Under Editing

Kowahn slides open a transparent glass door and walks inside, followed by a mentally and emotionally recovered Suzie. While he closes the door, the tan skinned girl runs towards her father’s working desk, “Daddy!” she shouts.

Mr. Campbell turns his gaze to her and smiles, “Dear diamond!” He stands up from his seat.

The girl runs around the Chief of Department’s desk table to reach him. She opens her arms wide and hugs his legs, happy, “Mister Kowahn is someone I can trust!”

“Oh!” Charlie surprises at her change. Usually, Suzie is very distrustful of everyone, but listening to her say something like this really, really makes the dad feel happy for her, “That’s brilliant to hear, Suzie!” He crouches down to her height.

As the auburn extends his hand and caresses her cheek with a grin plastered on his face, she chuckles, “Hihihi!” She’s happy that her dad is proud of her!

Calm steps coming to them cease before the desk table. Because he couldn’t dress yet in his chosen uniform of empathyologist, his casual day-to-day all-solid-white clothing, a pair of jutti shoes, patiala pants and a kurta suit, is what Mr. Reis uses.

Mr. Reis watches father's and daughter’s interaction. For a moment, he can see a vibrant color emanating from their auras. The outline in their bodies just produced a radiant yellow light he finds so beautiful that his attention keeps focused on it.

He even forgets to talk to the two.

Truth is, Kowahn can see auras sometimes. He can’t control when he’ll see it, though. It just happens.

Suzie raises both hands to the height of her chest and clenches her fists, eyes widening in excitement, “Daddy! Did you know Mister Kowahn can apply Reiki?!”

Mr. Campbell frowns. ‘Reiki’? What is that? “What is Reiki?”, he repeats the question in his mind.

She puffs her cheeks then chuffs all of its air, “You weren’t listening to me the other day, then.”

In silence, Charlie stares at her, trying to remember what is she talking about. The father considers himself attentive and understanding, so it’s almost impossible for him to not have listened to her. He remembers sharing all his attention with Suzie every time they both agree to talk, so…

Ah. He thinks he remembers something.

“Ah,” Mr. Campbell raises both eyebrows once, “Is it that day when you… were talking about spiritual nonsense and other things?”

“Daddy!” She pouts, crossing her arms, “It isn’t spiritual nonsense! It’s real!! Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist…” she mumbles.

“… Suzie. I respect your beliefs, dear. And I want you to respect mine too,” He explains with a kind voice, caressing her shoulder, “I don’t believe in spiritual things, Suzie.”

“But Daddy!!” She stomps a foot, “There really is a spirit living with us in our place!!” then her hands gesture to the indigenous standing up, “And Mister Kowahn can apply ‘life force energy’ into others too!”

Mr. Campbell’s eyes move to the mentioned human for some seconds. The black orbs are calmly watching them. Green orbs move back to Suzie, “Mr. Rays… applied this ‘Reiki’ on you?”

Annoyed, she gestures her hands, “Yes!!”

Charlie frowns and closes his eyes, “… You… Mr. Rays… My father… My grandmother…” The Campbell dad opens both eyes again and rests his cheek on the verse of his hand. He sighs, “Why are you people so believing in those things?”

Mr. Reis breathes in deeply. Here is another motive why Suzie wants him to be her dad.

Parents and familiars who believe in the non-visible world raised Kowahn throughout his life. He never thought about how hard it would be if his closest ones were distrusting of him. Maybe he would doubt himself at some point.

After self-substituting himself for Suzie in his mind, he understands the child a little more.

Mr. Reis sighs, “Mr. Campbell,” and the auburn looks at him, “What do you believe I did while I was applying reiki on your daughter?”

Charlie blinks two times, then he turns to Suzie, searching for something inside her eyes. He stands up. After adjusting his posture, he sets neat his his blazer and tie, then looks into Kowahn’s eyes again, “Sincerely?” and glances at Suzie, “Nothing.”

Silence.

Mr. Reis realizes something in that moment. Charlie is just like Suzie. Charlie won’t believe in anything, no matter what. And Suzie won’t stop trying to get what she wants, no matter what.

It’s incredible how they match.

They both have a lot to learn together.

To break the silence, Mr. Reis speaks up, “See?” and gestures to Suzie’s father, “That’s what he believes in,” he explains.

She frowns, “What does he believe in?”

The dark-skinned man turns to Charlie, “What do you believe in?”

“That a creator made this universe. Me. You. And that’s it.”

“That’s what he believes in,” Kowahn finishes, bringing both hands into his pants pockets.

Mr. Campbell raises both eyebrows, surprised. Is Mr. Rays trying to explain to Suzie that… he believes in something different? That she needs to accept her dad’s point of view? Is that it?

The corners of his mouth stretch as his look transforms into admiration. He’s touched.

“Are you okay with that, Mister Kowahn?” Suzie drops her shoulders, mouth half-open.

“I am,” his answer is quick.

“Even though he just… devalued all the work you did on me?” Her forehead furrows, her mouth twisting.

“Suzie,” Kowahn breathes in. And out... “Are you feeling better?”

She looks to the sides quickly. Why is he asking that? Isn’t that obvious? “Yes.”

“What is real at this moment?” He then asks.

“… Not what my dad thinks, that’s for sure,” and rolls her eyes.

Kowahn smiles, “And I believe in you. I believe in your testimony. I believe in my efforts to do the best work, too. Why should I worry about what your dad is telling us, when you’re the one who used my work, and not him?”

Suzie’s facial expression relaxes. The tall man has a point. “Okay!” She nods, understanding now.

“Suzie,” Kowahn continues, his eyes curving up, “Thank you,” a grin appears, white teeth showing out in a brilliant white, < For defending me. I appreciate your intentions. Thank you. >

The small girl smiles, feeling happy, “You’re welcome!”

