Chereads / Across The Ocean We Called Home / Chapter 17 - CHAPTER 16: I LEFT YOU

Chapter 17 - CHAPTER 16: I LEFT YOU

Tristan's voice trembled as he mustered the courage to share his haunting tale.

"It has been an eternity... an eternity filled with pain and regret. I've tried so desperately to bury the memories of that fateful day—the day I hit rock bottom. It was the day my world shattered upon the death of my so-called 'mother.' From that moment, wounds began to surface on my hands, serving as physical manifestations of my immense sorrow and despair. It was a profound sadness that I had never experienced before.

I ran and ran, hoping to outrun the overwhelming weight of my emotions. With each step, my wounds released a deep crimson smog, an immense representation of the anguish consuming me. Slowly but surely, my pain transformed, morphing into an all-encompassing sadness that weighed upon my soul."

Tears streamed down my face as my body convulsed with the excruciating pain surging from within. My trembling hands turned to ashes, mirroring the disintegration of my spirit. The world around me blurred, tainted by the darkness that consumed my vision.

Overwhelmed by despair, I flung myself through the streets, my tortured soul seeking solace in the chaos. Exhausted and broken, I collapsed by the roadside, my spirit on the doorstep of oblivion. It was in that desperate moment, with the weight of the world crushing my spirit, that I glimpsed a fleeting opportunity to end it all...

I found myself on the side of the road, lying there for what felt like hours. It was the end... Why had I only just realized it now? All I wanted was to die... I stared at the road, fixating on the approaching headlights of a massive truck. It seemed like the perfect moment... The end was within reach...

But fate had a different plan. The truck didn't collide with me; instead, it came to a screeching halt right in front of me.

Sobs wracked my body as I crumbled into tears, questioning why I hadn't met my demise in that very moment. In a profound twist of fate, my scars inexplicably vanished, dissolving into thin air, just as the truck screeched to a halt.

The truck driver stepped out, approaching me with calm determination.

He was Mr. Watson. As he gently caressed my tears away, more tears came to replace it.

After a while, Mr. Watson brought me to his humble abode, where we sought refuge for the night. With great care and tenderness, he guided me to my room and tucked me in, but sleep eluded me. I lay there, consumed by despair and remorse, my tears flowing uncontrollably as I grappled with the weight of my actions. In the midst of my desolation, a voice reached out to me, its ethereal call enveloping my senses.

Enchanted and entranced, I felt myself being transported into a realm akin to a dream world. Suddenly, a door appeared before me, shrouded in mystery yet luring me forward. Unaware of the enigma that awaited, I stepped through the threshold with unwavering curiosity. What lay beyond was a starry plane of breathtaking beauty, brimming with wonder and nights painted in celestial hues. And at the heart of this magnificent cosmic expanse stood a grand piano.

The piano was the source of the voice that had summoned me—a voice that resonated deep within my being. With closed eyes, I surrendered to the melodies that flowed from my fingertips, a lullaby dredged from the depths of my memory. The haunting notes filled the starry plane, whispering the words "I left you" with melancholic grace. The voice intertwined with my melody, transforming into a heartfelt serenade that stirred my emotions once again. Tears welled in my eyes, their release manifesting as a red smog of pain seeping from my hands. The sight was a mesmerizing tableau—a gradient of red intertwining with the azure expanse of the starry plane.

In that transcendent moment, I knew beyond doubt that it was my mother calling out to me—the guiding star, my hero. As the final strains of the melody faded, I opened my eyes to behold my hands transformed into ashes. Bewildered by this phenomenon, I questioned how I could still move them, puzzling over the enigma that had unfolded before me.

Later, I returned to the door that had ushered me into this mystical realm. With determination burning in my heart, I made a solemn vow to one day set foot once more upon the starry plane, to explore and uncover the secrets of my true mother. But as I turned away from the door, my room once again came into view, and my hands gradually regained their familiar form. When I cast my gaze back toward the door, it had vanished, leaving no trace of its existence.

That night, as I delved into introspection and meditation, my thoughts fixated on the enigmatic door and the extraordinary experiences it had granted me. Reflecting upon the connection between immense pain and the release of my scars, accompanied by the red smog, I drew an inference—a profound understanding of the power held within me.

This ability I possess, it is a gift from my mother—the only lingering trace of her that remains. With unwavering resolve, I pledge to utilize this extraordinary gift in my pursuit of finding her. I believe, with every fiber of my being, that I will succeed.

Caleb, like you, I yearn for the day of reunion with my family, knowing deep in my heart that she is still out there, waiting. I beg of you, please understand the depth of my longing and the unyielding determination that drives me.

Regrettably, you, Caleb, present me with yet another enigma—a puzzle I have yet to unravel. Why are you the sole catalyst for my unknown scars? And why do you alone bear witness to their existence? As we continue on our journey, as we embark on this shared voyage, I pledge to delve deeper into the depths of your being, to understand the intricacies of your presence. Together, hand in hand, we shall unravel the mysteries that lie before us and unearth our true purpose in this vast world we inhabit.