Maps

Chapter 1

It was afternoon on a hot summers day. Luca was sitting on the porch and was staring out the window. He was looking at all the beautifull flowers blooming in the garden and was listening to the birds as they tweeted and flied around in the endless blue of the sky above him. Suddenly he hears his dad calling for him
"Hey, Luca! Move your lazy ass over Here and be of some use to me! I'm already short on cash by just feeding the sheep! Come on and help out your poor old father."
He shouted all across the garden.

"Yes, I'm coming dad! I'm sorry."
He responded quickly. He didn't want his father to do all the hard work when he was already this old. Luca knew what his father went through to keep him, a little insignificant kid alive.
He wanted to repay his kindness with helping him out wherever he can.

"Could you please grab me the hay while you're at it? I have to feed the horses."
"Yes, sure dad."
He said while walking back into the stable to get the hay that was lying on top of the fence.
"Don't worry, I'll feed you later too." He said and bowed down to pet the stray cat that would come here every once in a while. She was a really cute black little cat, with big green eyes and soft furr. Luca liked her to keep him company because he wasn't allowed to attend school anymore and had to help out his father at home, so he didn't really have time to meet people or have friends.

But he was still content with his life how it was. He liked being around animals and doing all he could for his dear father.
"Luca, where are you, son?"
He heard his father yelling.
"Im right Here dad!"
He stood up and left the stable with the hay in his hands.

"Here you go father."
He handed the hay over to his dad.
Mr. Miraglia turned around and started walking the fence up and down to feed the horses they had outside.
"So, my dear son. What are you planning to do with your life?"
Luca was surprised with that sudden question.
"Uhm, I don't think I quite understand what you are trying to say."
Mr.Miraglia turned around and looked at him with a serious face.
"Luca, you know exactly that you can't stay here forever. You have to-"
"But dad, if I leave, who will be here to help you?"
"I told you many times before, don't worry about me. I don't want to keep you here forever like a bird in a cage. You have to go out and explore the world! If you don't do so soon, you will be bound to this place, and you will never be able to leave."
Mr.Miraglia noticed the sad and worried expression his son had on his face when he said that.
*He really is a good kid*
He thought to himself and shook his head.

He then walked up to his son and layed his big and rough hand on his little sons shoulder and told him in a soft voice
"Luca, I only want the best for you."
"Don't end like me." He said and turned around. Just like that he left his son in the middle of their big garden, with a lot to think about.

Later that night Luca found himself in the stable, talking to the cat and probably his only friend around town.
"Hah...what am I supposed to do ruby?"
He sighed while petting the cat that was lying in front of him on the fence of the stable.
"Agh, this hay is really spiky! Why does it always have to hurt me like that? I hate it!" Luca stood up and kicked the hay so that it flew all around the stable. "Haaaah...just what am I supposed to do?"
Slowly he fell to the cold and dirty ground of the only funcionable stable they had in the entire farm.

The next thin he remembers is his dad's screaming.
"Luca?! Where are you? Why aren't you answering me? Dinners ready, son!"
Fast he stood up from the ground and started collecting all the hay that flied away earlier. He didn't want his dad to find out. If he did, he would probably not be very happy about it.
"I'm coming right away dad, just a sec!"
Not even a minute had passed and he already tidied up the floor as if nothing ever happened in here.
When he finally was happy with the result he decided to go look for his dad that was calling for him just now.

"Yes, das. Here I am. Why were you looking for me? Did I concern you?"
He said while entering the front door into their little house.
His dad looked at him through the kitchen and answered
"There you are. I just wanted to tell you food's ready. Sit down."
"Thank you very much" Luca said while pulling out a chair from beneath the table and sitting down.

"Take this, son" his dad said and gave him a plate full of potatoes that he was now supposed to put on the table.
"Sure dad."
He replied and did as asked.

After Mr.Miraglia sat down too, no one said a word to each other.
Luca was still thinking about what he had told him this afternoon.
Honestly, he didn't have an answer to that question. Maybe it would be better for him to stay here forever? What was he supposed to do outside anyways? It's not like he had some sort of education or anything like that. He would probably be dead by 2 months.

"Listen son, if you don't want to leave right away that's okay. I don't want to pressure you or anything. Just keep that in mind. One day I would really wish for you to go out and live your own life. Because you deserve it."

His dad didn't even look at him in that moment. Luca, surprised, just sat there and didn't know what to say, whilst his dad was sitting right in front of him, still eating his potatoes.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you..." He said to that and had a warm smile on his face. Even if his father doesn't show affection like that, Luca still knows for a fact that his dad loves him very much. He wouldn't have done all this for someone he didn't even love. He sacrificed so much just for his son. And because Luca knew all that, he didn't want to talk back.

"If that's what you wish for me to do, I will do as you say."
With those words said he kept eating his potatoes. And like that, this conversation was never brought back up, even if there were a lot of unspoken words that evening.
Luca knew that the day will come where he will leave this place, but until that moment comes, he will stay here and continue with his ordinary life.

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