Chapter 7: Dark Cloud

(A week before Lucas went to Mr. Manalo)

The pain Lucas is feelings seems to be endless. Except the wounds in which the eyes cannot see, his head, these past few days, tend to give him a lot of pains that it even made him awake all night. He can't sleep and can't stand the pain anymore. Hence, he decided to visit their family doctor for a consultation.

His hands and instincts made all the work. His four years stay in the house with no vision made him an expert in caressing, feeling and holding into things, he was so used to darkness that he master the structure of the house.

The house where his family was once complete.

The house which was filled with laughter.

A house full of joy.

A house of happiness.

A house full of happy family portraits.

A home with his family.

A safe-haven.

A nest of love.

All in his mind, for this house never felt like home since then.

After his bath, he grabbed some clothes and pants. He has a good taste in clothes so he's confident that whatever he grabs in his closet will not make him look funny. He picked up his phone right after and booked a car using an app.

He went outside and he was surprised how the breeze feels so refreshing. His turned his head here and there and a ray of sunlight hit his eyes.

'Ouch!!!' he exclaimed. It was too painful that he get down on his knees.

*beep beep*

The car he booked arrived.

'Sir are you okay?' asked the driver who got off his car.

'Kindly drive me to the hospital.'

'Sure Sir, let me help you get up.'

Assisted by the nurse, he managed to reach the doctor's office. They ran some test on him to checked his current condition.

'The pain I am feeling in my head occurs often. Why is that?'

'Well, as I checked the results of the test, I'll go straight to the point. Lucas, you are not 100% blind, it means you still have a chance to have your vision back. Are you not considering any operations? Maybe this time we could find a donor your match.'

'We've done this three years ago, and look at it now, I'm still blind. It was all unsuccessful. I'm tired. I'm tired of all this false hope.'

'Think of it, Lucas. Maybe you'll change your mind. Just come back to me.'

'Thank you. I'll be leaving now.' and he left and closed the door.

After the heart wrecking accident that cost the life of his parents. Lucas was all alone since then. He mourned alone. He just have an uncle from his father's side which is unluckily not in good terms with his father. All his friends abandoned him since they heard that he went blind. Days of sorrows and mournings.Months of loneliness.Years of pain.

He was not totally blind, his doctor said. He opened up the chance that Lucas might be able to have back his vision, they tried numerous times, looked for possible donor and it was all a failure, and the cycle continued until Lucas drained not just his money but the hope inside him that maybe one day he'll be able to see again. Starting that very day, he accepted and started to embrace how dark his once bright world turned to. All of this things, he suffered all by himself, no else.

Hearing the doctor's words gives him a bittersweet and nostalgic feeling. Bitter, for he has done all the ways he thinks he can and gained nothing, sweet for up until now his chance to see the world in front of him and make his dream come true, to be a renowned artist.

His mixed emotions made him thirsty, thus he thinks alcohol would be a cure, he drinks for days until he can't feel anything but dizziness. Little did he know, alcohols are just band aids, you'll feel better for a moment, it won't last long.

What could be the cure?

'Well, I guess I have to accept my faith. I think I reached the end of me. This is the peak of it, sorrow and sadness.' he laugh bitterly.

He was reminded of all his paintings, all those roads, all those beautiful sceneries, the road that seems endless, where the sky and the land meet in an uncertain distance, all of it are gone. There is no such thing as endless, not even happiness. The road? It does not extend to a far more distance, it ends, it really ends.

Alone with the stars in the sky, a bottle of beer in his hands, and despair in his heart.

The toughest battle are those that you fight alone, and this is so far his toughest battle in this lifetime. No one to run to. No one to talk to. Nothing to see but darkness.

His sobs and deep breath connects with the cold breeze that night. His eyes are dropping crystal like fluid. His heart is heavy. His mind is empty of any thoughts. Right now, he is just a hallow container made of flesh and blood. Nothing else.

The rain started pouring. He can hear the raindrops falling from the rooftop. Seems like the sky is mourning with him, crying him with. He throw himself in his bed, tucked himself and covered himself with his blanket, now can feel the warmth his heart is longing for.

Suddenly, his phone starts to ring. He picked it up in an instant and heard a voice.

'I would like to meet you tomorrow.'

His voice. That voice is the same exact voice he haven't heard in ages, he cannot even remember his face. The voice was cold and formal, it casted a spell on him that made him obey that voice without thinking.

The sky's asleep after the dark, so as Lucas.

Mornings will signify new start, but only he will decide to have a fresh start or continue living with a dark cloud.