Clarity and Jake sat near a fast-food stall. Clarity smiled softly and whispered, "That’s wonderful!"
Jake stared at him and spoke in a calm tone, "You seem happy."
"The past period has been truly exhausting. I felt like I was dying every single day."
"How is Mother Lydia doing?"
"Eve said she is improving. She went out to the garden this morning with the nurse and walked around, but I didn’t meet her, fearing her condition might relapse."
"She will return to health, for sure... as you know... your mother is very strong. I will pray for her every night, and I will certainly visit. I want to see her now more than ever."
"You can come tomorrow. I will welcome you warmly, and in complete secrecy."
"Certainly, in secrecy," Jake smiled, adding, "Your mother is a dear person to me; she is like my own mother. She cared for me and nurtured me despite her own needs. I was completely neglectful of her, drifting into life and its paths once she opened her doors to me, but I will make it up to her."
"You saw her and knew her when you were about eleven, and you say this... then what about me? The one she carried, gave birth to, and raised as an infant? She was both mother and father to me. She suffered so I could reach where I am now. Yet, I was the one who hurt her most, abandoned her, and made her suffer. I wasn’t the child she told me about in bedtime stories—the boy who obeys his mother, studies hard, and finds a great job to support her. I was bad, and I still am, to a shameful degree."
Tears began to glisten in Clarity’s eyes as he continued, "I’ve started to hate looking at myself recently. I never look in the mirror. I’ve grown to hate everything about myself."
Jake patted Clarity’s shoulder lightly. "I understand your feelings well, but don’t blame yourself entirely. That will only wear you down!"
"If I don’t blame myself, then who?"
Jake whispered, "Blame me." Then he added in a louder tone, "Blame me, Clarity. I was the one who took you everywhere, and I was the one who took your hand into the gang. I felt regret every day... seeing you watch those scum in the gang as they wronged others, stole, and used vile language. So... I took you with me and asked you to accompany me everywhere, just to keep you away from them and their vices, forgetting that your mother was alone at home."
Jake stopped speaking, and silence followed. Both seemed to have so much to say, but they ignored it once the food finally arrived, starting to eat in silence. The first and second bites went down easily, but Clarity’s stomach began to ache afterward. He set his sandwich aside.
Jake asked with surprise, "You haven’t eaten anything yet! You look truly thin. You need to eat more."
"I ate before coming here, and now I want to return to the institution."
"You want to return? Fine... as you wish."
Aaron stood in front of San’s shop. The neighborhood was in chaos as everyone was busy celebrating. He opened the door, entered, and turned on the lights. He headed to the sofa, lying down in exhaustion, thinking of his endless problems. He closed his eyes... only a short time passed, and it was enough for him to fall asleep, returning to the memories of his childhood that visited him like a painful dream.
A child who looked seven years old was running between the trees, his blonde hair soaked with raindrops.
"Johan!" the child Aaron shouted from a distance. "My father forbade me from going there, so you should turn back too!"
The child called Johan smiled and then shouted, "You coward! There are no monsters here. The place is truly vast, so I want to defeat you in a forest race! Come on, Aaron, come with me!"
Johan turned to continue running through the forest. Aaron rushed to follow him, but Johan suddenly disappeared between the trees. Aaron approached to see the place empty. "Johan?"
He began calling his name in fear. A faint sound reached his ears. "I’m here. I’m here."
Aaron screamed in fear, "Where are you?! I can’t see you!"
Seconds of silence passed. Only the sound of raindrops falling faster and the rustling of trees moved by the strong wind could be heard. Aaron screamed in despair, his tears mixing with the rain: "JOHAAAAN!"
The sound of a massive explosion echoed, lighting up the entire forest... then, darkness.
Aaron opened his eyes in fear, his breathing audible. He sat up, stood, and reached for a glass of water on the table. He whispered, wiping his hair nervously, "The Day of Lights, then."
