8

'You will be going to school' A woman with blond hair and benign eyes said to me a small child with lost eyes. She had bright read specks on which were pointed at one end and was talking to me who looked as if he had lost all his will to live. Dark circles adorned the white skin under my lilac and golden eyes. My cheeks were hollow and hands were thin with veins protruding.

Tick tock…tick tock the sound of the clock.

Tap…tap…tap the sound of the computer keyboard.

I nodded dismissing the passing comment said with faked sincerity . The woman continued 'According to the law you need to get compulsory education. Your mother seemed to only see you as a means to earn child support while not actually performing her duty. Now that seeing what had happened, we will take care of you'

Silence ensued for a short while.

'Well since you already know how to read. I suppose we should start with elementary schooling. When you will get discharged, we will look for a suitable school.'

'Yes'

The woman looked at me with soft expression and pitiful eyes. It was an expression I had seen for the first time. It felt warm and revolting at the same time

***

'Oh, thank God you woke up!' Marcellus called out to me in a loud voice who was already struggling to keep consciousness and adapt to the ringing sensation in his head. Marcellus' voice felt as if somebody attacked me with a hammer.

'Shut up!' I let out a hissing voice to the boy who was now holding my hand and looking at me in a relieved manner. I could see the tear stains on his face while new batch of tears had already started to well in his eyes.

'Silly! Why are you crying?'

This gesture felt alien since I was someone who could not cry for himself let alone for others

'Hey Marcellus! Stop crying! '

'No…couldn't…. I was…so …afraid.hic…hic' The big man was crying like a child.

I let out a sigh.

'Hey I am fine. Look I am alive and looking at you. Smiling at your stupidity. I am alive. There is no need to cry now'

'Really?' Marcellus' face was a little too close. I could see his blue eyes. They were completely blue with no other colour mixed. Unadulterated in a pure shade of aqua like deep ocean. His lips were red and moist . There was a certain smoothness and softness to them

*Blush*

'Hey don't shove your stupid face so close to me! And wipe this snot! It looks too ugly.'

'Solly…' he let a cute voice while cleaning his nose.

So much like a child.

'Now …Now I hope I am not disturbing. I came to tell you that Aziel you had mild anaemia and case of malnourishment. There is slight fever so it is better you take your day off' Elijah said.

He was someone just like me . We do not cry nor feel worried for others. In our worlds there is only us and bad memories. We are own weapon and fiercely protecting ourselves from everyone. Self –preservation, self-love, self – harm and self-defence. Everything was for ourselves and nobody else.

'Yes, I understand' I said while putting my hand on my forehead. I was truly tired.

'Anaemia? Malnourishment? Aziel what happened to you?' Marcellus started crying again.

'Hah…Not again'

'Worry not I will look after you.'

With this Marcellus went away. Dashing through the hallway.

'Where am I and what time is it?' I asked Elijah.

'You are in the nurse office and it is break time' Elijah said sitting in front of me on a metal stool. He had a habit of crossing his legs and keeping his hands on his lap which was quite peculiar for a male. Elijah looked at me through his thin rimmed spectacles as if analysing my every movement. Amused by looking at my withering self .

'I had been out cold for a long time then'

'Marcellus cares a lot about you'

'huh?'

'He was sitting beside you with such a worried expression. He did not even attend his morning class.'

'We are worlds apart from them. How can he care so much for someone he has known only for two days? We could never guess these people.' I said in disbelief .

'What? Do you think they are angels? Someone like your God?' Elijah said with stern eyes and firm expression

*Elijah is pissed*

'Their pity can sometimes make them one. Guilt, pity and sadness are the driving force for humanity to commit good deeds. It is not happiness, love or affection. These feelings are the most selfish out of all.'

'Well said. Thought you had changed after meeting such a sunny boy. Remember Aziel, we are and always will be in this darkness. There is no way out of this swamp and if another person might try to give us a hand, we will only plunge them into this darkness. Sometimes darkness feels most soothing and fulfilling than any human relation'

'Hmm…'

'I will be going then.'

'Hmmm…'

The sliding door shut behind me . Guilt and pity made me remember all those years I wanted to forget, made me remember the judging eyes of the people, remember the familiar sense of hopelessness which felt saccharine in night and bitter in the morning, just like two different medicines for two different ailments.

*Good people truly are a mystery. More normal they are, the more twisted they are to me*

'Aziel …. I am back!' The sliding door made a loud noise.

'Fuck ...be quit!' I was losing my temper first time in a long time.

Marcellus hopelessly could not guess my mood.

'Look I have brought you something to eat and drink' An excited Marcellus shouted at me while holding a packet. He took out a wrapped sandwich and gave it to me . It was a sandwich sold in the cafeteria laden with onions, tomatoes and cabbages and cheese . It tasted a little bland and the bread was rough to the throat however I ate it gratefully. Marcellus took a pink bottle and offered it to me.

'Here strawberry milk It is yummy and sweet. '

I always had a sweet tooth. The milk was sweet with the refreshing smell of strawberries.

'Why did you not attend your classes?'

'Huh? Oh well you were not waking up so I was afraid and stayed beside…...You' a flustered Marcellus uttered.

I should tease him more.

'Do you care so much about me? Or do you have that kind of feelings it is fine if you have though. I have no prejudice'

'Huh.? …Huh? .... Huh! No …no …. that is not it …. I just liked sitting in the AC. That's all!' A red Marcellus said. It felt like he was going to faint any moment.

'So, you never cared about me and only saw me as an excuse to chill in the cold room? So cold Marcellus! I never thought you will be like this!'

'NO….no…no I …. I' I thought that Marcellus' system had now been damaged. It could neither understand nor say anything due to being flustered. I took the half-eaten sandwich and shove it in the mouth that could not shut up.

'Well, I get it ok?' I smiled . It wasn't strained , a genuine smile for a flustered boy.

Marcellus whimpered while eating the sandwich.

'Hmm…What is this?' I spotted a wooden box behind Marcellus .

'Ah this! This is my flute case'

It was a small wooden box with beautiful carvings of gold with golden metal knobs. Brown in colour with a tinge of yellow mixed making it light coloured just like the back side of maple leaves. It had an elegant touch to it and I loved how small and beautiful it was.

'As thanks I will make tassels for your box. How about it?'

'Really? Do you know how to make them?'

'What? You think a boy cannot make tassels?'

'Ahh…no..no..no..no I was just surprised . It is really amazing though.'

'Well thanks….Here drink the strawberry milk too.'

We laughed and talked about many things .