Mr. Campbell watches his daughter react so happily towards Mr. Rays. She’s getting along with him... Mr. Rays is impressive.

Then, he remembers, “Ah, right,” The auburn leans down and puts a hand onto his daughter’s shoulder, “Apologize to him.”

“Why?” She turns to him with confusion, “What did I do?”

Breathing out, he speaks her name, “Suzie…” and gives her that knowing look only parents give, “You bothered and you’re bothering someone else’s working time. Mister Kowahn doesn’t have any kind of responsibility for you, but he and his friend accompanied you until here. They put aside something important they were doing or had to do to come and guarantee you would find your way to your dad safely.”

“Bellaville town is safe...” she rolls her eyes.

Mr. Campbell leans back and stares at her with fierce eyes. Under her dad’s strict stare, she fells forced to do something.

“Okay…” She nods and walks around the dad’s desk table to stand in front of the tall indigenous. She looks to the sides before staring into his eyes, “I’m sorry.”

Mr. Campbell follows her. When he is standing beside her, he crosses his arms, “You’re sorry for…?”

“I’m sorry for making you and Mizz Lara cancel your previous plans to make sure I found Daddy.”

“Mm-hmm,” Kowahn smiles, “I have forgiven you. Lara too. Thank you for worrying.”

“And…?’ Charlie semi-closes his eyes, tilting his head.

“And… thank you very much,” she smiles.

“You’re welcome, Suzie. It was great to know you.”

“Really?!” Her eyes light up. They go wide! “Then you’ll be my dad?! Do you like me enough to be my dad? Please, be my dad, Mister Kowahn…!”

When his daughter says that, Mr. Campbell frowns and feels himself burn alive in shame. What… What is she saying!! Oh my god!

Did she like Mr. Rays that much? That is… impressive! But! That isn’t a motive to start to trouble people with unfit requests! He needs to explain to Suzie some things.

“Suzie…” Charlie crouches to look at her from the same height, “You have great intelligence, I recognize. But there are some things only age makes you understand. For now, I ask of you to not make questions like these to people. Because they are inconvenient. They’re troublesome. I want you to trust me on this, since you aren’t old enough to understand, and, please, do what I’m saying.”

Suzie pouts, “But I want Mister Kowahn to be my dad!”

Mr. Campbell notices himself panicking inside. ‘Why am I panicking, though? Why do I feel like… I want to agree with Suzie?’ He reflects inside his mind, but outside inhales and exhales slowly.

“Suzie… For Mister Kowahn to be your dad, it means that he must be my husband first.”

“And you’re looking for a husband… And I like Mister Kowahn…!” She smiles, crossing her hands while her mind goes to dreamland. “See? It’s perfect!”

“Suzie. What I mean is: What you’re asking for… isn’t for you to decide. That’s for adults to decide. You’re a child. And children don’t decide on that.”

She feels her hopes dissipate. So… she can’t choose Mister Kowahn? It should be… Charlie who needs to do that?

… Then what she needs to do… is to make them be together somehow!

Mr. Reis, in his mind, can already imagine what Suzie is thinking. Something manipulative, for sure. Because just like Charlie is set in for disbelief in the spiritual, Suzie is set in making him be her father.

The indigenous knows where this is going. He sighs. Suzie notices that and looks at him excitedly, “Are you finally giving in?!”

Kowahn smiles. He glances at Charlie, “I wish you a wonderful day, Mr. Campbell,” then at Suzie. Before saying anything, though, he stares in silence. His fierce gaze tells everything he thinks at that moment.

His answer is a ‘no’ plain in his features. Suzie reads that.

The dark-skinned man finishes, “… To you too, Suzie.”

He turns around and walks away.

Mr. Campbell bites his lower lip from its insides. Mr. Rays didn’t need to say anything, but he conveyed everything through his postures and looks.

He’s firm. He’s got principles. He’s exemplar in his attitudes…

Suzie isn’t all wrong. Kowahn Reis can become a brilliant father.

As the figure of pure black and lustrous hair walks away, Mr. Campbell looses himself in possibilities about a romantic relationship with this human on his way out of the room.

The indigenous directs a profound, compassionate gaze to the father, for what feels like a long while. His eyes transmit all the mercy he feels for that lost soul. They emanate pure love. This human brother has a disturbed sea of emotions, to the point he can't rationalize anymore. He only reacts.

Arthur feels merciful for him. He believes all violent people have heartbreaking stories. They repeat patterns, not create. Usually, their parents repeated their parents' behaviour and on, and this sequence of genealogy creates a chain of pain through the families' generations.

Until it arrived at the human Kowahn faces. And this fellow brother, too, repeats what was done to him. Another prisoner of himself.

The indigenous understands, though, that personal healing only happens when the being is ready, and when they want to heal. And now, the profound-skinned man isn't ready. Nor wants it.

Perplexed at the indigenous merciful gaze, he feels as if his heart has been exposed. An embarrassment emerges in the core of his chest, making him feel reflexive at his own recent actions. But that only lasts some seconds before his logical mind cuts contact with his heart's guidance.

The outsider makes a last reverence before giving a meaningful glance at the woman, who, too, feels swayed by his compassionate look. He makes another reverence, this time at the boy, and curves-up his lips.

"I wish you all a wonderful night," is his last saying.

Then Kowahn turns around and walks away from the house. He did what he could: He tried.

As he steps away, he exhales, relieved. The hearing protectors he has been wearing until now did a marvelous job at preventing his sensible ears from the man's shoutings. Kowahn dislikes loud sounds. He feels disturbed when those reach him.

He thanks the Universe the parents didn't beat him up. And he thanks for the opportunity to do something.

For being useful and able to demonstrate nobility of spirit.