The Guardians of Light

The Reminiscence

I woke up, and I was on the bed. I realised it's just a dream. I looked at the clock it was 1 o'clock. I am pathetic, even in my dream, I thought. 

I got up and went to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. On my way back to the room, I happened to see a silhouette of a man on the window. I don't know if I am afraid, but I slowly walked towards the window.

I quickly opened the windows only to see that the clothes that were hung outside took the shape similar to that of a man.

'The night couldn't get any better.' I sighed.

I felt that sleep is the only way to get past the night. So I went to sleep thereafter.

                                                                                -----*------

The same gloomy morning again. I finished my routine and started for school. On the way, I spotted Mia. This wasn't the route that she takes daily, but that's none of my business.

She noticed me, but I continued to walk as if I haven't seen her. I walked right past her without even looking at her face. I didn't want it to seem like I am running away from her, so I took slow, long steps.

After a few minutes, she caught up with me.

'I know you saw me.'

I frowned.

'Don't you wanna know what I'm doing in this route?'

'No.' I replied gently.

'I'm gonna say it anyway. I had a sleepover with a friend of mine who lives here.'

'That wasn't necessary.'

'Well, I hate to walk alone and also to be silent. I'm not going to ask you to talk.'

'Why?'

'What, why?'

'Why are you making an effort to talk to me despite my ignorance?'

'I can't really discuss my personal matters with a person who is not interested in talking with me.'   

'Whatever.'

By this time, we reached the school. I had an art class today. Out of all the subjects, I loved this one. It's because we can represent a lot through drawings rather than speaking. In addition to this, my bench mate was just similar to me. Doesn't talk, minds his own business, and also has a great talent in the arts.

I had a peaceful one hour class. While leaving, the Arts Professor gave us a task. He said, 'Draw whatever you see in your dream tonight.'

When he mentioned 'dream,' I remembered the dream that I had yesterday. I didn't want my tonight's dream to be pathetic.

After having two more lectures, I went to the canteen to have my lunch. Of course, I sit alone. I opened the box, and the smell of spaghetti intensified my hunger. As I began to start my lunch, the fellow students surrounded me and snatched away my box.

In fact, they were the real jerks with dumb grades, but alas! They are considered as cool.

It started to irritate me when the people around us began to stare at me. I am not much of a fighter, or maybe I underestimate myself cause I never put up a fight with anyone since my childhood. I wanted to yell back at them, but I was afraid it's gonna attract more attention, which I don't prefer. The high school students always encourage people to fight. They just love the drama.

Anyway, I thought that violence would only make things worse. So I decided to neutralise the situation with a more subtle approach.

Mia came there out of nowhere. Mia's brother was one of the bully, so when she asked those jerks to leave me alone, they left. Thank God, the threat got annihilated without me doing anything.

'Thanks.' I replied with a very faint smile.

'Oh no, I don't want thanks. I want you to come with me after school.'

'Where?'

'Just come, alright.'

Since she had saved me from them, I guess I owe it to her. I nodded in agreement with her.

After school, as I walked out of campus, I saw Mia standing at the entrance. I can't ignore her now. I walked up to her and stood silently.

She was too busy listening to songs that it took her five minutes to know about my presence. Although I could have called her, then again, it's me.

She got spooked when she turned around and saw me standing closer to her.

'Well, someone is in stealth mode,' she said in a sarcastic tone.

'Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.'

'How long have you been standing here?'

'About 5 minutes.'

' It's creepy. You could've just called me instead of standing there like an idol.'

'I don't prefer people interrupting me. Hence I don't interrupt anyone.'

'There's no point in arguing with you. Come, let's go.'

I didn't ask her where we were going even though I wanted to know. I didn't want her to think that I am excited about this little trip.

We walked about for 15 minutes in utter silence. I don't know about her, but I surely enjoyed the state of being tranquil. For me, the sounds caused by nature- the whooshing of the wind, the chirping of the birds, the booming of the tree branches are a feast to my ears.

While I was having fun in my own way, Mia started to make a conversation. Sometimes when people try to meddle in my life, I often try to shut them up by speaking something irrelevant or complex.

So in order to stop her, I said, 'Do you not hear the musical psithurism of the feathered foliage?'

