Chapter 1:

To Creation or Conclusion!

Art in Heart


"To be able to create something," a precious bestowment graced upon a select few or those who could harness the depths of their inner potential. Since the day of birth, life's journey had been an enigmatic exploration, brimming with unforeseen wonders—from the tentative steps of a novice walker to the profound evolution of worthiness. Yet, in such a present moment, I found myself standing resolute upon the arid terrain of existence, traversing through life's labyrinthine passages, contemplative of whether I would ever weave something of profound significance.

Amid such ponderings, an inquiry emerged: What is the significance in what form? Could it be an essence of hope that infused life with vivacity?

A tenacity of spirit that dared to defy all odds?

Perhaps the ethereal touch of inspiration that sparked brilliance into the mundane fabric of existence?

And yet, in the corridors of my introspective mind, I could not help but consider an unsettling alternative—what if the tapestry of life were to unravel, and the very culmination signified an unwelcome demise? The mere utterance of the word "death" sent a shiver down my spine, for it was an unpleasant prospect, at least not for one such as me.

Allow me to keep this concise, or rather, let me speak about myself; I was pressed for time. So, let me narrate the story of a one-eyed demon with a scorched left hand, who rambled through life, reaching beyond his grasp, and simply existed to witness his ending.

Some might have cast their gaze upon me with an air of peculiar fascination. And yet, why should it have mattered? Was it not intriguing, in its own right, to harbor an anticipation for the ending of life's grand narrative?

Because the end was the culmination of what the beginning promised. Everything in between merely formed the path leading to that gift. But let's call it a day on that topic. I am still alive, and a new chapter is commencing. I had never believed I'd make it to college, yet there I am. Let's see if I can genuinely create something, or if I would merely encounter my demise.

Now, let me address some questions that might have arisen in your mind and introduce myself properly. My name is Endrick, and I reside alone on the first floor of a rented house. I managed to pay the rent by taking on any available part-time job, thanks to my tall height and sturdy physique. Regarding my appearance, you would often find me wearing a longline shirt paired with skinny jeans. Oh, and not to forget the eye patch covering my left eye and the bandages wrapped around my left hand. Thus adorned, I am prepared to embark upon the canvas of this day, eager to explore where its winding pathways would lead; may the journey be kind to me.

Though I have already come to know how the day would unfold, from this moment until college. I would sling my bag over my shoulder and lock the door of my room. Then, as usual, I would head downstairs, turn left, and proceed through the gate. Three guys would be waiting for me, for reasons unknown to me.

The short individual, Pam, possessed a timeless jawline that any girl would find attractive. He greeted me warmly, saying, "Hey, Endrick! Good morning."

I responded, "Good morning to all of you."

The slightly taller guy, a hardworking and diligent soul, chimed in, "Yeah, dude. Morning."

And the third guy, who exuded a bit of funkiness and quirkiness, playfully teased, "Looks like old habits die hard, Akhish."

I retorted, "Yeah, the habit of picking me up from my house and going together, right? Sid?"

So, the four of us strolled down the streets together, discussing the same things we chatted about in our "tomodachi" group on the messaging app. Honestly, most of it didn't make much sense to me, as I was the one who always sought something peculiar. Nevertheless, those guys took a genuine interest in my reactions to various situations.

Our bonds were forged back in high school, amidst the scars we left behind. But that day, there was something different in the weather, an unusual occurrence in the air.

And then it happened—a call from the unusual. The sound of someone collapsing emanated from a nearby house, impossible to ignore and heard by all of us.

Pam, always proactive, suggested, "Let's go and check. Find out what that sound was about."

We all agreed in unison, "Yeah!"

So, we entered the house and started searching. Pam and I headed inside, while Akhish went to the backyard, and Sid explored the small warehouse.

As fate would have it, I was the first one to stumble upon the unusual scene. In the storage room, I found an elderly lady lying unconscious on the floor, and nearby, there was a table that hinted at what might have happened. I gently lifted her and headed downstairs, where Pam was still investigating. He spotted us and asked, "Oh? Is she okay?"

"Yeah, I think she fell from the table," I replied.

I then proposed, "You guys go ahead to college. I'll take her to the nearby clinic and catch up later."

Pam insisted, "Nah, let's go together."

But Akhish knew me too well and persuaded him, "You know how stubborn he is. Let him handle it."

So, we split ways. They headed to college, and I carried the old lady on my back, making my way to Dr. Olsan's clinic, the reliable doctor I knew who could take care of her.

He had always checked up on my wounds and my health. Ah, but who could have thought my days would turn out like that? If it weren't for helping that old lady, I might be staring at the fresh girls in college.

Ah, sighs. Let's take her there as there was no one else to help.

Thus, I reached the clinic, where, as usual, Dr. Olsan was looking after his two cats - Nemo and Feso.

Well, both were quite elegant and easy to play with. To distinguish, Nemo was the brown one, and Feso was the blonde.

But despite all this, he looked at me and asked, "Why is your expression so fierce?"

"And who is that old lady?" Two questions in a line from him.

Thus, I skipped so many things in between. Let me cover it by telling you about this through telling this cat lover, oh, I mean, Dr. Olsan.

"Ah, just now, there was this one girl who was running, and, by mistake, the brush in her hand hit this old lady. Despite having two eyes, she didn't see and didn't even stop to apologize."

"And?" he asked, looking for a better answer.

I sighed, "And this old lady is unconscious. Maybe she fell from a tool, just as I found her like this in her house because of a bang sound."

Dr. Olsan became alert, "Stupid, say it first. Come inside, and let me check her up."

Thus, half of the day went by in the clinic. After informing Dr. Olsan to take care of her, as she seemed new to this street, I asked him to let the neighbors know about the old lady's situation. Then, I left to attend the second half of college.

Aman
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