“Why that? Has she provided you food or money?” Chandler asked. His eyes showed true pity for Timothy, but he was also kind of happy. Seeing someone, with an expression of a death man, showing a strong emotion for the first time.

“No she… yeah. She gave me everything. Without her love, her warmth or her support. I think my future would have been the one of a freezing body, under a bridge,” he said while trying to smile, trying to find something positive. “But look, I still live. And try to go through the struggle, over again.”

"Did you two break up?" the boy asked.

"No, way worse. She died, terribly." Tears fell down his cheeks, there was no holding back anymore. Memories stormed through his mind.

Chandler comforted him. “Must be incredibly hard, I can see that. But it’s good to open up, sometimes. Keeping those burdens only with yourself… it can destroy you.” Timothy wiped his face, and looked at the boy. He stood beside him on his toes, his arms around him, looking him right at the eyes.

“Why do you do this? Why listening, and even hugging a mere stranger who’s only sulking?”

Chandler smiled. “Honestly? I don’t know. Even I think, that this is crazy. But somehow… I just want to. Since I know, how it is to suffer a lot.” And there he saw something, a little change. The former dark and shallow eyes got a little shine… what was black became red. It was weak, but his iris turned from dark, to a strong red, like a ruby or a red wine.

“Incredible,” he whispered, while looking at the man in front of him. Big, red shining eyes. “They match with your beard,” Chandler said. “Just glad that you have some life left into you.”

Timothy’s heart beat strong and fast. “You were right. You are a heart-warming person,” the red-eyed said. But then he avoided him a bit. Pushed him back to his seat. Still, Chandler smiled at him. “I know. You know, I wrote my Grandfather I’d wait here, until the rain stops. But since it keeps going on, he picks me up. Do you... maybe if you have nothing to do… do you want to come with me? If you're... lonely I mean?” He said. His smile, it seemed fake. Timothy felt something. Either he didn’t really mean it or, he had something to hide.

“No, I think I’ll just go back to my humble apartment,” he said, while looking at his phone. “Here. Mind giving me your number?” The boy nodded, and entered his. “Chandler Simmons, good. Well, since we have some time left. What kind of guy is your Grandfather? Does he live her for a long time, or did he come with you?”

Chandler seemed a bit off. “He’s nice. Yeah my parents passed when I was a child. He took care of me, taught me a lot. It’s thanks to him, that I’m even here.” “Sounds like you owe him a lot as well. Also, sorry for your parents, of course. Must be hard,” Timothy said. While talking, he recognized the facial expressions of the blue-eyed. Not like before, he seemed as if he could only focus on his passing thoughts, or rather nothing? No word really reached to him.

“Could you maybe not ignore me?” Timothy asked and the other shook his head. He avoided any eye contact, no matter from where Timothy looked. “Listen, let’s talk again, sometime. Maybe, next week?” He got a message on his phone. “My ride is here, so I’ll go first. Was nice to meet you,” Chandler said and rushed to the door. Timothy went behind him. “Wait at least. What’s going on with you right now?” But the boy did not stop.

Through the window, you could see a new car, with its bright lights on, parking. A big SUV, pitch black with toned glasses parked, some meters afar the door. “I need to go right now, ok? Please just stay inside. My Grandfather is pretty… protective…,” he said and looked at him. His eyes were wet, the bright blue from before was almost gone. It looked like from second to second, more color disappeared. “You look a little sick, are you alright?” Chandler shivered a bit and took one little step backward, then another. “Perhaps… are you in trouble?” Timothy asked, saw the pain the little boy was into. “No, everything is fine. Just stay here, please. He is… very special.” With these words, he went outside. The last that the red-eyed man saw, was a little and weak smile of Chandler. Something, that said, he shouldn’t worry. But also more.

He scratched the back of his head, then his cheeks. “What the hell was going on…”