Lucien
1066 Words
Puff puff puff
Heavy breathing followed by heavy, yet light steps came along as a young boy walked passed the few crowds with a tattered hoodie concealing a great part of his face. He hugged a parcel tightly while striding forward, ignoring the disdainful look of others as he strode pass them anxiously.
He had long become numb and emotionless to people's look of disdain. It had been one years since he arrived in the village which was supposed to be his mother's home, but he got nothing but a look of disdain from others, no one dared near him, nor treat him well.
His mother had always told him that the villagers were kind, benevolent and empathetic, reason why they left the capital city's hardship to leave in the central city at the Moon district which wasn't considered an upper class district but a neutral stead for both the poor and average rich.
He still recalled the warmth that he felt one year ago when he arrived with his mother. He was beyond happiness and decided to help his mother as much as he could. They weren't rich, so he had never attended school before, but his mother who was once an elementary school teacher and had taught and impacted in him great morals and teachings that even the rich students couldn't afford with money. However, no one would think it had any value and only considered him as an outcast.
She gave him all she possessed, though others considered it meager, he considered that they were her riches and her love was enough to make him happy.
Although there were times when she couldn't put food on the table because of her complicated pregnancy, he never once complained, because he knew she was doing her best.
While others despised him for his hideous appearance, she only saw the beauty in him and cherished him like a treasure, but he knew he was no treasure, but a useless piece of trash,who was abandoned by his father and his real parents, probably because of his hideous birth mark.
He had never understood why his mother loved him so much, giving up on her husband for an adopted child like him, a child who couldn't even give her any benefit. So he once asked her during a discussion.
"Mother,why does everyone hate me,is it because... I'm ugly."
"Silly child, who said you're ugly, in my eyes you're the most handsome boy."
He knew her words were just meant to comfort him, but he didn't want to refute either, for fear of getting her worried. But he felt indignant for her, because because of him,the man she loved abandoned her.
"Don't pull such a long face, so what if your father left. It isn't your fault, those who only see the outward beauty don't deserve you to feel bad about them, they're not worth your attention. The one who loves you, loves you for who you are and not because you're beautiful or rich, remember that."
"So, mother, do you love me?"
He knew his question was silly, because his mother loved him genuinely. But he just wanted to hear it from her, he just wanted to hear her admit that she loves him. And even if she found his question silly, she didn't hesitate to answer him with a sincere smile.
"Of course I love you, you're my pride, how can I not love you."
Tears rolled down from his cheeks as soon as he was suddenly reminded of those days with his mother. Today the one who sincerely loved him was no more, she died barely four months after giving birth to his sister. Leaving him the huge responsibility of taking care of the baby by himself.
His sister was now his only kin, though there was his mother's brother. That man had never liked him, nor had he ever helped his mother when she suffered hardship. He obviously didn't lack, but he never once helped his mother and would always end up in a heated argument with her, demanding for what he couldn't understand. He was cruel and heartless, so there was no way such a man would help his niece.
Holding in his embrace a parcel that took him a lot of effort to get, treasuring it as if it was his life. Lucien scurried towards a dilapidated house and pushed the tattered door open. In this dilapidated home, a seven month old baby lay in a small dilapidated bed. Her face was pale as a sheet and she seemed to be suffering, as sweat constantly poured on her, alongside her tears and crisp baby voice. Lucien's Heart ache the moment he caught sight of her pale face, but he felt helpless. His sister was the only link to his mother, but three days ago she was forced by some boys to drink fermented milk.
They didn't even give it a thought that she was merely a baby, causing her to be poisoned, while he was pinned on the ground to watch his sister swallow the fermented milk , which had probably been poisoned. He took her to the hospital, but no one attended to her and no one was willing to help.
The only doctor who pitied him and checked on the poor baby ended up shaking his head.
"I'm afraid your sister bad been poisoned, there's nothing I can do about it. I can at most prescribe some medicine to alleviate her pain."
As soon as he heard the news from the doctor, his body collapsed on the floor. He didn't believe that his sister was just going to die just like that in his eyes. He clenched his fist tightly, causing his hand to bleed, but he wasn't bothered.
Self harming and blaming himself for being incompetent. He really wanted to tear into pieces those who hurt his sister, however he could only swallow his hatred for now. His sister was his priority, so he worked hard, carrying bricks to finally get some decent food and drugs for his sister. He knew it couldn't save her, but at least he could alleviate her pain. He absolutely had to get an antidote and save his sister, even if it cost him his soul.
Lucien looked at his sister softly,with a tender affection and smiled bitterly.
"I'll definitely save you, Catherine..."
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- Writer
