What will happen now

He lost everything. He became a nobody. But life went on, didn't it? And with the sense of fulfillment came a sense of gratitude. Even though that feeling was just an illusion. Just a trick to keep from going crazy. When the little baby began to cry again, now from hunger, Adelard looked at the remaining money and asked, "Do you have milk?" The elderly woman silently brought out a glass of milk and set it on the table. Looking at it without any emotion, she said something, but Adelard heard nothing. Holding out the coins to her, he asked, "Do you have a small bottle to feed the baby?"

"No," the woman replied and returned to her seat. The baby was crying louder and louder with each passing second. Adelard's hands were shaking, he wanted to cry himself. But he was the only adult here and so, he was determined to make sure that this crying was replaced by calmness. As soon as he put the glass to his mouth, the milk immediately spilled onto the blanket. This only made the baby cry even worse.

"Monsieur, take it. You'll be more comfortable with this," a woman who was holding her baby said. Holding out the milk bottle to him, she added, "If your baby's mother sees you feeding him, she will be very angry."

"Thank you," Adelard said, trying to remember this kind woman's face. But his thoughts were too muddled to work together with his memory. This was the first time Adelard had ever held a baby in his arms. But seeing the baby's face change as the sweet taste of fresh milk entered his stomach was actually a beautiful sight. And knowing that the baby was fed and healthy brought more happiness than anything else. For a moment, Adelard forgot everything and the feeling of happiness was stronger. The little creature, with a little heart was still holding on to his scarf and only now noticing those fingers, Adelard laughed. "What name shall I give you?" he asked, bringing the little hand to his lips. And the moment the child's gray eyes stopped on him, it was as if Adelard could hear his thoughts. He whispered, "Armand."

Thinking, the little boy made an incomprehensible sound, making Adelard's heart shrink with great happiness. But that woman's voice ruined everything. "Get out of here! This is not a kindergarten!" Perhaps this woman had smiled at him before. Perhaps before, she had respected him. But now that he had hit rock bottom and became a nobody in the eyes of others, she no longer thought of him as Adelard Mars himself. He had become a mere homeless man, who, moreover, was shamefully left with a child. Yes, the whole world had turned against him. "Go away!" she shouted and Adelard quickly left the cafe.

Trying not to walk where there were many people, Adelard covered his face with a scarf and headed toward the ruins. But even though he was far from the center, people still opened the windows and shouted, "It's Monsieur Adelard! Look what became of him!"

Feeling fingers on his back was unpleasant. Any other man would have lost his mind long ago or just given up. But he had a purpose, a meaning. And Armand was all of that. Not knowing whether to thank fate for it or curse himself, Adelard fell into doubt with no return. So what had become of him? He still could not believe what was happening. And sometimes, he imagined the white walls of the hospital in front of him, thinking that he was still there. But Adelard didn't blame anyone for what happened to him. He didn't think or resent the people who had taken everything from him by deception, and when Nicholas appeared in front of him after an hour with a bruise around his eye, he realized everything.

"What happened?"

"Let's go. I have an old friend. He allowed us to stay in his house. Come Adelard."

"What? A friend?"

"I'm very tired. Let's just go."

The day passed too quickly. Unnoticed, the hours went by like thieves willing to steal everything from those who suffered and loved. Time, as usual, was on the side of those who didn't need it. And when the town clock began to rattle loudly, Armand began to cry, as if realizing that he would have to fight time for the rest of his life.

Following Nicholas, Adelard noticed a change in him. With every movement of his thin legs, his whole body trembled and drops of sweat broke out on his forehead. It was hard for Adelard to see these changes. So he asked, "What will happen now?"