Under Editing

In the park again, Kowahn stops in front of the bench he sat onto before. He was here prior to visiting by the house across the road. That one which welcomes in its insides conflicted parents and a needy child.

Once more, he lands his rear onto the public bench, then looks at the darkening sky. From morning to night, its colors intensity change from pinkish-blue to blueish-pink, but unlike when it’s day the clouds aren’t of the normal light pink, gifted by Starlight’s influence. From evening to dawn, the dear Moon makes its revelation in the sky, intensifying and transforming the clouds’ original color into a neon. Beautiful light pink neon cotton candies float in the blueish-pink sky, spreading its beauty across the horizons. All the few passengers by look at them. It’s irresistible to not peek when they gratuitously give this show every night.

Moon and Starlight, a natural satellite and a softened sun. Both within a range of 180 degrees, Kowahn appreciates them, and the clouds in between. It’s a beautiful living painting. What a wonderful world. Nothing feels comfier now than restoring his spirits in contemplation after he thought he failed at trying to help that family…

The minor stars shine, but not as great as when it is at dawn, as now the sky is still relatively clear. Since Starlight’s arrival, dawn is the only time when the sky gets completely dark.

White hearing protectors at his rescue, Kowahn can relax somehow, although the shoutings continue to go on in that boy’s house. He could go, but… his soul still tugged him to stay. And he waits.

And waits...

One, two, three hours pass by while Kowahn meditates before the sky, that reaches its maximum darkening, which feels like an eternal sunset. However, a loud clang disrupts his concentration. A sound of something falling onto the ground makes his head turn in its direction.

At the house entrance, a profound-skinned boy is rolling at the end of a staircase and hits the ground. Crawling, at first, the child slowly stands up, holding himself up by the stair step in front of him.

It seems like his parents shoved him out of the house.

When the kid turns his body in Kowahn’s direction, his sad semblant catches the man’s attention, who inhales deeply. No kid should ever be abused. It is a heartbreaking scene.

Dejected, the boy walks towards the road and crosses it without looking to the sides. That’s dangerous. What if a vehicle was driving by?

In a royal blue hooded jacket, light blue jeans and no shoes, the boy of voluminous coily hair arrives at the park with hands inside his jacket pockets. His eyes seem lost on the royal blue rocky pavements of Bellaville town. The boy feels abandoned. He doesn’t know if he will sleep at home tonight, or if he will need to look for somewhere else to spend his night. Or part of his night.

Feeling his emotions at the top of his lungs, the child takes his hoodie and shoves it over his medium black hair. Please… Don’t cry. No one can see him cry, otherwise… he is fragile. The strong don’t cry.

Inattentive to the all-in-solid-white indigenous on the bench he walks to, the boy arrives on his usual sitting spot.

Kowahn kindly stares at the smaller, although he isn’t looking at him, but at the ground, “Let’s talk, dear friend?” A smile completes his intention.

The silent boy glances up, startling at the man. Since when is he here? He looks down again and purses his lips. No words come out of his mouth. His legs move past the tall man, then he sits beside him, at his right side.

Kowahn looks up, appreciating the sky once more. The boy looks down, thoughts and emotions running wild. He feels so bad. When will this end?

They only sit together, keeping the non-verbal dialogue. None of them say anything out loud, nor telepathically. It is a mutual respect that sets itself between them.

Several minutes go by. The profound-skinned boy feels less tormented after spending time in the taller’s presence. He looks up at him, saddened expression less intense than before, “Louie. I didn’t tell you my name… I’m sorry...”

Kowahn smiles, “I never asked,” then looks at the smaller, “So it’s okay.”

“You didn’t want to know my name…?” Louie’s jaw drops, frightened. Was he so uninteresting? Seems like Kowahn didn’t want to know his name…

“I wanted. But I didn’t feel that I could,” The indigenous panics a little. He left an impression he didn’t intend to, “You were suspicious of me.”

“Right…” Louie nods, changing his stare to the ground, “I wouldn’t have answered.”

Kowahn gives a small sigh in relief. He thought he knew how to deal with children. But reality just showed him otherwise.

Another sequence of minutes goes in silence. At first, Louie was sure Kowahn would stuff him with questions, but unlike that, he only stays in silence. It feels like he is waiting. The boy feels himself relax by each second.

Louie opens his mouth, breathing in, “Until when are you going to stay here?”

“Until when do you want me to stay?” Kowahn turns to him.

Captivating violet eyes reciprocate the gaze, “Until I go back home.”

Kowahn gives a small smile, “Then I’ll stay here until you go back home.”

Louie feels a fluffy feeling float inside his chest. This friend… is a good friend.

They say nothing else.

Half-hour before the change of date to the next day, the sky slowly darkens. The blueish-pink sky begins to turn into purple. At middle night, it is dark purple with blue hints to it. It’s so beautiful. By that time, Louie is laid on the remaining part of the bench, and curled up the most he can. His feet slightly touch Kowahn’s hips, who doesn’t mind it, although the boy’s soles of the foot are black from stepping directly on the ground. They show no mercy against his white clothes and paints it in slight black spots.

The indigenous black orbs stare at the child for some moments, observing him. When are his parents letting him back in?

His gaze turns to the dark purple blueish sky. The stars finally shine brightly, and the neon clouds have turned to the normal light pink again. The whistles of the wind aren’t more aggressive than the cold it brings to the dawn.

Louie’s feet are cold against Kowahn’s side of the hip. The man thinks about touching it, to get it warmer, but doesn’t do it.

Louie didn’t give him his permission. He doesn’t feel he can do so.

After some more minutes, his eyelids feel heavy. The bright stars aren’t as eye-catching anymore. The Moon is far away in the cosmos, while Starlight has long gone out of sight.

What a wonderful dawn...

His eyes slowly close. It’s time to sleep. Bellaville town is safe, so he doesn’t worry about anything.

...

Morning. Sun and Starlight are on the start of a sunrise. Midst-dark, midst-bright sky, the pinkish-blue of the morning slowly comes back again. When Kowahn’s eyes open, the first thing he realizes is a mild touch on his skin. The sunsrises are caressing his skin.

He looks to right side. Louie is isn’t there.

Kowahn sighs in relief. This must mean Louie has gone back inside his house at some point…

Still… it’s cruel to let a child sleep outside. Kowahn wonders what must have happened. Why did his parents do that?

The indigenous stands up, then stretches himself. A new day is starting. He thanks the Universe for letting him live one more day, to have one more chance in life.

Today is not his working day. He could spend time at this park without a problem. Maybe he could see Louie again and… talk to him?

“No… Louie should come to me. Not otherwise,” Kowahn nods to himself. Such a distrustful child… needs space.

… Distrustful. {Doesn’t that sound like me?}, Kowahn ponders.

Suzie, now Louie... It seems like he attracts children like him.

Although he wants to stay at the park, Kowahn returns to his aunt’s house by walking, carrying his white backpack with him.