At the Institution:
Clarity entered the building after saying goodbye to Jake and headed straight to his room, ignoring the lights and decorations that had turned the institution into a party hall. He lay down quietly, needing to sleep before the pain intensified.
In the morning, he woke up feeling as if his body had been shattered. He was used to this lately. He took a deep breath, rose, and put on his work clothes—that long robe. He stepped out and met Elavin on his way.
"Today is a holiday," Elavin said excitedly. "Change your clothes! You can even go out!"
"Good," Clarity whispered, smiling, even though it wasn't happy news; he preferred being busy with work.
"Would you mind going out with me?" Elavin asked nervously.
"Where to?"
"I want to see the celebrations outside. I didn’t get a chance to go out last night. If you have plans, don’t bother."
"Let’s go, Fin. I don’t have any plans."
Clarity headed to his mother’s room, as he usually did. He opened the door slowly. His mother was awake, sitting on her bed. A smile spread across his lips as he gazed at her with longing. She was eating a piece of biscuit.
"Clarity, my little one, come closer."
"You found me, then!"
The words reached Clarity’s ears, and his eyes widened. His heartbeat accelerated; she was speaking to him and looking at him! He rushed inside, throwing himself into her arms.
"I won’t leave you again," he murmured, holding her tightly.
"I’m sorry, my son. I was the one who actually left you. But did you find out about my illness? How did you find me? I’ve been waiting for you to come every day."
"Mother, I just love you. Don’t think about anything else."
Clarity fell asleep peacefully in his mother’s arms, a smile on his face. An hour of happiness passed—something he hadn't tasted in months. He woke up while still in her arms. She was stroking his hair.
"You still have the habit of sleeping too much. Your hair has grown a little longer. And what about this wound on your forehead?"
"I’m fine. I’m not dreaming, am I?"
"You aren’t. I see you’ve returned to being the sweet Clarie," she finished with a smile.
"Yes," he sat up near her, speaking excitedly. "I’ve changed; I stopped dealing with the gang. I’ll be the child who only loves you."
"That’s wonderful. But... Jake? Did you leave him there alone?"
"Jake is fine, Mother."
"I am truly sorry for leaving you alone. I had to get treatment. I thought you would be fine without me."
"That could never happen. I die without you, Mother. Just try to focus on your treatment. The surgery will be performed soon, and you’ll be fine and come home with me."
"I will. Until then, eat regularly, learn useful skills, stay away from what harms you, and stay close to Jake. He is the one who will look after you."
Silence lasted for several seconds. Clarity’s mother closed her eyes in pain and whispered, "Leave... just... LEAVE!" She began to scream. The illness had returned—the episodes Clarity knew nothing about, but now understood. The nurse rushed in and took Clarity out of the room.
Tears glistening in his eyes, he whispered, "Don’t do this, Mother."
Clarity descended the stairs, pain etched on his face. He went out to the garden, to his favorite spot near the apple tree. But there, Aaron was standing, holding a bag.
Clarity could see Aaron’s features clearly for the first time. Aaron had black hair, wide brown eyes, and fair skin. He was tall, likely in his early twenties. He was 22.
Aaron noticed Clarity and approached. He stared at Clarity’s forehead. "Is your wound okay?"
"And why would you care?"
"Perhaps because I... made a mistake regarding you in the past."
"What’s the matter, Mr. Aaron? You seem... nice this time! Or is this the first time you’ve spoken normally?"
"Eve trusts you, so I’ve lowered my defenses a little. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten who you are."
"So... why are you here?"
"It’s my sister’s institution. Do I need a reason to be here?"
"I was just asking. In any case... it doesn't matter."
Clarity passed by Aaron and sat near the tree, his favorite spot. Aaron watched him for a few seconds before saying, "Do you remember... our conversation at the cemetery? You said then that you would help me uncover the truth about the gang."
"Yes, I remember. And I still stand by my promise. I will help you, but how?"
Aaron stepped closer, standing face-to-face with Clarity. He said in a serious tone, "You are going to join the gang again."