Perched on a bridge, Valin tilted his gaze upwards towards the expansive sky adorned with shimmering stars.
Amidst the symphony of distant barks, bustling vehicles, and hushed conversations, the tranquil sound of the flowing river drifted to his ears.
Mesmerized, he focused his attention on the river's enigmatic current.
However, as he peered into the water's depths, Valin noticed a haze obscuring its clarity. A pang of sadness washed over him.
"It is so sad that we, as a society, have lost our sense of wonder," he murmured.
Memories of his childhood flooded his mind, when even the tiniest details held an inherent beauty.
"The smallest things would grab my interest and hold it. Beauty is everywhere," he mused, astonished by the unexpected beauty he found in observing the river.
A wistful grin appeared on Valin's face as he contemplated the significance of appreciating nature.
"Perhaps it's because I am lonely, left with nothing but this moment to occupy my thoughts. Nevertheless, it is undeniably beautiful," he confessed softly.
His gaze remained fixed on the ever-flowing river, listening intently to its babbling and burbling as it gracefully cascaded over limestone rocks, persistently following its predetermined path.
As people passed him by, some pausing to capture photographs and admire the river's allure, Valin drew a parallel between the river and himself.
"This river, much like me, flows continuously despite the obstacles it encounters along its course. It remains unaware of whether it will dry up or merge with another, becoming something greater than before. And I, too, am uncertain of my destination, though I sense it lies far beyond the horizon," he revealed, his voice hushed yet heavy with introspection.
He acknowledged the contrast between himself and the river—the river, confident in its identity, while he grappled with a profound sense of self-discovery.
"I don't truly know who I am, what I am meant to be. Although I feel an obligation to unravel these mysteries, the pursuit itself doesn't compel me towards anything meaningful. It's as if I don't belong here, as if I am destined for somewhere distant," he mused, his gaze lingering on the flowing waters below.
Snapping out of his reverie, Valin resolved to take action.
"Enough of this. Why don't I climb that mountain?" he suggested, directing his attention to the majestic peak in the distance.
Fuelled by a newfound determination, he crossed the bridge, but before proceeding towards the mountain, he paused.
His gaze settled upon a solitary tree, its trunk marred by cuts and separated from its companions by a well-trodden path.
Engrossed in contemplation, he stood there for a minute or two and then finally embarked on his ascent, leaving the bridge and the tree.
Venturing further up the mountain, Valin's gaze fell upon a vibrant tapestry of blooming flowers. Yet, amidst the resplendent array, a withered blossom caught his attention.
Moved by a desire to restore harmony, he delicately plucked the lifeless flower from its midst, discarding it with a touch of reverence.
His journey continued, and as he ascended, he encountered a pile of uprooted weeds. With an instinctive impulse, he cleared away the botanical remnants, leaving the path unobstructed.
Finally reaching the mountaintop, Valin beheld a breathtaking sight—the city sprawled before him, its twinkling lights casting an ethereal glow, reminiscent of a grand festival.
He observed the bustling tapestry of life, the interplay between humanity and nature.
The river flowed gracefully, mirroring the starry sky above, further heightening the allure of the scene.
Amidst the captivating panorama, Valin's attention was drawn to a solitary bird, struggling to keep pace with its flock.
Intrigued by its resilience and determination, he found himself fixated on its valiant efforts to stay connected.
Gradually, his focus returned to the cityscape, the overwhelming sensation of surrealism engulfing his senses.
After spending a contemplative period atop the mountain, Valin decided it was time to descend and return to his humble abode.
Approaching his front door, he gently rapped against the weathered wood, the anticipation palpable.
The door swung open, revealing his mother, who greeted him with a sense of urgency.
"You should come back home early. Having fun with friends is important, but taking care of your well-being is equally crucial. Come, let's eat before the food turns cold," she urged, concern evident in her hurried words.
Valin inhaled deeply, a mixture of exhaustion and satisfaction enveloping him. With his mind still lingering on the extraordinary sights he had witnessed, he stepped inside.
As they started to have dinner ,the light went out..
The room plunged into darkness, casting an eerie stillness upon the scene.
Valin rose from his seat, his silhouette barely visible against the void.
"I will eat this in my room. I don't want to disturb you," he whispered, his voice tinged with an unspoken weight.
His mother's concerned voice cut through the darkness,
"Wait, let me bring a candle. We have things to discuss tonight." She emerged with a single flickering candle, its feeble flame casting dancing shadows across the table as she placed it in the center, its soft glow illuminating their faces with a gentle warmth.
With the candle's soft light flickering, she asked, "So, how was your day?"
