Epilogue
"Don't cry, my son." Said the woman who is caressing his son's hair that is crying.
That's the last thing James can only remember after his parents died from a car crash.
Here—now, James is sitting at the front seat as he silently stared at both of his parent's casket.
People who came couldn't help but look at the child with sympathy.
But he didn't cared.
James thought,
"it's all my fault..."
Now, he sat there with a feeling of regret and hopelessness. The very same words would repeat in his mind.
Tears silently rolled down to his cheeks but he didn't bothered to wipe them off. His gaze still at the two white casket with a picture of his parent on top.
Yet—he can't bring himself to look at both of them. Only staring from afar, as if regretting everything.
After everything, he couldn't help but be lost.
What will happen next? Is this how his life is going to be? Is he going to live full of regret?
From afar, some people helped didn't met kept discussing about something. He didn't know what they were saying but they keep stealing glances.
After that, James couldn't remember anything more. All he knew is that they had called his one and only relative—his uncle.
He didn't like him at one bit. The reek of alcohol along with the cigarette's smoke tells him that he was nothing but a new burden.
But what can he do? He's only seven years old at that time.
A child like him can't survive alone.
After a few months had passed, his life became hell...
Bruises everywhere his body, and he also became violent. His uncle couldn't care, all he did was spend all of his parent's money and lived at both of his parent's house like he owned everything.
His situation was as worse at school. Everyone bullied him yet, the teachers were too blind to notice.
Almost everyone in this little rural town thinks the same when it comes to him. He was a good for nothing burden.
***
[June 17, 1985]
It has been three years since it all happened. Summer was more hotter than the last, cicadas could be heard in the fields, and kids were happily playing around.
Yet, James was still depressed as before. Still blaming himself for everything.
On his way home, you could see a lovely old house that's been owned by the two lovely old couples whom took their four grandchildren under their wings.
But—people only see three of them. Rumours has it that the one kid may have social anxiety so that's why the room, which they believe where that kid was staying—always have their windows closed shut.
The two couples won't speak a word about it and would just brush it off.
Though, James is a bit curious. Not only that, every time he walks in front of that house, he can feel someone staring at him at that window.
But this time—he was surprised. The window now was open and the curtains inside where dancing through the air.
You can almost see what was inside. The lovely wallpaper, warm lights, and also—
A young kid who is sitting on his bed besides the window.
The kid has a curly golden hair, his skin were pale. He was looking at something, no, maybe even thinking about something as he stared thin air.
James couldn't help but stare. His mouth were agape while he his eyes widen in shock, this was the first time the window had opened.
Moments later, the kid finally snapped back to reality and they realised that someone has been staring at them.
They stared back with familiarity hinted on their gaze before quickly shutting the window and hiding their appearance with the help of the curtains.
Still, James stood there. He couldn't believe what he had saw. Sure, it's not that big of a deal but he can't help but feel drawn by that kid.
He still remembers how they looked like, how the freckles scattered along his cheeks to his nose, how yellow their eyes were, and most importantly—how majestic they were.
It's like they're an angel from heaven. That's what he thought for he saw the paintings of those angels in church. That kid looked exactly like those paintings.
James was astonished.
***
James got back to his very home that day. His bastard uncle still sleeping on the couch filled with bottles of beers that he already drank earlier.
The television was still on, showing a soccer match that would sometimes pissed his uncle so much if the home team loses.
James goes up the stairs. The floorboards quietly creaking as he go, yet—the old man remains drifting into a deep slumber thanks to the beers.
When he finally reached his own room, he couldn't help but collapse on his bed.
He stared at the ceiling—still remembering what he had seen earlier. That kid was nothing like anyone.
It felt surreal. He didn't know that someone could look like that, so pretty and majestic.
Though, he was wondering... Who was that kid? Are they the one who was known for having "social anxiety"? If so, James was sure that they looked nothing like their siblings.
Sure, some of them has blonde hair but—it was not as golden as theirs.
They were like a character from a kid story book, an angel, or like a buttercup flower.
That kid still became a mystery to James, this was the first time he had seen fully the kid without imagining what they will look like.
Little did he know, this is where his story would start.