'I don't exactly know what that is, but I assume its something to do with nature.'

I just nodded, and we kept moving forward. The road is kinda empty, so we walked in the middle of the street. I didn't want to, but I had to.

Since everything was so quiet, we could hear something accelerating, like a car racing towards us. We turned to check for the source of the sound.  

We saw a red Porsche, which is coming at us at a very high speed. By the looks of it, the driver made it very clear that he or she ain't gonna apply brakes.

I froze for a split second while Mia completely froze. I shoved her to the side of the road, and simultaneously, I hopped back.

All this happened in a minuscule. My adrenaline raised way too high for the first time in years. For a moment, all my feelings that turned to stone burst open. I had to experience all my repressed feelings. I felt fear, worry, and also a bit of happiness since we escaped death.

I totally forgot about Mia while processing these immense feelings, which stuck me in an unexplainable way.

I immediately ran towards Mia and helped her get up. She got bruises, one on the hand, and the other on her knee. Her jeans got a little torn around the knee region.

She put her hand around my neck, and I helped her walk. I spotted a park just beside the street. I took her inside and made her sit on a bench and then searched for a medical shop nearby.

Fortunately, the park itself has one. I bought some ice and cream and ran back to Mia as soon as I could.

On a general basis, I never start a conversation. I would think at least ten times if I had to. But at that moment, I completely forgot what kind of person I was and acted like a normal one.

I asked her, 'How are you feeling?'

'These are small scratches. I can manage them,' said Mia, with a smile on her face. Maybe, me starting a conversation surprised her.

'So, people have to get hurt for you to talk to them, huh?'

'It's not like that,' I replied while cleaning the wounds with the ice.

After that, I applied the cream over it and sat beside her on the bench.

'I'm afraid the place you want me to come with you will have to wait another day.' 

'You know, the funny thing is, I wanted to bring you here.'

'To the park?'

'Yes.'

'Why?'

She pointed to a child and said, 'Look at that little kid who is swinging in a cradle. What comes to your mind when you see it?'

I stared at the kid for a whole minute, and Mia didn't interrupt me. She let me take my time.

I looked right into her eyes, which I never do and said, 'Would you believe me if I said that I was like that little one when I was a kid.'

She looked into my eyes and said, 'I believe you.'

I could sense that her answer is genuine. All this time, I thought no one knows or understands me, but I turned out to be wrong.

No matter how reserved I was or expressed my indifference to people, deep down, I was craving for people to say me phrases like, 'I believe you,' 'I trust you,' or "I appreciate you.'

I started to feel normal again like when I was a kid, but the stoic version of me didn't want to open up, didn't want me to share, didn't want to let other people in my life.

Her question pulled me back into the present, from my thoughts. She asked, 'What's the first thing that came into your mind after seeing the kid on the swing.'

'I recalled a memory from my childhood.'

'Would you want to tell me what it is?'

'The kid made me reminisce about a happy childhood memory, and this was back when I didn't know anything about expectations or pleasing people or wanting people to accept me. One day, my parents took me to the park. Without knowing, I went to the swings, which can only be used by the guys older than me. They were considered dangerous for little kids. So they denied me to use those swings. Upon rejection, I went to the swings where my friends were at. My father, who had observed all this, walked up to me and took me along with him to the swings that were meant for the big boys. He talked to them and made them believe that he was going to take full responsibility if things had gone sideways. He made me sit on the swing and said, ''Never compromise on anything when you have a greater shot at something. Always aim for the big. And for now, sit tight and enjoy.'' Saying so, he pushed the swing harder and harder. In the beginning, it was terrifying, but soon it turned into so much thrill that you wouldn't forget about that moment for the rest of your life.'

I felt so much lighter after reliving my memory and saying it out loud.

After listening to me, Mia moved a bit closer to me and said, 'Don't you want to know why I show a special interest in you?'

Yeah, I wanted to know the answer, but the stubborn half wanted me to act like I didn't care.

'Yes, I guess.'

'I had a cousin named Rose. I and my brother Ricky used to play with her when we were kids.  We also developed a strong bond as we grow up. But all of a sudden, she became all depressed, and she started using drugs. We didn't know the reason. One day, due to overdose, she went into a coma. She has been in that condition ever since.'