Sentiment of a Witness

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙽𝚎𝚠𝚜

Like I said before, I didn't think too much of the protest or Witnesses until about six months later. For the past three months, I had been experiences headaches and dizziness with no apparent cause. My parents had brushed it off at first, doctors saying that I was fine, that I was probably just tired from staying up late to read. I knew that I wasn't sick or tired - back then, I was a responsible kid; I went to bed at reasonable times. But what I hadn't told my parents was that I had been starting to... see things. Like little lights that floated around everything. There was one time where my mother got mad at my father, and she was glowing a light red. I don't know why I didn't mention this to them, I guess I was afraid, but whatever the reason was, I'm glad that I didn't tell them.

The moment my parents started to really get concerned was after a doctor, Doctor Robert Hardengruber, suggested something different to all the other doctors; maybe it had to do with a knack coming through?

In most families, the thought of a child having a knack is a wonderful thing and definitely a welcomed change. But my parents seemed frightened. Looking back at it now, it's obvious they were afraid that my knack would end up being on the... 'unnatural' side of knacks. That it would be a magical thing that would affect our family's status... which it did.

After Dr Hardengruber had suggested that it could be a knack coming through, my parents started to keep a closer eye on me than usual. I had always been home-schooled, but usually, I wouldn't see much of my mother until the end of the day. After the doctor's visit, she would come and check on me at least five times during the day, and I dare say she would come in at night to check on me too.

My parents started to act differently around me, other than the unusual and unnecessary checkups. They were more on edge, wary and... careful. There were less hugs as they started to put some physical distance between us. As a kid, I don't think I noticed it that much, and if I did, I definitely didn't think too much of it – they were my parents, they would love me no matter what, right?

Well, shortly after Dr Robert Hardengruber's visit and possible diagnosis, my parents booked an appointment to see one of the best knack-specialists this side of the Free State, Dr Arthur Reversun Smith. With that coming up soon, there was a lot going on in my six-and-a-half-year-old mind, like; what if this fuss was all for nothing? Will everything return back to normal? And what if I do have a knack? What will be? Will I live a normal life afterwards?

I was probably the most worried about that last thing.

I don't remember much of the journey to see Dr Smith; my head was rather preoccupied with unwanted thoughts, such as the ones mentioned before. But I do remember a few things from the carriage ride there, such as the children playing outside houses, the family of birds flying overhead, the urge to reach out for my mother's hand and the little voice inside my head that followed, telling me that it probably wasn't a wise choice. And then that one bump that caused me to look at my parents' stony faces. And yet, most of all, I remembered the crushing silence that held us captive for the entire ride.

When we arrived at the Specialist Building, I looked up at it. It was so big, it made me feel small and helpless... like a ragdoll in a washing machine. We walked up to the receptionist to sign in, and then we went to sit and wait for the doctor.

While we were waiting, I looked around at the other people in the room with us, wondering what they were here for and whatnot. As I was looking around, I saw a girl about my age and looked somewhat familiar, whose hair seemed to turn into a mass of burning hot flames every five minutes. As I looked at her, I realised where I'd seen her before. She was one of the kids I had seen with Tommy six months ago at the protest. And, uh, yes. She has a fire knack.

Seven minutes later, a doctor comes out of a door in front of us and says, "John Arjuna Korrapati?" Glancing at my parents, I got up and reluctantly followed him inside his room, my parents close behind.

He instructed us to all take a seat before introducing himself as Dr Arthur Smith and asked what we were here for. My mother explained what Dr Hardengruber had said, and Dr Smith made one of those looks doctors give you when they think they know what to do but don't know quite what to say.

"I see. Now, John, tell me, have you been.. seeing anything recently? Like bright lights or things that aren't... aren't really there?"

I kept my eyes on the doctor, but I could feel my parents' eyes boring into me.

"Yes," I spoke in barely a whisper, but he heard it... as did my parents.

I heard my mother's brief, "what-?"

And my father's breathing hitch.

Doctor Smith only nodded as he wrote something down on the paper in front of him.

"Do you mind if we do a few other tests?"

We went through test after test, each of them looking at different things about my eyes and perception. Once again, looking back, it was pretty obvious what was going on, but for some reason, in my little six-year-old brain, it hadn't clicked yet. Well, not until the doctor said it.

"Well," he started, looking at my parents, "it would appear that your son is a Witness."

Written - 24 April, 2021

Published - 4 May, 2021

Happy Star Wars Day! May the 4th be with you!