EXISTALE 1: Theist's Thesis

Chapter 2: Parallel Eyes

The cold breeze of winds passed through the branches of trees and animals retreated to their nests, and so did the orphans walking in their rooms in order to get some proper rest after all the religious activities. All the sparks of the lamps were turned off, leaving the stars shining brighter than ever, second to the moons. Despite the darkness of the room, there's still enough amount of light coming from the window for Felix to explore the ideas stored within his notebooks.

Arian climbed the ladder of the triple bunk bed and immediately jumped to the middle bed. Noises of springs and an audible thud overshadowed the sound of the silver haired boy turning the pages of his book beneath.

Arian pulled his blanked towards him, putting himself in a comfortable position. A large exhale was released from the boy's mouth, almost sounding like a complaining groan.

"You tired?" Felix asked as his eyes are fixated to the equations written on the book. There's not a single doubt that his eyes were baggy, yet he resisted the temptations of slumber to pursue his passion and interests.

"No need to ask, man." In a weak, quiet, yet engaged tone Arian replied.

"After all that," Arian paused. He covered his mouth as he yawned. He moved his body, changing his position to face the walls behind him in order not to get a single glimpse of moonlight in his eyes. "I'm going to sleep, obviously."

"Okay, then." Felix answered with no tone, "Good night."

Arian covered his face with a pillow. Having tiny amount of energy, in a muffled voice replied, "Yeah, good night."

The night was a monotonous stretch, with time slipping by in a steady, unchanging rhythm. For every page Felix flipped, his understanding of the words slowly started to deteriorate, like an old painting fading with time. His vision blurred, and a mild feeling of dizziness crept in, weaving a disorienting tapestry in his thoughts, as if the very words on the page conspired to elude his comprehension. Still, Felix widened his eyes and flipped back to the previous page, determined to decipher the paragraph that had eluded him. His struggle persisted, his brows furrowing deeper with each attempt. But as he read on, he noticed the tremors in his arm, and his body, once resolute, could no longer maintain a steady posture. It was as if the weight of the words had become a physical burden, pressing down on him until his resolve wavered.

Eventually, Felix reached for a piece of torn paper from an old notebook, placing it carefully on the last page he had struggled with. The book, its cover wrinkled with age, was set aside next to the sacred text he tried to memorize today, awaiting another attempt the following day. A sigh of disappointment escaped his lips as he leaned against the wall, his gaze shifting from the scientific literature that had confounded him to the soft, radiant embrace of the moonlight pouring through the window. The serenity of the night offered solace in the wake of his intellectual endeavors.

He raised his head with a stoic expression that wore no emotion, even as his pink-pupiled eyes widened, seemingly engaged in an unspoken competition to outshine the moonlight's ethereal glow. The serene radiance of the night played across his features, casting enigmatic shadows and bathing him in its spectral embrace.

Felix concluded his moon-viewing activity, lowering his gaze and pinching his progress as though acknowledging his defeat in this quiet battle for luminance. He retreated to the comforting darkness within the bunkbed, where he lay down, his thoughts shifting from the moon's brilliance to the comforting veil of night.

Beneath the shadow that enveloped him, Felix closed his eyes. All he heard was the soothing symphony of the night, yet he instinctively covered his ears, seeking solace from even the gentlest of sounds. He squinted his eyelids and endeavored to regain control over his breathing rhythms, his inner battle with rest continuing as he fought to lull himself into sleep's tranquil embrace.