His mother

Sebastian was at a loss for words in that moment. What is someone expected in a situation like this? Should he offer a comforting pat on the shoulder? Or express he was sorry for his loss?

He always found saying phrases like that somewhat pathetic because how could speaking such words improve the situation? It doesn't change the fact that what has happened has already happened. 

He feels that if he were to utter these words, he can't help but feel like he's lying through his teeth. He has always struggled to see things from another perspective.

Oh–Hold on. That's not true. He can grasp it to some extent, but he does not truly comprehend the depth of their feeling. Although he can't genuinely feel sad or grief on Atlas's behalf, he can see that Atlas is haunted by the memories he carries.

Sebastian continues to observe his behavior. It's peculiar. Atlas's finger continues to tap rhythmically against his knees while his other hand holds the small branch to roast the fish. 

Sebastian chose to remain silent as he lay on his back against the hard earth. It's not that he didn't care. He simply was unsure of what to say. If he said the wrong thing, he can't take it back. It's better not to say anything instead. Sometimes the heavy silence in the atmosphere can convey the message.

 The earth beneath him resembles the stubbles on a man's chin. It was bumpy and uneven like a forsaken road. He bites his lips as he hesitates to ask, but decides to bite the bullet. "When did it happen? Why did he kill her?"

Atlas was surrounded by the smoke, brilliant flames, and the night sky, giving him a mysterious presence. His hand continues to rotate the fish as the aroma intensifies and the meat becomes a deep golden hue.

Atlas's lips formed into a sardonic smile, "Because she was weak."

Sebastian tilted his head. He wasn't expecting to hear that. He wasn't sure what to expect, but it was not this. He's fairly certain that no one is supposed to say things like that about their mother. 

Sebastian pressed on, hoping to receive more than a vague response. "What do you mean?"

Atlas bore into his eyes with that same sardonic expression, but a haunted look lingered in his eyes. "You can never truly understand someone who harbors love and hatred at the same time. One time, she took me to this stunning lake. My father had let her and me go on a field trip. My mom was holding my hand and I was excited because I haven't traveled much from home. She had the most beautiful smile in the world. She would smile at me and call me her little rock."

Sebastian was curious, so he asked, "Why did she call you that?"

Atlas closed his eyes as he recalled that day. "Because it signifies endurance. She wanted me to be like that rock that the waves crashed over. It always stands steadfast as the raging seas fall around it."

Sebastian narrowed his gaze as he wondered. Was it her who gave his name? His name means to silently endure. Was it a reference to endure suffering under his father's hands or something else?

Sebastian snapped his brows together as he questioned, "You got off topic. Why did your father tear out her heart? And why did you suddenly talk about harboring hate and love?"

Sebastian peered at him suspiciously, "What would you know about love? Are you in love with someone?"

Atlas's brows drawn together as he gritted his teeth. "Uhh. Why would you ask that? Besides, where would I find the time to invest in that?"

Atlas shakes his head as he looks at him with an incredulous look, "Never mind. You're getting off track. On that day, she took me to the lake. I was walking around and saw a frog leaping in the water."

His eyes curved into star-crescent moons as he chewed his lips. "I don't know what I was thinking. It looked fun and I wanted to chase it. As soon as I caught the frog in my hands, I realized it was too late."

Sebastian was intrigued by the story. "What happened?"

Atlas rolled the fish on the other side before he continued. "The waters surge up to my ankles and I slipped into the water as the waves carried me. At that time, I couldn't swim and I screamed out loud. I remember the feeling of drowning and kicking my feet over and over, so I can try to reach the surface."

Sebastian was stunned and he sized him up to see if he was joking. His ears zone on on his heartbeats. He listened for the increasing beats, which would tell him a lie. His heart remained to remain calm, indicting he was telling the truth. He waited for him to proceed with the story. 

"As my head broke the surface and I was trying to gasp for air. I saw my mother standing there, watching me. There was no expression of shock on her face and she didn't move to try to come to save me."

Atla's eyes furrowed in confusion. "Why didn't she try to save me? I was her only child and she loves me, but why did she just stand there with that look on her face?"

Sebastian didn't know how to answer that. There were so many wrongs in his story. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. But that didn't deter from Atlas speaking. 

"Her face looked like she was deciding if I was worth saving. Her eyes were vacant like I wasn't there. After I started screaming and choking on water. I begged her to save me. After that, she didn't hesitate and jumped into the water, and pulled me into the muddy grass by the lakeside."

His eyes were tight shut, as though he was trapped in memories. "I remember the feeling of her cold hands around my neck as she whispered into my ears. She kept repeating, it's okay, my little rock. It's okay, little rock. Don't be afraid. I could feel the cold water seeping through her clothes and the mud that had clung to our clothes."

He raised his lips into a mocking smile, "I didn't realize at that time because I was only seven years old. I think she hated me, so she wanted me dead. Otherwise, why would she take so long to come to save me."

His black eyes seemed clear and glassy. He tilted his head backward. "Do you want to know why I think she was weak?"

Sebastian's heart felt heavy by the amount of information he was given. He was surprised by the change of topic. He still wanted to talk about the matter, but he could tell that Atlas wanted to talk about something else, so he followed along. "Why?"

Atlas curled his lips into the same sardonic smile. "After the accident. It was about three months later. My father was becoming more cruel toward my mother. One day, my mother rebelled against my father. It made him so furious that he grabbed her arm and took her into his room. I could hear the sound of the door banging across the room like a clap of thunder."

Sebastian felt a fleeting shudder run down his spine at his words. Sebastian studied Atlas's body language and looked for any hint to see if he truly understood what he was saying.

He listened to his words. "Later that evening. She went into my room and sat on my bed. She thought I was asleep, but I was awake. In the dark, I could hear her heaving as she gritted her teeth. Her shaking hands combed through my hair."

He smiled sarcastically as he rolled the fish to the other side. "She kissed my head and said that she was sorry that she wouldn't be here anymore and that I need to be strong to prepare for what lays ahead, my little rock."

"I knew something was off by her words. As she left my room, I got up and followed her from a distance. She was heading toward the door. That's why I knew she was abandoning me with him. She didn't see that my father was behind her. His large hand went straight through her heart as blood poured from her chest."

Atlas's eyes were dark as raven and he sneered, "Her body collapsed to the ground as my father watched her with an arrogant gaze. Do you get it? If she hadn't tried to leave? She would be still here with me instead of abandoning me in my father's hands. My father was indeed a terrible man and he ignored me. I was content being invisible. After that day, everything changed and he poured out his rage on me ever since."

Sebastian watched him pull the stick from the fire and blow on the fish. He hissed after his fingers made contact with the fish. He blew on it again to cool it.

After a while, he tore a small piece of the fish and took a bite. His lips twisted in a smile, "It doesn't taste too bad."