Cameron’s Captured Candids
Quiet Cameron is not often spotted doing anything chaotic. He was undeniably young, though people were often suspicious he might be holding an ancient soul within his bodily vessel. This speculation portrayed Cameron’s evidently peaceful aura. He moved in unhurried motions, spoke softly, and smiled gently. His decisions were thoroughly debated in his head before making them, and he’s never regretted a single choice he’s made.
However, Cameron was only human — and humans were bound to make mistakes.
It was a few years after he’d committed this mistake that Cameron realised what he’d done. He was now a gentleman well in his mid-thirties, married to a smart and elegant woman, and had two beautiful children. As he retreated to the attic to sort out old things he could donate to make more room for storage, Cameron came across a certain crimson coloured box he’d forgotten all about. He’d stowed it away in hopes of never coming across it ever again, but also because he was not ready to discard it permanently from his life.
Gulping in trepidation, Cameron tentatively lifted the lid off the box to reveal a stack of polaroid photographs neatly piled over each other. Cameron inhaled harshly, his hands shaking terribly, so he placed the box on the floor and he held his head in his hands for a moment. After all those years, Cameron did not expect himself to feel so strongly for those photographs as much as he did the day they were taken.
He breathed deeply. Surely, he can muster up just enough courage to gaze upon the contents of these photographs, right?
Cameron picked up a photograph and admired its contents. This was a photoshoot Cameron did that was like no other, because it was one which he was utterly unaware of. It was his blissful ignorance of a camera sneakily snapping pictures of him which truly caused his soul to shine. He was with an old childhood friend, playing board games and laughing together. He did not believe he was being watched, and so, he let his guard down and allowed his youthful soul to be free for a short while. In that short time span, thirty photographs of him were taken.
He looked so foreign in his own eyes as he scrutinised the photographs. Who was this boy that laughed whole-heartedly and threw his head back as he held his stomach from excessively laughing? Who was this energetic soul that tackled his best friend to the ground when he realised he was cheating to win the game? Cameron caught himself smiling, his heart swelling with envy towards the boy in the photograph — his glimpse of a younger soul living his life without fear of being judged. He sighed nostalgically, his shoulders slumping forward in dismay, and he pursed his lips.
These captured moments and memories would be there forever to remind him of who he could have always been this entire time. It was a tantalising reminder of all the chances he missed at living his age before it was too late for him to be young anymore. Cameron had no idea whether to love or hate these photographs.
He longed to be that little boy again, and yet, he resented the sight of this painful stack of pictures because it was far too excruciating for him to see. He hated knowing that he would forever regret not living his age, and for choosing to grow up far too soon.
However, as he gripped the box of youthful photographs once again in his hands, he sought comfort in knowing that he at least had a single memory of photographs capturing his rare, youthful essence — that although he was not often lively, he definitely was on that board game day, and he was going to be glad it happened. These photographs were a constant reminded that he truly did have his youthful moments, although very slim, but they existed. Cameron was thankful for them, and so, he covered the box with its lid once again, tucked it underneath his arm, and went downstairs with it.
His wife, Emilia, smiled at him curiously and asked, “What’ve you got there?”
Cameron simpered sheepishly and replied, “A painfully beautiful memory.”
