The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 14

Kas

He leans against the window as he looks at the passing scenery from the window. He grimaces and rubs his chest. It's been more than a month since he took the beating from Zander. Although he has almost completely healed, his ribs still feel raw and painful. But it's nothing compared to the pain of this train journey. Every movement of the train is taking him away from his home and Kaya. Two months without Kaya. He never thought he would ever have to live a day without seeing her dimpled smile and listening to her sweet chatter.

His Ma puts her hand in his. He looks down to see how frail and thin her hand looks. His Ma who has worked with her hands all day for as long as he can remember. He thinks of his shanty, the loud radio music that seems to just play on all day, the curious but helpful neighbors. Kas's Ma had sold their home to pay for dad's treatment and moved to the shanty, lots of money being needed for an expensive treatment for a failing heart that just kept giving huge bills and finally a death certificate. 

Kaya had just been a toddler when his Pa died and Ma had started working at the big house. His Ma has never had the luxury of grieving. Not when Pa passed away because she had two young children to look after. She doesn't seem to grieving even now with all her attention on keeping him safe. "Ma", he tells her softly "What if they find Kaya? We won't be there when they find her. She will be so frightened and alone". His Ma stares at down at their entwined hands, not looking up as she says "Son, Kaya is not coming back". He wants to protest, as he has been for the past several days but his Ma will not change her mind, he knows that.

 She has not left him alone since the incident when Zander beat him up. She has either had Dor sit with him, or some neighbor while she made arrangements and waited for her pay. "I wanted to tell Dor goodbye", he tells her sadly, suddenly behaving like the young boy that he is. They have left without informing anyone. His Ma was adamant about it. No one knows that they are leaving. Not Ma's boss lady in the big house, not the neighbors, no one. His Ma has been insistent that no one, no one should know they are leaving.

 His heart aches as he imagines Dor coming to visit him as usual and finding the door locked. He imagines her coming again and seeing a new tenant family living there. Dor, he thinks, don't forget me.

Chess

Arms folded, seated in the streetside cafe, Chess sips on his coffee and then looks at his watch. Its 4 pm. He stares at the street again. There she is. He watches her walks down the street, taking long strides. Tall and beautiful as usual. His titan. Her hair in a plait down her back, jeans, shirt and serviceable sneakers. He casually keeps his face half covered behind the novel in his hands. The novel is worn out. Not that he has read a page in it. It's been his camouflage for several weeks. She stops to talk to some lady in the middle of the street. He covers his face with a hand and pretends he is reading. 

The author's picture on the back cover stares at him accusingly even though it's a smiling face as if asking when he will actually read a page in the book. He gives the author an apologetic smile and then carefully looks up again. The titan has moved on ahead, keeping her chat short. He gulps down the coffee, gasping as the hot liquid singes his throat and quickly comes out in the street. He knows where she is going. He follows her at a safe distance. 

He watches her go into the shanty and walk up the street. She is going to the place where Kas used to stay. She just watches for a few minutes and then goes back the way she came. It's been his titan's routine for the past seven years. She comes, she looks and she goes back. She never speaks to anyone over there. And his routine has been to follow her. His routine has been to just quietly follow her, watch her watch the room in which Kas once lived and watch her go back.