The Sky Cries

The first bell had rung a few minutes ago, marking the start of lectures. The staff room was nearly empty, except for the teachers who had late lectures. Some prepared for their lectures, others completed their work, or just chatted.

Since the corridors and washrooms remained empty while the classrooms were occupied, the Janitors would start cleaning. Because no student rampaged through their work of effort.

The class teacher of class 10 shuffled through the register to curate the attendance for the month. He had returned a few minutes ago, after completing his duty at the gate. And he was surprised because Leo hadn't come to school. He had even waited a few minutes longer, before closing the gate.

As he calculated the total attendance of students for the month and the whole year, it struck a memory. 'No wonder he didn't come to the school' he thought, shuffling the pages till Leo's name.

Every cell of the ruled page had either 'A' or 'P', both to mention the attendance of the students. And Leo's line was filled with P's till today. And like every year, it was precisely 75%. 'Did he decide to not even give an application for leave since it's his last year?' he sighed. The teacher had long given up on Leo, but occasionally he would worry about the kid.

Leo's parents, too, seemed very detached from him. He didn't know them personally, but from a few times he had seen Leo with them outside of school, it appeared so. Leo didn't look like his parents. No, he looked completely different. And it didn't take a teacher to add one with one and reach a valid conclusion.

Even so, he never dug too deep into the topic or talked to Leo about it. The kid had made a very sturdy wall around him, which no one had ever passed through. Maybe, not even his parents.

The teacher sighed again, but the last time over Leo. In a month, the kid would be gone from school, completing his tenth grade. With Leo's grades, it was even possible that he would rank at the top.

So, even with his antiques, Leo was destined to succeed. 'He won't walk through these corridors alone in a crowd anymore. Like now...' the teacher skimmed through a pile of pages in a cabinet of his desk. Many envelopes and papers rested there, a few opened while many were not given the chance.

Every time, around this time of month Leo took a leave. And no one knew what he did on the leave. For so many years, he recited the same reason, but it was hard to believe.

Except for this month. He hadn't given a letter or any indication of it. But he hadn't come to school either. So it was very much possible, that he had stopped following even the curtesy of respecting the rules of this school.

As he kept adding up the number and filling the attendance sheet, a shadow peeked into view from the corner of his eye. He glanced up, thinking it was a junior or even the principal. But the casual attire rejected either of the possibilities.

It was Leo, walking towards the staff room, blatantly ignoring the irritated and raging Janitor. The Janitor wiped the passage again, clearing the slight dust that Leo brought with him. Leo didn't respond to the Janitor's grumbling and neither did the man need it. For all these years, he had become accustomed to revisiting the same area to clean. The only way to vent out was by scolding and blurting out his anger. But unlike many kids, this one never reacted. Not angry, not sad, not irritated.

Leo never cared to respond. He was in a normal white hoodie and dark grey track pants. He had an envelope in his hand, and the teacher understood what it was.

Leo entered the staff room after looking at his class Teacher. The others noticed the boy entering without any permission, but it had been a routine. After all, Leo only visited the staff room once a year. Every time, for the same reason.

"I need a leave for medical reasons" Leo gave the envelope to him, a voice in no need of any medical care. The teacher opened it, and the content was the same as every year. He didn't even read it all properly and stamped it.

Leo looked at the teacher, who nodded and was about to take his leave. But the teacher called him. "Leo,...why don't you start the leave from tomorrow? It's fine even without a uniform or books, so you can attend the class" He said, looking Leo in the eyes. They never showed any emotions that a child should. His eyes always held doubt and awareness of being lost.

"No, I can't," Leo muttered and turned to leave.

"Ms. Maya is leaving in a few days, and today is her last day at the school. At least attend her farewell, you brat." The teacher knew that whatever way he talked to the kid, it was in vain. But maybe Maya had brushed up on him, so he wanted to try one last time. That might be the reason why his voice was all rattled, a last resolve.

And as expected, Leo just kept walking. "She was worried about you. Going as far as to trouble herself and get to know you from everyone in the school. If not for her, at least stay for the reason that someone here wanted you to be normal." There was anger in his voice. Anger that the boy wouldn't understand. Anger that he had failed a student in his career.

