The Strange Man

As the young man sat in front of the bitter reality, his chest tightened and his heart broke. Tears were falling from his eyes and rolling down his cheeks without stopping.

“Huff... ha.. ha.. huff...” Were the gasps of breath and moans that gradually began to weaken. His body clearly couldn’t handle such a shock, and he was subconsciously rejecting this fact.

“Aaaaaaa...”

No one knew when, but the screaming suddenly stopped.

“This is bad, he has lost consciousness. Hurry and get the ambulance.” The president was the first to notice the matter and immediately gave instructions.

The son and his mother fell side by side, holding each other’s hands, the former covered in tears and the latter stained with blood. It was an image that everyone who was present will remember as a sad memory.

***

After two days, Elyan was opening his eyes on the hospital cold bed. He immediately stared at the iron chair next to him, but there was no one there.

In the quiet room, his tears flowed. He cried alone, silently and for a long time.

During the previous two days a funeral was held for Mrs. Gervano. There was not a lot of people, some customers and close neighbors like Mrs. Mirai, Elyan’s professors, the policemen who found her body, Gray and Julie.

After some quick interrogations, in addition to handing over Ms. Isabella’s belongings, a leather bag containing some money, a necklace and a solid gold ring, and some manicure and hair styling tools, Elyan was allowed to leave. He was discharged from the hospital and his destination was known.

He walked slowly along the street, barely able to maintain his balance.

This was a large square filled with street vendors and informal traders, Elyan passed by a woman who was standing nearby with bouquets of flowers filling the ground. As he noticed her he stopped.

“How much is it?” He was pointing to the violet flowers in the middle.

“Take it, since you are the first customer of the day, it will be free, but I want to ask you, who are these flowers for? A girlfriend?” The saleswoman smiled before adding.

“No, my mother… she died.” He said with a heavy expression and did not wait any longer.

The noise was loud within the big city. Elyan traveled and finally arrived at the cemetery, it was the only one of its kind inside the city, and it was located in the Vilas section.

Due to the simple design of the cemetery, it did not take him long to find his mother’s grave, which was close to the gate.

He sat with his legs folded, took the flowers and placed them on the headstone which was inscribed *Isabella Gervano, 36 years old*.

He didn’t say anything. He didn’t scream, he didn’t cry. His eyes, which it could barely be seen under his messy hair, were gone out. There was no light or sparkle inside them. It was a dark world without his mother, and nothing could light it up again.

After two hours, he got up and left.

He returned to the house, but it looked like a scary cave devoid of life. Without appetite to eat anything he entered his room and fell asleep on his bed.

The day passed and was the next morning, it was nearly nine o’clock, and yet Elyan had no intention to go to school.

He ate some pancakes, the ones that had been there for three days, there was also some water left inside the clay jar, so he managed to keep up.

After he finished, he returned to his room again, closed the door and lay down on his bed. He stared at the ceiling and the ceiling stared at him, that’s how he spent his day.

Thursday, evening,

“Knock! Knock! Knock!” On a small hill, in front of a house.

“...”

“...”

“Knock! Knock! Knock!”

“...”

“Who’s there?” Suddenly the owner of the house responded, his voice indicating that he did not want to be disturbed.

“Elyan, it’s us, open the door.” The female voice was none other than Julie. Next to her was Gray as well. Knowing what their friend had been through, and how he hadn’t returned to school yet, it was natural for them to worry about him.

“Why did you come?” Elyan didn’t open, he kept talking from behind the door.

“Why didn’t you come to school today? Everyone is worried about you.”

“There’s no need for anyone to worry, I’m fine."

“As for school.. I won’t go back to it.”

“Now, please leave.” It was not a spontaneous statement, Elyan directly stated his desire to cut all his ties anymore.

“What nonsense are you saying?”

“Open the door, you idiot, let’s talk face to face.” Julie naturally became angry after hearing his meaningless words.

“Don’t.” Elyan’s decision remained unwavering.

“Do you think that Mrs. Gervano would have been happy after these words? Do you want to ruin your life just because of your mother’s death?..” Julie did not spare any words, she revealed everything inside her, even if it meant wounding him.

