Chapter 2 The Opening Scene

Night! Stars, breeze, and Serenity are what I used to describe this one time of the day, a few years ago. But today as I walk on the Brooklyn Bridge, on this starry night, I realize that the only word I should always use is Sleepless. No sleep is what defines me. Crazy much! But that's how I have ended up with my crazy ass of life.

Or wait!

Is it even a life? A life where I lay on my bed in the night, and stare at the ceiling like a person who had been playing the Mannequin Challenge, the only difference being there is no music but instead, there is the only loud thumping of my broken heart. The cool wind managed to hit me hard across my face, as my dark grey eyes scanned the bridge; the space between the cable suspension giving a clear view of the water underneath it whereas the moon doesn't fail to shine in the waters. And that's when I remembered the one person who managed to enter my broken life two years ago, but today even she was not present beside me. And who was I supposed to blame?

Myself!

My fate!

Or

Serena!!

The name felt so right, rolling out of my tongue like a mantra but I wonder after today do I even have the right to chant that angelic beauty's name?

A few hours ago, I might have considered myself one lucky guy who was granted a second chance to get some happiness after that traumatic experience of pain since I passed high school.

But someone has said it right; Nothing in this world is permanent, and so was my happiness, or I should rather say: Our happiness!

As I view, the shadow of my tall figure on the road, I recalled the memories that this place had of ours but now everything was gone.

All that was left of me was a plain broken boy who had no peace in his life.

My eyes which were downcast for a while as I took steady steps ahead on the bridge, now turned to look on sideways. Just then they halted on my left, where a small boy was cuddled up like a ball on the wooden bench that was kept in the side.

My steps moved forth on their own as something in me stirred as I saw that little boy shivering due to the cold. I didn't understand this world at all at that moment. How can someone abandon their own child like that? It was cruel absolutely insane, as I would like to put forth, but I guess that's the reality for you.

On approaching the bench, I took a good look at the small kid whose lips were trembling due to the cold but that didn't wake him up from his deep slumber. His brown copper hair were falling on his forehead reminding me of myself.

In hours, a small smile managed to tug at the end of my lips as my hand raised on their own accord to caress the kid's head. Immediately realizing that I was wearing an overcoat over my long-sleeved t-shirt, I removed it from my body and covered the boy with it, who hugged the warmth offered to him instantly.

Making sure that, he was comfortable enough I made my way to the nearest bench. A tired sigh escaped my lips as I sat down on the bench, resting my back on the bench while my head dangled half in the air and another half on the bench.

I didn't realize when and how my eyes closed, but when I opened them a tear was escaping from the sides and next, I knew that someone sat beside me.

Raising my head, I saw the same kid sitting beside me holding my coat. His messy hair flying in the air, while his innocent blue eyes were staring right through me. Something the way he was staring at me reminded me of Serena and again the similar pain succumbed to my chest as the reality finally sank in me that I have lost her.

I have lost my love again and maybe this time I wasn't even taking a chance at another thing, but still why do I hope that maybe Everything isn't lost yet?

"Is this yours?" The little boy's query brought me out of my painful trance. I whipped my head once again to his direction to see him staring at me with curiosity evident in his blue orbs.

Ruffling his soft silky copper hairs, I managed to nod my head which made him give me his biggest smile as a way of showing his gratitude towards me.

Maybe no one ever cared for him thus the child was extremely overwhelmed with little care.

"So little man why are you here at this time of the night?" I know my query was stupid or maybe irrational because I already knew the answer, but still, I wanted to know. Maybe I was hoping that it wasn't what I was expecting but as the smile on his face faded away, I realized that I might have touched a sore subject for him too.

How ironic? Even a little boy was left all alone just like me!

"I am sorry. Did I hurt you?" I let out a feeble apology suddenly not liking the heaviness prevailing between us.

He immediately shook his head in a no making me smile at his big eyes now since his brows were creased in some twisted way. It was the moment I noticed that how thin and lean he was actually like he didn't eat for days and once again my chest constricted my pain.

"What is your name, bud?" I asked breaking the awkward silence between us. I noticed he looked around ten and for a boy his age, he should be probably more healthy than he was currently.

"Nathaniel!" He replied shyly but I didn't miss the shine in his eyes. It seemed as if he actually loved his name.

Getting comfortable on the bench, he wrapped the coat around himself properly, while we sat in silence again staring at nothing in particular. I didn't know what time it was, neither did I wanted to know because it will be a reminder to me of how many hours have I actually spent without the woman I loved with my Everything.

"Why are you here?" Nathaniel's soft voice reached my ears as I turned to look at him once again. A frown was plastered on his face as he was studying me keenly like he was trying to figure out something.

"I am running away!" I replied in a hoarse voice.

"From whom?"

Taking a deep breath, my eyes shut on their own while my arms crossed over my chest, as I replied in a low muffled tone, "Pain and...,

"Love...," The last part came out as a mere whisper and I was sure that he didn't hear it which is what I wanted.

"Where it is?" He inquired innocently. A low chuckle managed to escape my lips as I sat straight opening my eyes.

Turning towards him completely, I took his small hand in my large ones and kept it on the left side of my chest where my still broken heart or maybe burnt heart was beating.

He gave me a confused look but didn't utter a word, but I didn't fail to notice the small shrug of his shoulders.

"You hungry?" He nodded his head and I remembered purchasing a big bar of chocolate this morning, for...

Avoiding whispering her name once again, I recalled putting it safely in my overcoat pocket which I wanted to give her in the evening because she was fond of having chocolates after her dinner but much to my bad luck, today there was not happening like that.

Ignoring the thoughts once again, I fetched the chocolate from the pocket and forwarded it to Nathaniel whose eyes lit up in excitement.

I watched him undo the wrapper and take a bite, with pure ecstasy on his face, and once again my mind wandered on the woman I love.

A lone tear escaped my eye as I looked away from Nathaniel to my right, to only stare at the long pole at the end of the bridge, where I and Serena met for the first time.

Where for the first time, after my tragic life of years, I felt something beating inside me!

Where for the first time after years, I felt the L word once again!

Where for the first time after painful years. Daniel Price didn't feel like a cursed boy who didn't deserve happiness instead I felt that I was granted a second chance to live and love.

And the time froze for me right there as I went into the flashback of the new year's evening two years ago.