Warmth.  

When one lives so long through turbulent times, even the slightest inconvenience might vex them to a great extent. However, if you find yourself surrounded by faces covered in adoration, then perhaps… the darkness dispels like snow under the sunlight. 

Athan felt the same way.  Too many, were the things he didn’t know. Even the things he did know, were just as confusing. 

Yet, in spite of the everlasting enigma, there was someone to hold his hand and take a stand together. Be it the lovely and caring parents, or the quirky but revered children of theirs.  Yes, there was no doubt about it.  Athan really felt adored.  Right now, with Isaac on his right, slowly getting bathed in the lustrous rays brimming with gleam, he held no worry at all.

Isaac: “(soft-spoken) My fellow friend… may I… reveal a secret of mine… to you..?”

Athan gently turned to look at him. Surprised he was, though knowing he was being entrusted to hear something from within the deepest depths of a person’s soul, a comforting flame lit inside his heart.

Athan: “(calm) What is it?”

Isaac: “You know… since you came into our lives… everything has turned… upside down…”

Athan: “Is that, a bad thing?”

Isaac: “Not necessarily. Though, it goes without saying, the changes your arrival brought… were nothing small of notice.”

Athan: “(giggles) Making an impression, seems to be part of my character, after all. Can’t really help it.”

Isaac: “I didn’t ask for you to change that. It’s quite… impressive, if I do say so myself.”

Athan: “Then… what’s the matter?”

Isaac: “(exhales) Well, to put it simply… you are the only one… I feel safe telling this to.” 

A quiet alarm triggered inside Athan’s mind.  What could there possibly be, that he could only share with… him? If anything, he is way more closer with his family and could easily speak freely with them. Why choose someone he’s barely acquainted with? Plus, it had merely been a few months since they began getting closer. Isaac still holds his true feelings back, maybe not as much as before, but Athan’s insight told him as such.

So… what was it?

Isaac: “Do you remember, on your first days with us, the incident that occurred… between you and me?”

Athan: “Which one specifically? I recall many occasions, where you acted terribly against me.”

Isaac: “I… sincerely apologize… for my past behavior.”

Athan: “Pay it no mind. Haven’t you asked for forgiveness, about a hundred times by now?”

Isaac: “Oh boy… have I?”

Athan: “Four hounder and ninety times, if memory doesn’t fail me.” 

Isaac: “(taken aback) Damn, you keeping count!?”

Athan: “Should I not?” 

Isaac: “It’s just… kinda bizarre…”

Athan: “Noted. No more counting of this instance shall take place.”

Isaac: “Anyway, could you please answer my question?” 

Athan: “You still have not given me specifications.”

Isaac: “Yeah, yeah, my bad. I was referring to the moment, when you stared at me deeply and I almost cried from the shock.”

Athan: “Slight correction: you did cry, quite a lot in fact.” 

Isaac: “(slightly annoyed) Can we… not dwell on such details?”

Athan: “As you wish.”

Isaac: “(sighs) At least you proved you know of it…”

Athan: “Verily.”

Isaac: “Alright then… I guess it’t about time I told you… what I saw that day.” 

Athan: “What did you?”

Isaac: “I cannot really find a proper way to phrase it… it just felt like… someone dumped an immense amount of pain upon me… not physical… it was more of… a consuming dread…”

Athan: “(confused) I’m not really following…”

Isaac: “Simply put: it was like receiving, the agony of thousands of people combined.”

Athan: “All because… I looked at you?”

Isaac: “Hard to tell what it really was that caused this reaction, though your presence sure has an important role in the matter.”

Athan: “But… how could this be..? It doesn’t sound-”

Isaac: “Logical? Trust me, I have long removed, any sort of rational thought regarding this occurrence.”

Athan: “Still… there must be something more to it…”

Isaac: “You wouldn’t be mistaken. For you see… the truth I been hiding from you… from everyone… is that…”

The sentence that followed, sent a chill through Athan’s whole body…

“Something lives… inside me…”