"Void". It is the perfect word to describe the ambience beginning today's story. It is about a white-haired young man with bright eyes called Dylis. In this fascinating and peculiar world he lives in, someone like him has abilities to frequently visit a strange place. This "Void"... Everything was so white... So clean... Impossible to distinguish a "wall" or a "ceiling"... Or even the ground ! Nevertheless, sometimes a few forms would appear. They were similar to light grey forms, more or less visibles. You could see them due to their movements. Their precise, linear movements... However, it didn't pick Dylis' interest. It was not these forms nor this place he was looking for. He wanted, he needed to go in a deeper and richer area... That is why, after analysing this void that seemed to have no end, Dylis said in a trembling voice :
"I am here..."
These simple words seemed to resonate in this empty place. Hearing the echo of his voice, Dylis had a strange feeling of loneliness and fear overcoming him. After taking a deep breath to calm down, he looked to the right... To the left... Did it-...! Fhew ! It worked. That’s what he thought when he noticed a dark line appearing, tracing a rectangular form. The rectangle's content revealed an open, colorful area. It seemed so warm... So pleasant... Dylis came closer, little by little, ready to pass the door. How much time would it take him to reach it ? How many steps ? It was hard to establish the distance, with this door as only point of reference, nevertheless... Was it important ? You don't think so, Dylis. Continue, go forward. No matter how much time it takes.
Here he goes. Welcome to a completely different place! The complete opposite of the “world” you saw just before ! Unlike the void, everything was so much more colorful. A lot of blue, appartening to a luminous sky, with some cloudy-white stains. The second main color was green. A well shaded green along with little marks of yellow, pink, purple. What wonderful flowers ! This place was perfect to rest or spend some time with friends or family... Actually, that’s exactly what a group of people were doing, surrounding a barbecue. Amongst them, there were tall, young, calm or agitated people ... The various individuals in this place, the easing atmosphere… Dylis couldn’t help but smile when he noticed them... His bound with them was obvious. Once again, the young man decided to go forward, walking towards them.However... He gave up after the first step. Because, in the group, a little girl said :
"Dylis won't come this time either, won’t he...?"
He stopped to smile. Some people were around the little girl too. The protagonist's attention was now focused on two people in the group. A gentle and sweet woman, along with a frail looking man. The first one seemed regretful, the other one irritated.
"I'm so sorry... Said the woman."
... Impossible. It became impossible for Dylis to observe that scene. This sudden change of atmosphere was too hard to bear. Maybe he should flee ?... Flee like a coward… No. He was not even able to do that ! The young man could not move, forward or backward... My, what happened, Dylis ? Are you afraid of what will happen next ? Afraid of the choice you are going to make ? Afraid of the sorrow, if you go back ?... Are you overwhelmed with doubt, maybe ?... You made a long travel to be here, you know, Dylis. It would be sad to just run away again. You know that. Normally... If you continue to do your best... Everything will be okay, don't you think ? Please. Go forward. Just a little more...
"I’m here !"
Dylis called out to them, while walking into their direction, doing hand movements… It seemed they noticed him ! Dylis was so happy, with a radiant smile... Finally, They are here ! He was with them ! The atmosphere was the same as the beginning... Even nicer. It was so pleasant... The young man spent a sweet time with his siblings in this luminous place, enjoying this peculiar and one of a kind present... There he was, sitting on the grass, observing the sky changing slowly to a darker color. Along him was the frail-looking man from before, smiling too. Dylis wasn't watching him though, preferring the sky's view... After taking a deep breath, he was about to say something. Nevertheless, the older one stopped him, talking first :
"...You know your presence here is not real, Dylis. Don't you ?"
Dylis didn’t have the time to answer, a dark line surrounded him... Making him fall into an obscure and troubling void.
Did he arrive ? Did he land ? He didn’t remember falling or touching the ground, however he found himself sitting, on a seat. Actually, it seemed to be a seat if he referred to the texture, since he can’t be helped by his sense of view. Everything was still so dark... Dark with some red nances on the seat or around it. There was also a kind of grey rectangle in front of Dylis. Even with this lack of light, he was looking around the whole room. Is somebody here ? Something ?... Anything, please ?... The young man's fear stopped when the grey rectangle became white, illuminated like a screen... Unfortunately, this relief lasted a very short time when he understood what was displaying on the screen.
It showed Dylis. A younger one than Dylis we know. In front of him was this frail man again. With their expressions and postures, it was easy to notice the scene's animosity.
"You won't stop me ! shouted the young Dylis. I do what I want !
- Think about it, before taking such a dangerous path ! said the older one."
The young boy was holding an object with a lot of care, as if it was very precious for him. This object, Dylis knew it perfectly : it was a violin.
"For the first time, I want to do something risky and I am sure about it ! So let me go ! Just, please... Let me go.
- For god's sake, Dylis ! Just listen to me !"
