In this area, the lights never come on, there are no visitors, and it's always dead silent. The houses stand empty without residents, and no one wants to buy a home here.
Twelve-year-old Luke Campbell suffers from loneliness - he has no friends, an...
Dark Lanterns Lane - a place where no one ever peered and which simultaneously became a refuge for a little defenseless girl. An area of absolute impenetrable darkness, yet also of hopeful light.
Aliya was a mystery that needed to be unravelled or, conversely, just a tempting lure one should steer clear of. But when dealing with something entirely unknown, predicting even the slightest step becomes impossible.
She had her own hidden secrets. Eventually, we all do. They lie deep within, concealed from the outside world and its overly curious eyes. There are doors better kept closed with seven locks.
But Aliya's biggest secret was her family, and this detail most threw the boy off balance. He, of course, had somewhat strained relations with his parents and some other relatives, but he never hid the fact of his family ties - that would sound utterly senseless. Yet she concealed hers, and clearly not without a reason.
But what could have actually happened? Perhaps her entire family tragically passed away? Or maybe they mistreated Aliya that badly, which is why she doesn't want to mention them? But in that case, wouldn't the girl have disposed of their portraits hanging on her walls? Why keep photographs of people who caused you pain?
Let's consider the version where her entire family perished. Why wasn't Aliya placed in a foster home? Where were the social services looking? They should have taken care of the child; otherwise, it would be a serious violation of the law.
No, this doesn't happen in reality. It can't be true. It must have been something he imagined, dreamed, or it became so deeply rooted in his mind that the boy mistook fantasy for unshakeable truth.
Whatever! Even if Luke Campbell is really going crazy, at least it's happening pleasantly. After all, many children have imaginary friends. And what if it's just his imagination materializing and becoming indisputable reality? And if that's really the case, could anyone else see the girl besides him?
***
Luke never enjoyed any celebrations because they always involved large gatherings of people, and the boy, to put it mildly, was deeply disappointed in them.
But today is birthday of Luke's dad, and several dozen close and distant relatives have gathered at the Campbells' house, so the boy simply has no choice. Sometimes there are things that you just have to endure and wait for them to end.
Birthday celebration at their home was a real joyful affair. Their house was filled with guests from near and far, all gathered to celebrate this special day. The living room was decorated with colorful balloons, streamers, and a big yellow banner that read "Happy Birthday Dad!".
Everyone arrived with presents wrapped in shiny paper and ribbons. Luke gave his dad a handmade card with a picture of them fishing together last summer. Aunt Mary brought a delicious homemade cake topped with candles. The cake was the only thing Luke enjoyed this exhausting day. He couldn't wait to have a slice.
Luke's cousins played games in the backyard while the adults caught up with each other's lives. Grandpa even brought his guitar and led everyone in singing birthday songs. Surely, he asked Luke to sing with him together but it was impossible for the boy to overcome his shyness.
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After such a holiday, another holiday is needed, but Luke was deprived of such luxury because the calendar will show Monday tomorrow, which is far from a reason to be joyful. There is nothing more exhausting than loneliness in a crowd.
Grandmother Emily hadn't seen Luke for over two years because she lives far away in Australia and rarely travels outside the continent. They mostly kept in touch through video calls and sent each other letters and photos to stay connected.
Grandma Emily looked kindly at Luke as they were sitting in the cozy living room. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, making everything warm.
"Luke, dear," she asked gently, "I have noticed you don't look happy. Any problems? Do you have lots of friends at school?"
Luke fidgeted a bit, staring at the floor. "Oh yes, Grandma," he answered with a forced smile, "I have many friends."
A small smile touched Grandma Emily's face, but her eyes showed she knew something more. She reached out and placed her hand on his, giving him comfort. "You know, dear," she said softly, "I can tell when you're not completely honest with me. It's okay to tell me how things really are."
"Everything is OK, grandma!" Luke almost shouted. He obviously felt nervous.
