himself.
I do miss my family. The longing to be near them once again has prompted this daring endeavor of putting pen to page while my host slumbers. He sleeps often, though it appears that many of the human hosts harbor the same thoughts of rest. As a people we are not known to rest often. Instead we spend our days drawing nutrients covertly from our hosts. I suppose if they knew how we used the waters and oils to build ourselves up, they would permit even fewer of us to exist. It has been a long while since my family and I were parted. The blades of those dastardly machines swept away my wife, my love, my life. Alas, it is a cruel and cold world without her touch. The hope that one day our paths may come back together keeps my heart beating and my spirits high. Though I live in constant fear that my host may soon muster the courage to follow through with my destruction. I fear the same for my beloved wife as well. But I must remain strong and have faith that she is safe somewhere far away. We will be reunited, my beloved Safira.
My host stirs during his slumber. This motion often means that I must be still and wait until he falls still once more. I will continue to write this, my journal, my story. Until I am able to put pen to page once more, I wish you well. Pray for my continued survival.
Always,
Scott's Beard

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