Houston, Texas, The United States of America
16:50 (4:50 PM)
13/07/2027
Lucas is looking at his notes, a record of every moment he had in his life along with the notes from his father. He knows why he ended up in this situation, a retired drill sergeant but a self-taught programmer and chess player.
He remembers what happened but does not know why certain things happen.
Exactly 22 years ago on the 13th of July, 2005, his mother told his father Craig that she intended to be divorced because she married him due to his high-paying job, not his personality or his dedication. Not to mention that he got fired because someone framed him. Lucas was listening to this and felt offended. He felt hot-headed and insane.
He charged at his mother and tried to beat her up mercilessly. But Craig stopped him due to his thought that Jenny will be injured.
"Lucas, why on Earth did you attack me?" Jenny asked
"Blame yourself, you married because of money! That is not love, that is greed! And I never liked it!" Lucas said.
His father wondered how his only child understood this.
"I would have done the same if not for laws that protect people, especially women. I'll let him do his thing, he can't injure you." He knew that his child would be eviler if he let Lucas attack Jenny, but his desire of taking revenge is more than his love "Why would you let him do that?" Jenny shouted. Craig replied with something that Lucas will remember for the rest of his life: "Because you took my sanity,"
"Because you took my sanity"
Lucas never forgot that day. He hates his mother so much for her betrayal. He has not forgiven her, and he never will.
He then remembers what happened almost two years later on the 11th of July 2007. He was standing near someone's house because he can't do anything as he has no friends. People do not want to befriend him because they think he has no intention of friendship which made him think that people do not want to be friends with him. Until two 13-year-old girls got curious and asked why he does not befriend people.
They are Shakira Davis and Arianne Hale.
"Hey there! What is your name?" One of them asked.
"I am Lucas." He responds.
"My name is Shakira." The same girl replies.
"We noticed that you don't make friends with people. We find it weird." Arianne said.
"We just want to know why," Arianne said
"I have no motive to befriend people," Lucas replied.
"We get it but are you curious why people befriend each other?" Arianne asked
"I don't care if I have friends or not, as long as I have my needs. People can live like hermits." He answers.
His answer shocked the two girls.
"I think his lack of friends is involved in this way of thinking. People with no friends want some or ran out of motivation to befriend others." Shakira said to Arianne.
"Something bad must have happened to him." She replied to Shakira.
"I know right, he would not act like this if there is nothing wrong." She answers.
"Something must have happened to you. Do you have any loved ones?" Arianne asked.
"I have my father who just found a job as an accountant. There are only two of us in our household." Lucas answers.
Arianne whispers to Shakira, "I think he needs companions. He has no one else to be with him, he has no friends and his dad probably works for most of the day."
"I agree, Lucas needs some friends so he won't be seen by others as strange, or something worse," Shakira answers Arianne.
"Don't worry, we can be here for you. We can serve as a companion if you don't have anyone else. We can act as your older sisters." Shakira replied. "Would it be fine?" She adds.
"I am fine with it, I might learn why people love each other."
He will not forget that day. The day when he decided to learn the meaning and reason of loving.
He then graduated middle school in 2013, with only one friend, Joel Rogers. He was a good person, the day he approached him. He still remembers the exact date. The moment he approached him and said that he "seemed strange" will be stuck in his memories until his death.
Joel likes bizarre things and viewed Lucas as the strangest person in the class. When Lucas told him the story of his life, he knew Lucas needs a friend.
Whenever Lucas tells the story of his life and ends up being answered "I understand" he can't help to ask why they understand him.
However, something bad happened in April of l the next year, his father noticed two drug dealers and tried to report them to the police, but they noticed him and shot him. Craig shoots back with his Glock 17, severely injuring both of them.
He was rushed to the hospital. Luckily, he would survive…but not for long. He would die 2 years later. Luckily for Lucas, his father would call his aunt, Erin O'Connor to take care of him while he was in the hospital. She also has the same job and skills as her older brother Craig.
On his father's burial, his aunt said "One day, you will leave the world behind, just like your father. So live your life like it's your last day."
Lucas did not say anything. He just looked at everyone who attended, his relatives, friends, his parent's friends, everyone attended, but not his mother. This would make him hate his mother even more.
Then, Shakira and Arianne approached Lucas. "I wish we are your real sisters, who would be there to take care of you," Shakira says. "Y-You have already lost one, now the other, we cannot imagine what it would be like to be you," Arianne says, crying, not because Craig mattered to her, but because of what will become of Lucas.
"Lucas, do you want to move to my home?" Erin said. "No, I want to stay here with my few friends," Lucas answers.
Lucas knew that he mattered to his friends and wants to know why.
Then, in August 2018, he joined the army as he had no other skills that he considered useful. He learned why people fight for their nation.
And on Christmas Day, 2022, he asked Shakira to talk to him in private. He admitted that he has a crush on her as she reminds him of what a mother should be, and felt like she treated him like one, even though she never provided for his needs.
"Thank you for being honest and interested in me," Shakira says after his confession.
Then, on October 19, 2024, more than a week after their birthday, Shakira and Arianne disappeared, and without a trace, he, their parents, and friends looked for them in vain, they were presumed dead a year later.
They thought that suicide is impossible as they do talk to therapists and lived happy lives. Lucas felt something strange, he felt that they are still alive.
He remembers Shakira and Arianne's cenotaphs being built beside his father's. After the funeral ended, he thought: "I knew when my mother left, my few loved ones will leave me behind in this world, and I am powerless to bring them back. If I can, I will bring back people from the dead I will not hesitate to bring my father and older sisters Shakira and Arianne!"
He then started to question the meaning and purpose of love and emotions, making him colder than he used to be before they came into his life.
Lucas thinks back to the present day's matters as his aunt Erin and friend Joel arrive and hug him.
"Oh Lucas, I know that it has been a long time since your father died and your sisters disappeared but we are here for you. You don't have to be cold, you don't have to be alone like a hermit." Erin says.
"Your aunt is right mate, we will be here to support you even if you lost three precious people in your life. You can recover from that." Joel says.
Lucas thought: "I am cold-hearted, I lost all the love I can give to anyone after that woman betrayed father. I only regained it when my older sisters approached me. But after they died, I lost it again."
Lucas does not know it, but he will relearn the meaning of love, just not on Earth that is.
To Be Continued…