17 October 2012
Suddenly, Alek's cheerful expression turned to sadness. He was no longer saying anything, and walking away from the wall, he slumped onto the beanbag. His face was emotionless. Cold. Almost like death itself.
"Alek?" I asked softly, staring at his face.
No reply. Alek was focused on one spot, with closed eyes.Then a sudden, single tear pushed it's way out from underneath his eyelids.
"Alek, Alek what's wrong?" I asked, worried.
But even when I sat down next to him, he moved away. I tried comforting him and put my arm around him; but he just shrugged it off.
"Leave me alone!" Alek shouted.
"Look, I'm only trying to help. Tell me what's wrong. Is it me? Have I done anything? Your friend? Family?"
"I don't have a family".
"What do you mean?"
"They're dead".
I gasped.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know. Oh I'm so-
"Just be quiet!" He yelled.
I got up from the bean bag and made him a cup of tea. He snatched the cup off me, and took a small sip. I didn't dare say anything more after that. I didn't dare to even look at him.
"I'm sorry" He said.
"It's okay" I replied.
"No. It's not okay. I shouldn't of let this out on you. Its just so painful for me to think about, I'm sorry". Alek looked down again. I could see he meant what he was saying.
"Don't apologise, I can imagine how painful it is".
"The day they died, it was so quick that I couldn't tell the difference between reality and a dream. Every night, I would see their faces; smiling up at me. And then I would wake up to find it was all my imagination."
"Oh Alek" I said, hugging him.
"How old were you when your parents died?" I asked.
"twelve". He replied without any tone.
"How did you survive all this time?".
"Now that's a long story".
"You can tell me".
Alek sighed before speaking.
"Me and my parents lived in East-Thorn, in a small house near the stream. My father worked on a construction sight at the time, and my mother in a clothing factory. Everyday, I would cycle to Rosemead School on my own, and sometimes do some fishing near the stream when I would come home. It happened on a normal day, when I came back from school, and as I said, I was fishing near the stream; when a hand touched my shoulder. At first I thought it was my mother; her warm, gentle hands. But then I realised this hand was a stranger to me. It was cold as ice, skinny like the ribs of a starving child, and pale as death. As a child, I turned around, and a ghostly face with a pointy chin looked up at me. Frightened, I ran to our house and locked the doors. But locking myself up in a room where my loving, kind parents lay dead with their faces and bodies smothered with blood, was far worse than staring up at that monster. I screamed, tears burst our of my eyes like buckets, and I ran to my mum and dad, hugging them both who lay next to each other, still hand in hand. I cried until my eyes couldn't spill anymore tears, and that's when I found a note lying on the kitchen table".
Alek then stood up, took an ancient, dusty wooden box off the shelf, and unlocked it with the key hanging from under his sweater. Inside the box lay a piece of paper, thoroughly covered in slanted, script-like writing. Next to the paper lay a picture of his parents, money, and varied, small possessions that Alek occasionally picked up and looked at. Another, few tears rolled down his cheeks. And I could only do, but wipe them.
"I'm so sorry Alek. I'm so, so sorry. I don't know what to do, how to help, but I will always support you"I said sympathetically. Not knowing what else I could say; it was the saddest thing I had ever heard in my life and tears were dripping from my eyes too. Then I picked up the letter, and began to read:
'Dear Alek,
We love you so much. And we only hope that you can lead a good life. We wish you all the best in health, education, friends, and everything and anything good that you all deserve. I know this is hard, but don't cry sweetheart, life always goes on. We have left you all these possessions in the box, the house, money, love and our picture so that you know we are always with you- always. No matter how far or close, we love you more than anything in the world- your our sunshine, our dear son. Your twelve now, so your a big boy now darling; take everything you need, buy anything you need with the money. We're so sorry it has to be like this. But maybe the person who will help you is already near.
With every drop of love possible from both of our hearts,
Mum and Dad'.
I sighed. His parents were so lovely, loving and caring, they didn't deserve to die, and Alek didn't deserve to experience this. But one lingering question still brought me to a halt; how exactly did they die? And who was this ghostly murder?
"How did they die?" I finally plucked up the courage to ask.
"I never found out. But who else could of killed them than that ghostly figure I saw? I never really found out who he was either". Alek answered.
"I'm sorry" I apologised one again.
"It's not your fault, but thank you"Alek replied.
I wiped Alek's tears. To stop him from crying, I kissed him on the eyelids t and then locked my lips on his once again. In a few minutes, we both opened our eyes, and Alek gave me a weak smile.
"I think the person who will help me, my parents meant to be you". Alek said. --------------------------------- @misslittleDHP @eddie12309 @16Moonlight @tattyteddy
Chapter 11: Tears And Smiles • Opuss № I