Solace and Nox: A New Light

Chapter 19: Fourteen Years Ago

"She's getting worse!" Cytra shouted.

Jitlan stood with Cytra outside her home. Night had fallen, and there was a cool breeze that filled the small village. Jitlan wore a long trench coat over his suit. Cytra was not as fortunate as him. She wore thin clothing, with her mother's oversized jacket. Looking at the two of them, there was a clear difference in class. Jitlan looked like he lived a wealthy life. Cytra didn't.

"Cytra, I can't come to help every time your mother gets sick," Jitlan explained. "I have a lot of other patients who need my help as well. Grace is not my only patient."

"But she needs you! You know we can't pay for the help," Cytra shot back.

"I've already gotten in enough trouble for helping for free. Any money I make in this line of work goes through my superiors before I get my share," Jitlan said. "If I don't return with money, they'll fire me, and I will no longer have the proper equipment to help anyone anymore."

Cytra screamed in frustration. "Jitlan! We're family! You've been there for us when no one else was. You came to us knowing that we needed help, and you wanted to help us. I'm nine years old, I know how you feel about us."

He sighed deeply. "You know I love you and your mother," Jitlan said. "And I would do anything to make sure you two were cared for, but I can't disobey my superiors any longer."

"If you would do anything for us, why won't you help us when we need you most?" Cytra replied. She was practically begging for him to help at this point.

He shivered, readjusting his coat so he wouldn't feel the brisk air whip through. Cytra seemed completely unfazed by the chilly air. In fact, there was a fire in her eyes, that made Jitlan shiver even more.

Nine-year-old Cytra could see the gears turning in Jitlan's head. Cytra knew that he cared, but he wasn't willing to show it. She remembered what her mother said about him. She said that he saw the value in everyone. He saw the importance in each human soul, which is why Cytra couldn't believe the way he reacted to this situation.

"Cytra," Jitlan began, "I can't. I can't lose my job. If I lose this, I lose everything. If I lose my job, I will never be able to help you, or anyone else, ever again."

Cytra tried so hard not to burst into tears. She clenched her fists, black mist forming around them. The fire in her eyes grew more intense.

Cytra was about to burst when she saw something in Jitlan's eye.

A tear.

Jitlan was crying.

Cytra stared in disbelief. She had never seen a grown man cry before. It seemed... unnatural. Especially for a nine year old. Cytra relaxed slightly, letting the darkness dissipate.

Jitlan tried to speak, but couldn't find the words. He opened his mouth several times, trying to speak, but his words failed him.

Cytra didn't wait for him to say anything. Trying to hide her tears, she marched into her house and slammed the door behind her. Then she broke down. She couldn't go through this again. She'd nearly lost her mother once, and she couldn't bear to let it happen again. She curled up next to the door and cried.

"Cytra?" Grace croaked from the other room. "Cytra? Is that you?"

Cytra scrambled to her feet and ran to her mother. She was lying in the same bed that she nearly died in a year earlier. Cytra climbed in with her, just like before and cried.

"Why won't he help us, Mom?" Cytra bawled. "I thought he cared."

Grace shushed her child, and pulled her close. "It's okay, child. No matter what happens, I will always be your mother. Jitlan has made his choices, and he is free to do so."

"But he was family," Cytra said. "He gave up so much to help us, but now he won't do it because his job is at stake?"

"Cytra, dear," Grace said. "You have to understand that it's not all about us. I am not the most important person in the world. I'm sure there are people that Jitlan cares about, and he had to provide for them too. I know you looked up to him, but he made his choice."

"No one is more important than you, mother," Cytra said, curling up closer to her mother.

Grace held her with the embrace only a mother could give. She stroked her daughter's beautiful hair and cooed her child.

After several minutes of holding each other, they heard something outside their home. At first, they couldn't tell what it was, but as time passed, they could hear someone running. Their breathing became audible when they started pounding on the door.

Cytra didn't want to leave her mother's side, but her mother was in no position to leave her bed. So Cytra took her time going to the door. She opened it up to see Jitlan.

"You were right Cytra," he said, panting heavily. "Why wouldn't I help you now, when you need it most?"

Cytra cried even harder.

Jitlan had come back for them.