"The prettiest star..."
A lonely silhouette appeared on a deserted road. No one outside, not a single soul deciding to spend the Christmas Eve outdoors such a late hour. He looked around, sighted; a quite song was playing from a window. Another home, another story. Somehow every person he met today had this festive, merry mood, making the stranger feel even more detached from the people.
"What can I do to distract myself? Read, as you always do."
Benjamin forced a smile and walked to the park, pretending to hurry: what else if not a date can you look forward to among the speechless trees? Faster, faster...
- God. No way.
Why did it happen today? Not tomorrow, not yesterday... Streetlight went down, precisely one hour before the midnight, right in the place he was heading to. Benjamin growled, struggling not to scream. What else can you do if "boys don't cry"? But hell, how much he wished for a single tear! Dear, dear society...
- Honey! Let's go. I see someone standing in the shadow, what if it is a criminal?
A couple quickly passed Benjamin, glancing at him curiously.
"Is it now illegal not to be loved?"
No friends, no lover. He now felt even more hopeless. So many eyes looking at you, judging, accusing you of a crime. Is it the punishment for avoiding uneducated idiots?
He looked at his book: Hesse, "Journey to the East".
- What are you reading? Philosophy, again? Can you try something modern for once?
- It is very interesting.
- I remember the last book you gave me. Couldn't help but fall asleep. Why not to read "Clockwork Orange"? That is what I call a good thing. Maybe a little too many actions for you in each chapter... Alex, such a cruel babe. I knew he would be back to his character in the end.
- I have. And if you you had, too, you would know he even thought of a family in the last chapter.
He smiled remembering this scene, no matter he have never seen this girl afterwards. Why are they so close-minded? The bitterness of that thought made Benjamin frown. Why is it so lonely to be different? Every idea you share with them they see as an insult, as a mocking at their loss of knowledge. They pretend to be smart saying something shocking but there is no sense in being a rebel when you just want attention for its sake. "Don't you now think you are the real rebel? The one who contradicts without even trying!.."
He sat on a cold bench and looked at the book he was holding. "That's it. The books told you to love the ideals. Something you have only seen in fiction."
It was getting darker, the last source of light - a twinkling lantern - began to dim. It seemed that even electricity was agreeing with his position. Clack-clack. Only not a girl! His gloomy face would scare anyone now. Clack-clack-clack.
- Oh, are you reading? Isn't it too dark here? - he heard a fellow speaking from the shadow; he approached Benjamin so fast he didin't even notice.- You need to take care of your eyes. What is the name?
- B-Benjamin?.. - he felt so surprised and unprepared that could barely form a word.
- Ah, nice to meet you, Benjamin! But, I mean "and", what is the name of the book? - he couldn't see his face but the stranger was definitely giggling. - It is such a rare situation, to see someone reading at night. The story must be really fascinating.
- Y-yes, it is... It is called "Journey To The East" by Herman...
- Hesse! Such a nice novel... Oh, wait, it was smaller than that... Anyway, that is wonderful you like it. Not many people read it.
Now Benjamin looked at him in a kind of awe. He couldn't see more than the glittering platform-boots due to absence of light but the very idea of someone loving the same he was seemed fantastic.
- Do you want to take a sit?
- Oh, sure! Thank you so much! - the stranger made one step forward but something stopped him. Following the direction he turned, Benjamin could see a little light sparkling at the corner. His new friend looked at him.
- Benjamin... I am afraid I must go right now. But, hopefully, we will meet again, I just need to discuss this book with you. By the way, I am Gabriele. Good bye, bless you!
Benjamin sat there, smiling in the darkness. It was strange. Who was him? Probably, a person he will never see again in the big-big city - London. So many people in the centre of England... But what a nice coincidence. Now it is not that sad to go to the library and the park, now you can feel the existence of someone like you. Even if you saw them for three minutes. Now you can think of this night and dream of them thinking about you. Yes, it is the real power of a kind word. "Maybe I can make this world a little brighter, too?"
He looked at the skies.
- Maybe it is better without the light here? The stars are so beautiful tonight.
Clack!
1969