“Shut up and leave right now!” On the other hand, Elyan shouted angrily as he couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Julie, let’s leave. He still needs some time alone.” Gray pulled Julie by the arm and was able to understand, especially after he lost his parents as well.

Julie calmed down, frowned slightly, then turned to leave.

At the top of the hill, stood a bare almond tree. She was not the only one, but behind this tree in particular, a human shadow was reflected from a long time ago. He was watching what was happening from afar and listening to the conversation that took place between the three friends the entire time.

After hearing the distant steps, Elyan stood for a while and then returned to his room. The sleeping bed was at the opposite end of the door. The study desk was against the right wall with a high-backed wooden chair and a small drawer containing various things. For the other side, there stood a rectangular wardrobe with a simple shape.

He opened the window next to the bed and breathed in some cool air before closing it again.

“Welcome!” It was when he walked to the door and wanted to open it to go out, that he suddenly heard someone’s voice.

Elyan’s entire body trembled as if cold water had been poured over his back. He stopped moving.

He turned slowly and stared at the man who looked to be about forty. He was quite tall, had sharp eyebrows, deep eyes, a sparse beard that covered his strong chin, and shiny brown hair with some white strands. He was also wearing a white waistcoat, jacket and trousers, with black leather shoes, and in his hand he was holding a tall hat. He just needed a special stick to look like a juggler.

“Who are you?”

“How did you get into the room?” Elyan was afraid, you could tell by his weak expression.

The only way to enter the room was through the window or the door, however he was sure to close both well.

“Wow, how impolite you are. Is this how you address people who are older than you?” The man was very relaxed.

“...!!” This was something he had overlooked before, but at this moment, Elyan suddenly remembered.

How did he forget this?! The traces of the thin wound on his mother’s neck, the blood spread over her body. This is it!

Lady Isabella never died naturally. She has been killed!

The police might posit the possibility that it was a suicide since there was no evidence, however Elyan, who was the person who knew his mother the best, directly denied it.

How wouldn’t he suddenly have the idea that this man was the cause of everything, he was his mother’s killer and he had come to get rid of him as well.

Elyan’s eyes went to the man before the quill on the desktop. He was ready to move at any time.

“Don’t worry, I have no motive to harm you.” Sensing his intentions, the man spoke, showing his good intentions.

“Are you the one who killed my mother?” With a heavy voice, Elyan did not hide his opinions.

“I see you’re not that stupid to find out, though, relax, boy. I’m not your mother’s killer.” In addition to this, the next sentence was able to shock Elyan and make him listen: “My name is Alexander Light, an old friend of Horatio Gervano.”

The man introduced himself!

***

“!!” Elyan’s eyes widened as he felt dizzy.

“Please sit down, it’s going to be a long talk.” Alexander took a step back and found a place to sit on the old bed.

Elyan’s caution did not diminish, but he decided to listen first. How could he calm down and this man mentioned his father's name suddenly?!

“Looking at your expression, it seems like Isabella hid it well.”

“And yet, boy, your father never died like you heared.” Alexander rubbed his beard and said slowly.

“Lie!” Elyan’s voice rose, completely rejecting Alexander’s words. There was no way he would believe the sayings of this stranger and doubt his mother.

“Isabella did this for you and for Horatio. Growing up hating your father who left you, she wouldn't have wanted this to happen.” Alexander continued without intending to justify the fact.

“Actually, it’s not like she never planned to tell you, but it wasn’t time yet.”

“Unfortunately, it happened.” Alexander’s voice became weak.

“...” Elyan fell silent.

“Don’t blame Isabella, as Horatio.” Alexander said slowly.

Elyan became lost in his thoughts. He didn’t want to believe it, but if this was really the truth, he didn’t know whether to be angry with his father, who left them, or resentful of his mother, who deluded him. They were both no longer here and now he had to face this alone.

After taking a few seconds, he wanted to inquire further. From the way the man in front of him spoke, it was clear how close he was to the family. He even knew his mother and addressed her name directly, so he would definitely know some things. Elyan asked with a serious face: “Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“Apart from me, how could he have allowed himself to leave my mother? What was such an important reason for him to abandon his family?”

“Protecting you and Isabella from this world!” Alexander narrowed his eyes and answered vaguely.