A Knight of Chivalry (On-Hold)

Chapter 2

Sage stood in the cold weather of November, his hands hidden in his thick winter coat as he watched his employers strolled side by side towards their car. Half way through, they looked back and waved at him; he waved back albeit half-heartedly.

He took in his surroundings, of what he could see clearly in the dark with the help of the lamp posts. While he liked things that are calm and not loud, he would have preferred it in places that are less dark.

It was quiet, too quiet that there wasn't the usual far away sounds of people shouting at a match, soft music playing on a radio somewhere in the buildings, or even animals fighting in an alley.

He couldn't really tell what was different, but when he focused a little harder, he knew it was because of the still and palpable atmosphere permeating in the air, and he felt himself growing uncomfortable. He was trapped between buildings across and behind him, all of which seemed dead; the shop lots were vibrant during the day and evenings with people walking about but for this particular night, it felt like a ghost town.

Some places that were still open was a couple of drug and convenience stores, which store lights were faint inside. The only thing that made it look less ominous was the small, colourful and twinkling fairy lights with ornaments decorated on it, an attempt to give some life to the dull place in early preparation of Christmas.

As his routine after work, he started for his place, several blocks away from the bar he worked, following the guide of the lamp lights illuminating his way. 

The wind was biting that night and Sage fastened his pace. He knew in a hundred more steps, he would round the corner where he would be more appreciative of his surroundings; a park with a stretch of glimmering buildings and skyscrapers of the city lights across the almost frozen river.

He paused mid-step when something caught his attention. Gazing up the night sky, he spotted snowflakes falling lightly to the ground, and he knew the place would soon look like it had cotton balls dotted the pavement.

Sage smiled to himself. He wondered what his family was up to back in his hometown. He couldn't remember when was the last time he was really excited for Christmas and other celebrations. 

Being the eldest son out of six siblings with an absentee father had made him grew up quickly, and Sage forgot about the things that had him excited back then. It felt like a distant memory to him now.

As he saw the horizon of glimmering cities in the stark dark night, and nearly no one in sight – with the exception of some people in the shadows whom he assumed was a couple – he thought the view never failed to fascinate him, even after three years moving to Chicago.

He had seen some things that had him slowly growing out of the thrill and awe of the place, that moments like this made him glad he still had wonder in him.

There was just a quiet beauty about it that left people feeling differently about the place at night, if they only only paid attention to it.

Sage briefly entertained the notion if he could get anymore intrigued at what he was seeing if he lived in one of those skyscraper apartments up there with a vast and colourful canvas of the city.

To be above the city and near the stars.

Would the feeling change, as with the perception of the view? He thought it might, though he knew he would enjoy it better.

He was a dreamer, and it was such a contrast from his practical self that he found himself chuckling quietly. But he long knew that it was alright to be both if he wanted to realise his dreams. Being a dreamer was one of the fewer things he knew hadn't change since he was a kid, a part of him that reminded himself he was still the same person he was growing up.