Connection or disconnection

The next day, Aurelius was sitting on the grass outside the hospital, enjoying the refreshing morning breeze, while Vitus sat beside him, watching the people passing by. The place wasn't noisy, but every now and then, the sound of doctors' and nurses' footsteps could be heard, along with patients talking to their visitors.

Suddenly, Vitus lifted his gaze to Aurelius, curiosity evident on his face, then pointed at the small device he had seen Aurelius' mother using the night before.

— "Aurelius, there's something your parents have that is truly frightening."

Aurelius was surprised and asked, "What is it?"

Vitus replied, "It's something like magic. It carries what your mother says to your father and vibrates while making strange noises."

Aurelius laughed, shaking his head as he looked at his friend with bright eyes.

— "It's not magic! It's a phone! With it, we can talk to anyone, even if they're far away."

Vitus looked at him, still unconvinced.

— "How? I mean... how can you speak to someone who isn't there? Can they really hear you?"

Aurelius took a deep breath, trying to find the simplest way to explain. He picked up a small stick from the ground and began drawing a rectangular shape in the dirt.

— "Imagine this is a small box with your voice inside. When you speak into it, it carries your voice through the air, like the wind, until it reaches the other person."

Vitus stared at the drawing with wide eyes, then cautiously said, "So... it's like sending a letter, but with your voice instead of written words?"

Aurelius smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly!"

Vitus thought for a moment, then looked at Aurelius with growing curiosity. "Do you have one?"

Aurelius hesitated for a moment before answering with a calm smile, "No, my parents say I'm still too young for one, and that I should explore the world around me instead of staring at a small screen all the time."

Vitus furrowed his brows and said in a quiet voice, "But... it would be great if you had one."

Aurelius raised an eyebrow and teased, "You're saying that because you want one too, aren't you?"

Vitus' face turned slightly red, but he didn't deny it. Instead, he turned his face away and murmured, "It would be nice to talk even after sunset... and even when we're far from each other."

Aurelius looked at him, then smiled gently and nodded in agreement. "Yes... that would be really wonderful."

In the evening, at the hospital

Aurelius sat on his bed, eyes closed, feeling utterly exhausted after a long day filled with events. It wasn't the physical pain that weighed on him the most, but rather the worry gnawing at him about Vitus. He knew his friend wouldn't leave the hospital until he was sure Aurelius was okay, but what he hadn't expected was the storm that was about to arrive.

Aurelius opened his eyes when he heard heavy footsteps approaching from the hallway, followed by an angry voice that was impossible to mistake.

— "Vitus!"

Vitus turned quickly, a look of panic flashing across his face. There was no time to escape—his father was already at the door, his eyes burning with rage, his hands clenched at his sides as if struggling to contain himself.

— "What were you thinking?!"

He didn't wait for an answer. Instead, he stormed into the room, grabbed Vitus's arm tightly, and pulled him to stand in front of him. Aurelius had never seen Vitus afraid before, but now, he looked so small in front of his furious father.

— "Why didn't you come home?! Why didn't you tell me where you were?! Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"

Vitus tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat.

— "I was—"

— "I found your bag thrown in the street!" his father cut him off, his eyes narrowing further. "Do you know what that means?! It means you ran off like a fool without even thinking about coming back! What if something had happened to you?!"

— "But Aurelius—"

Vitus didn't get to finish his sentence. The slap came swiftly, the sharp sound of it echoing through the room, making everything feel eerily still afterward.

Vitus flinched but didn't move. Aurelius, on the other hand, froze in place, his eyes widening, shock radiating from him.

He had never seen Vitus's father hit him before. He hadn't even imagined it.

Vitus stood there, his cheek turning red from the impact. He didn't cry, didn't speak, just stared at the ground as if trying to suppress any sign of weakness.

Aurelius wanted to intervene, to say something, but his body refused to respond. His heart pounded in his chest, as if the slap hadn't just hit Vitus—it had struck him too.

— "Go home. Now."

His father's voice was calmer now, but no less firm.

Vitus took a deep breath, then turned to Aurelius with a look that carried an unspoken apology, as if to say he never wanted him to see this.

Aurelius watched him leave, feeling utterly helpless. He didn't know why, but he felt that this life didn't suit Vitus and his kindness.