Part III
Chapter - 5
“What time will you reach there?” My voice sounded merely anxious, and nothing more. Like it would if someone who I knew went to live alone for the first time in life.
“By noon. It’s not that far.”
“Yeah. I know.”
The college Nova planned to attend was not too far from this town, but I guessed it all depended on perspective. He would be there for some time, where he would study, then he would go somewhere else, wherever his passion took him.
“It's better if you check with the landlord as soon as you are there,” I said.
We did well in exams. Rephrasing that, I would say that Nova did exceptionally well this time. He was praised by most of his teachers. I did well enough to enter the college of my choice. We attended the graduation ceremony together. It was a special day, when both of us saw each other in a way we might never have expected to. He was with me all the time. I doubted if he even left me to get some water. It would be better to say that his manners matched that of a toddler at our graduation.
He often visited our place. Mom got him in contact with someone from the city he wished to move to, and they arranged a place for him. He had worked things up for part-time job there. As an adult, he could now keep up with managing rents.
On the sideline, mom worked to get us to shift our places. Everything had been looked after. They began carrying things off from here a week ago, and all that was left in here was an old couch, a table, some stuff from mom's kitchen and or from my room.
“We are shifting today too,” I said.
I instantly regretted it. It is one thing to be merely embarrassing, and other, to have your desperation oozing out. He had come to bid us goodbye today, and had been at our place for the past three hours. We were standing in front of my doorstep, from where we were to part our ways. He had helped us shift. A lot of people had, to be honest. Including the ‘Corny Brothers'. I had not to paid much attention to them at first, but when they did come to my notice, I saw them staring ahead. Especially, Sylvie. Later he handed me the few bucks he took from me. He left without saying a word.
Well, it was embarrassing, that is.
But there was something that pricked my chest. Something that Nova did today. Of the time I had observed him, today, he had not looked at me properly even once. I heard him talk to mom, about her help. She was heartbroken and worried too, that he was going. But he assured me that he would not hesitate to ask for help if he needed it. And that was it.
Now, we were here. Finally. The moment felt like a dream.
We were mere months apart from when I told him, ‘I have been watching you all day.’
And he'd be gone.
“Nova…” I say, as he was looking at the rotten buildings ahead. Today, the sky seemed clear. There were only faint traces of sunlight. I had never seen swallows in this part of the city. But they were here today. Watching us. Mocking us. All in pairs.
“Hmm?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Why do you ask?” he said, studying the sole of his shoes.
“Why are you not looking at me?”
There was merely the difference of fraction of a second when I said it and he did that. Then I knew why. His eyes were hollow gleams of toneless hues, devoid of anything; any meaning, any emotion; and yet, I could see everything in them. Every moment that we spend together. Every word I spoke to him. Every time I looked at him. He was carrying it all together, with him.
It scared me.
“Okay then…” I said, as I grabbed the doorknob and began closing the door. “Study well. I wish you a great life ahead.”
He panicked. “No, Alex… wait…”
And he grabbed the doorknob, right above my hand. He stopped me from closing it on him. How could I? This place was as much his as it was mine. He inhaled, his tone impatient, “Wait, I…”
I stopped. I opened the door for him. But I could not look him in the eyes anymore. I could not. What if he read them just like I did? What if he found nothing there? He was carrying me with him, but I… I did not even know…
What if I was not good enough?
“Alex, I…” he stammered again.
The breeze blew. It was a chilly one. I have always had had black bangs that I let fall freely to the forehead. I had liked them. They were soft and tickled my forehead, just like they did now. They danced with the breeze, swaying back and forth. But not very long.
A warm touch graced my forehead and tugged my flowing bangs out of the way. I was startled at the touch. It set something off under my skin. The touch pushed my head straight, and before I could notice it, I felt a soft sensation on my forehead. Like two sweet, cold, fleshy sepals pressed against my skin. It felt good. My eyes closed under it. When it was over, it made a sound.
The spell was broken. I opened my eyes to the light. He was still right in front of me. His eyes were hopeful, and his breath was hitched.
We came closer. Our hands connected. Then, we smiled. It was as in a mutual understanding for each other. We looked at each other for a long last time. If we could capture these images, and remember them in our hearts; these appearances of each other's younger selves, then it would be more than enough for us. We realized it, perhaps; we regretted it too. That we have been too late.
It pained my heart, but not in a tormenting way. Nothing about him could possibly hurt me. There was only hope and him.
“Thank you,” he said, “I will miss you.”
“I will miss you too. Forever. I hope that you remain happy, wherever you might be.”
He gave me that smile one last time. He then walked away, and never turned back. I waved him off, but he didn’t see it. All the while, I thought…
There goes my Supernova.
×-×-×
28.03.2022 – 14.04.2022
YOU ARE READING
Summoning Silences : The SuperNova ✔
Short Story[Revising] In a world already hard enough, Alex Baker tries to navigate his way through life, and make a better world for him and his mother. His dreams are innocent, and his path is set in stones. Except, the paths have started colliding, and the...