The young man from "now" could not bear it. He didn't want to be reminded of this anymore. He tried to escape... It was in vain : his hands are hooked to the seat. Moreover, even if he closed his eyes, he could still hear this painful memory... Enough. It was enough ! This time, Dylis raised his voice, did his best to be seen as calm and mature despite the appearance of a few tears.
"I am here, now ! So please, stop torturing me ! I came here just to talk to you. To listen to you, so... Just, please... Let me go. Let me see you."
The light was turned off. During a short time, everything went pitch black. Then, a bright line appeared, drawing a last door. Dylis, able to move again, take the door without wasting time... There he went. Finally. He reached his destination.
This one destination... It was just a tiny room, surrounded with a lot of paintings. They seemed to narrate the story of a man. A long, intriguing story ! Apparently, he wanted to become a painter. However, he never became famous, living with few money during a long time. He began to be more rational to finally took a stable job thanks to the influence of a gentle woman. Then, he founded a family with her. All these paintings were observed by a strange form, hard to describe. It looked like a group of painting stains assembling the shape of a frail man, similar to the protagonist of the pictures. It was this form that interested Dylis, coming closer to it. even with his tears still present, he smiled.
"I am here, Dad."
The intriguing form turned itself to see the person calling it. It drew a smile too. Without any hesitation, It directly went to Dylis to embrace him. Even if Dylis didn't feel any pressure because of the form's state representing his father, the action itself was enough for him to cry... A lot. He did his best to hug back... Ah, how wonderful ! How pleasant it was to be in his Dad's arms again. Like it was, a long time ago... A long time before your departure, Dylis... The young man watched again the paintings, curious to discover another part of the story he never knew.
"That's why you didn't want to let me go? Because you don't want me to do the same mistakes ?"
The form nodded to the answer. Dylis went in for a hug. He took his time to become calmer in order to answer. He was here and now, ready to talk.
"I understand how you feel, Dad. After all you have been through. I must admit... The beginning was very hard ! I failed. Many times. The competition, the difficulty to find a job in music domain... I often wanted to give up. But... Thinking about you, saying to me you were right all along... It was even worse for me. It was stupid, isn't it ?!"
The young man paused after an awkward laugh. He felt perplexed… Furthermore, the mocking smile drawn on the form's face wasn't helping ! Nevertheless, it was not important. Dylis didn’t come to mourn, isn't it ?... That's why he smiled again, encouraging himself to continue :
"But hey, you know what ? I finally succeed ! It's just the beginning, I am not extremely famous either... Still, some people appreciate what I do ! I will work in stages. I was right to never give up ! I did the right thing, you see, Dad ? You see I am not coward. I am brave. I wanted to talk about it with you before... Before I... Before you..."
Well done, Dylis. You said to yourself you will not lament. Yet, you cry... A lot. Once again... Whispering again and again "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry"... You consider yourself brave, really ?! However, Dylis' Dad didn't judge the scene in front of him. He came closer to his son then slowly pat his back without any hesitation, as if the man was used to it... It was easy to see on his face he was touched by all of his son's words. Nevertheless, he continued to smile… He finally answer :
"It is not important, now. You are here, it is all that matters. You took your time, but I am so happy to listen your musical story. Knowing all your progress... Your success where I failed... Seeing you at this moment, brave enough to face me... I am proud of you, my son."
... It was a lot of feelings in a little amount of time, isn't it ? Dylis was so happy to finally hear these words ! Yet, he was feeling so sad... Yet, he was so proud of himself ! Still, he was so sad... Too much happiness, too much sadness together... He couldn't answer, while his father was continuing to reassure him with gentle gestures.
"Don"t worry... I am here. I will always be here... Don't forget it."
The young man nodded slowly, making his best to wipe off his tears. Most importantly, he was enjoying the present, here, with his father, enjoying his affection, as if they catched up the lost time... He was taking time to rest... To calm down... Then finally closed his eyes, little by little...
When he opened eyes again, he found himself in another place. A less cheerful place... It was colder, more realistic. A place similar to the void at the beginning of the story. Even if the forms doing straight and precise movements were more distinguishable than before, this... blinding white was back. The white ceiling, the white walls... This white bed in which Dylis' father was sleeping in, alongside with some devices. The young man, next to him, was holding his hand. The hand was warm, but for how long ?... This hand on which a few tears fell. These tears from this very sensitive personne, yet brave enough to smile, in spite of the situation.
"Thank you... Dad."
The time flew after these event. Days passed by, the young Dylis chased his dreams, braving all difficulties with his courage. The lack of money... The competition still present... It didn't matter. He will do it. Little by little... Sometimes, he went to this cold hospital chamber with a warm smile, talking to his sleeping father, narrating his story. It even happened he took his violin with him to play a melody ! With time, he created a entire theme just for him. He composed it in an individual room, inspiring him a lot... A whole place surrounded by paintings of his father, given by his gentle mother he saw more often too. Of course, Dylis loved to play this singular music when he came to see his Dad ! Even when he left for good. The young man was playing it, from time to time, seeking for inspiration and comfort in his favourite room... That frail man was right. In a way... He is here, and always will be.
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