Leo stopped on his way, sparking a slight hope in the teacher's heart.

"I am sorry, sir. But even I don't know what 'Normal' me is like." And he left. The teacher wasn't disappointed. He had expected this. Leo was never the type to change just because someone cared.

'That might change. I hope so...' his eyes snapped open like never before. Leo had this habit of rubbing his index finger with his thumb whenever he was troubled or anxious. And only a few times in his 25 years of career in this school had he seen Leo do that. And today was that occasion.

"He is as troublesome as ever, isn't he?" Another teacher asked him, looking at the disappearing back of Leo.

"Not anymore, I hope."

-

Leo walked out of the building and immediately pulled the hood over, with the Sun almost over his head.

But the heat wasn't very haunting, nor the rays. As if the sky was ready to cry. Leo looked around the school. Unlike the other kids, it was his last day here. The exams for the 10th grade always took place in different centers, in the city. So, once out of here, all of this would be ghosts of his life.

His eyes traveling through every corner of the school, landed on that familiar face. One he wondered why, was even familiar.

Even in the bright rage of the sun, her eyes fluttered with freshness. Freshness that could easily intoxicate and corrupt his mind. Her skin as always shone brightly under the glowing bowl of heat, but it didn't hurt him. No, rather, it pulsated under his skin throughout his body. In parts that only he could ever reach.

But it was doable now; looking at her that is. Seeing her eyes. And to some extent, even listening to her hypnotizing voice. Because the atmosphere wasn't a constant turmoil.

It didn't isolate him from the wind. It didn't burden him as much when the heat fell on his skin. The clouds were gathering, each one as excited. Heavy with freedom. Filled with calm. And ready to shed their benevolence on his affected body.

Leo's eyes lingered a bit longer on her. She was smiling and laughing, looking at the kids playing from the lower grades. Every often, she would tease some kids.

Leo's mind was always occupied with thoughts of her, even with just her presence around. He wondered, 'Does she like kids?' seeing as she laughed with the children.

He shook his head, jerking away the eccentricity she brought into his mind with her. The golden dust that covered the ground seemed to be losing its radiance. And with it, Leo's heart was soothing. A shiver ran through his body, one that felt like home.

Unknowingly, a smile crept onto his face. Leo looked up, and as expected the clouds were here. With wide arms and an unknown expression, the atmosphere was wrapping around him. As if cuddling him in their hands.

The heaviness of the cold won over the scorching rush in the wind. A whiff of breeze ran over his head, plopping the hood back. As if noticing his turmoil, the messengers of rain blew his hair, like a hand ruffling them. The wind smelled of soil, happy. It smelled of an atmosphere that was welcoming.

And his smile didn't wish to stop, as his eyes gleamed with life in the shadows of the clouds.

On the other side, Maya brushed her eyes with a handkerchief. The tears from laughing accumulated around her eyes. Her eyes glistened whenever the water cuddled her eyelids.

Maya felt someone's outline, from the corner of her eyes. Instinctively, she looked at the person. And what she was greeted with was a very familiar stranger.

A person she had wished to communicate with for the past month, but never found the response in their gaze.

He wasn't the Leo she had always seen for the past month. As if the gods had finally given the kid hope and a face. For the first time, she was seeing his eyes alive. Not energetic, but at least expecting.

'And his lips can stretch', Or else she doubted if they were sewn to never move.

Her eyes kept exploring over his face, as if every time it was different. Expressions and movements she had never seen on him. She wished to look away, but somehow, couldn't.

'What is he smiling for?' Leo's smile wasn't just from happiness. It was something more. One she had, after getting her degree. After knowing that she had become an independent adult. A smile that only adores your face when the world doesn't seem like a cage. One that lets you set boundaries, rules, and relief.

She pondered. What could make the boy smile like that when he had been escaping her gaze for a whole month?

And as if to answer her doubts, she felt a coldness touch her cheek. A single drop of water fell, which sent a haunting cold through her face. She wiped it and looked up.

Dark clouds. Breezy wind. A humid covering on the gust and weeping sky. A weight she could feel. 'The rain's here'