A moment of hesitation, and then Valin replied, his voice laced with a mixture of joy and melancholy,
"It was good, I enjoyed myself." The candlelight mirrored his fluctuating emotions, flickering as if mimicking the fleeting moments of happiness that he experienced.
The conversation took a somber turn as his mother broached a sensitive topic, her concern evident in her voice.
"I received another complaint from the school. They say you rarely speak to your teachers or friends, Valin. I worry about you. I know you have friends outside of school, and you enjoy your time with them, but it's important to connect with your schoolmates and teachers as well."
Valin's response came in a barely audible murmur, his words lost amidst the fluttering candlelight. His mother leaned in, urging him to speak louder,
"What was that?"
Struggling to find the right words, he sighed,
"It's difficult." His mother pressed for clarification, "Difficult? What do you mean?"
He mustered a weak smile, trying to alleviate her concerns,
"I'm trying, okay? Don't worry. Let's just focus on our meal for now." The candlelight, which had danced and flickered throughout their conversation, suddenly extinguished, plunging them into temporary darkness.
Valin let out a disappointed sigh, "This old candle..." Frustration tinged his voice as he decided,
"I'll finish the remaining food in my room then."
His mother, not willing to let the moment end on a sour note, called out,
"Wait," just as the light flickered back to life. Valin resumed his meal, but a cough disrupted his enjoyment. His mother instinctively reached for a glass of water, but he recoiled, insisting, "I'll get my own." Despite his resistance, she handed him the glass, their hands momentarily touching in a subtle gesture of care.
As he reluctantly took a sip, his face twisted into a grimace, mirroring his discomfort. His mother's voice carried a mix of sympathy and practicality, "You should get used to that water."
He sighed, a hint of resignation in his voice, "I know I should, but I can't help it."
The mother's voice trembled with a hint of worry, her eyes revealing the weight of her thoughts.
"You know, your father and sister have gone to another place for a week, and your big brother is in a foreign country studying... It's been weighing on my mind, not knowing exactly where they are. At least when they were here, they were within my reach, but now..."
Valin's grip on the spoon tightened, his hand quivering with a mix of anxiety and uncertainty. Silence engulfed the room as he struggled to find the right words to ease his mother's concerns.
In a sudden shift of demeanor, Valin's voice burst forth, brimming with energy and brightness.
"Mother, look here!" he exclaimed, a playful lilt coloring his words. His face contorted into an outrageously comical expression, and his upper body swayed in exaggerated movements. A genuine laugh escaped his mother's lips, momentarily lifting the heavy veil of worry that had settled upon them. The ephemeral respite faded as quickly as it had arrived, and Valin returned to his meal, his unspoken worries resurfacing like shadows in his eyes.
His mother, unable to shake her own concerns, brought up a topic that had been troubling her.
"You sure used to scream a lot while sleeping," she mentioned, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and underlying fear.
Valin's gaze remained fixed on his plate as he defensively replied,
"Huh? I scream? I don't even remember screaming."
His mother persisted gently, her worry evident in her voice. "It's been a few weeks since you've had a restless night, Valin..."
A forced chuckle escaped Valin's lips, a feeble attempt to dismiss his mother's worries.
"Haha, you're overthinking it, mother. Even if I did scream, it wouldn't be anything serious. Just a fleeting moment, nothing to worry about," he reassured, though the unease lingered in his own heart. He resumed his meal, hoping to divert the conversation away from the depths of his inner turmoil.
Undeterred, his mother pressed on, her concern for his well-being evident. "You ought to eat more and drink more water, Valin. It's important for your health."
Shrugging off her advice, Valin replied nonchalantly,
"I'm really not hungry. After all the things I've been eating with my friends, I'm still full." His attempt to inject levity into the situation fell somewhat flat, underscoring the unspoken burdens he carried.
His mother's expression softened, a glimmer of understanding illuminating her eyes.
"Perhaps you should invite your friends over sometimes. I don't mind anymore, unlike in the past."
Valin's voice carried a trace of bitterness as he muttered, almost to himself,
"You never used to let my friends come into our house. But now..."
His mother, catching his murmured words, glanced up, her gaze filled with curiosity.
"What was that?" she inquired, pausing her own meal momentarily.
Meeting her gaze, Valin's eyes betrayed a mixture of emotions.
"Sometimes... No, most of the time, my friends prefer to spend their time outside, away from home. It's just the way things are."
Realizing the futility of the conversation, Valin and his mother quietly finished their dinner, the weight of unspoken worries hanging in the air. With a deep breath, Valin retreated to the solitude of his room, seeking solace in the embrace of his thoughts, a respite from the world's uncertainties.