The sun was setting over a field of sunflowers, their massive heads bowing to their deity as it sank over the horizon. Two figures, both dressed in black, looked out over the rows of flowers. The older one was a picture of wisdom; the younger fluctuated between composure and giddiness.

The older man gazed at the field with a smile, apparently recalling pleasant memories. A slight breeze brushed his hair. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

The boy next to him raised an eyebrow. He had never seen his father lose himself this way before. But as the boy followed his eyes, he understood.

The silence was broken by a slight noise coming from the left. Blithe opened his eyes, still smiling. Nathan spotted the train and grew giddy. Hardly a minute later, they had boarded and left.

***

“So have you texted your friends? Or called them? I don’t know what you kids do nowadays.”

Nathan rolled his eyes and watched the landscape roll by outside the window. The trees made mesmerizing patterns as they flashed by. His father nudged him, expecting an answer.

“I did. But if you think you’ll get any details from me, then you’re mistaken. I’d rather jump out of this train while it’s moving,” Nathan answered, still staring out the window.

Blithe chuckled, glad to see his son in good spirits. The landscape really was beautiful.

***

The 100-kilometer journey took a little over 20 minutes. As Nathan exited the train, he marveled that something so unbelievable even existed. Even though he frequented this route during the school year, he was still amazed by the brilliance of the people responsible for the train.

“So what do you want to do first?” his father asked, snapping him out of his daydream. “Are you hungry yet?”

Nathan pondered for a moment. How could he utilize this time with his father the best?

“There’s this new place my classm—friends talked about, so maybe we could go there? But before that, I really want to go and have a look at this new music shop.”

Blithe looked at his son, bewildered. “I had thought you’d decided to ignore that gift of yours.” He broke into a grin. “You have no idea how happy that makes me!”

Ever since Nathan was small, he had always had a talent for music. He had loved listening to music all the time ever since he was four years old. Once, he had stumbled upon an old street piano and refused to leave for almost an hour.

Blithe had decided to buy him a piano of his own and hire a piano teacher. When he began reconstructing every song he heard, the piano teacher informed Blithe about his son’s so-called perfect pitch. Nathan eventually practiced several hours a day; he talked about becoming a concert pianist.

But when he learned what Blithe did for a living, something changed. Nathan practiced less and less. By the time he and Blithe moved to Sublimaeir, Nathan had given up playing entirely. They didn’t bother to bring the piano; Nathan claimed he had no time for such “trivial matters.”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Blithe couldn’t help chuckling to himself as he remembered nine-year-old Nathan using such eloquent words, trying to look imposing to his father. His knack for music had been overshadowed by the allure of violence. Blithe had felt incredibly sad because, in the end, it was all his doing. But now Nathan was expressing interest again. . . perhaps that ice-cold shell was beginning to crumble.

“Of course! Let’s do that.” The joy in Blithe’s voice was almost palpable.

***

Blithe and Nathan walked out of the newly opened music store, beaming. Blithe had decided to buy a grand piano for Nathan, who was excited to play once more. Only a week before, this would have been inconceivable. But now it was done, and Nathan was euphoric.

They strode through the city to see what was new. Main Street was transformed into a pedestrian precinct at this time of day, allowing evening shoppers easy access to the stores on either side. Alabaster and gold streetlamps illuminated the area, giving it a sense of opulence and safety. It was easy to see, even at this hour, how perfectly coordinated the shops were, each with a matching sign.

Blithe and Nathan had seen these shops many times already. It was the people who were really interesting. The two of them scanned the crowd of pedestrians.

“Recently divorced.”

“Drug dealer.”

“Thinks his wife is cheating on him.”

For each person, a quick description popped into their minds. Sometimes there were comments, too.

“I wonder whose fault that was.”

“What is he selling?”

“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised, with that greasy look.”

Fifteen minutes and dozens of mental comments later, Blithe and Nathan were nearing their destination. They had been prepared for a crowd, but the row of people waiting outside was still disheartening. They took their places and began to wait.

“Well, I’m not sure about you,” Blithe said eventually, “but I’m sure as hell not standing here for the rest of the evening.”

“Yeah, screw that. Do you know any other place?” Nathan looked up at his father. Blithe’s pocket vibrated.

“I think I know a good place. Just give me a minute while I try to make a call in all this ruckus.” He ducked into an alley and vanished.

Nathan stood there, idly watching the people around him. There was that lady in the extravagant crimson dress, quietly berating her husband. Her lips spoke volumes. Nathan chuckled as he learned the husband had tried to find out if his wife’s limited-edition lipstick tasted as good as it smelled.

'Not the sharpest tool in the shed.'

“What’s so funny, Umbris? Standing here like a weirdo laughing to yourself?”

Nathan’s head snapped around. He was being approached by a boy no older than himself. Though the boy puffed out his chest and straightened his back, his scrawny figure made it impossible for Nathan to take him seriously.

“I was thinking about eating, Roy. You should try it sometime. After your Spooky Scary Skeletons music video audition is over, of course.”

The words malnutrition and dietary deficiency would have gone right over the boy’s head, Nathan thought.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Roy walked closer to Nathan, who looked like an adult by comparison. Somehow Roy still picked on people, even when they ignored him as harmless. Things had never gotten physical between Nathan and Roy, despite Roy’s provocations. Nathan was afraid he’d snap Roy in half with a firm handshake

“Roy!” an angry woman’s voice interrupted. “I told you to stay with me and not wander around. Your father will be angry if you get lost. And if he gets angry, I get angry. You don’t want to see me angry, do you?”

A golden-haired woman emerged from the crowd.

“Come here and stop annoying that young man, whoever he is. I’m sorry for any trouble this runt may have caused.”

Panic flashed over Roy’s face. He hurried over to the woman, who was now visibly furious.

“I’m sorry Dayla, I didn’t mean to. . . I-I just saw an old friend of mine. Let’s go. We’ve finished our discussion anyway.”

Roy walked around her and quickly vanished into the swarm of people before she could continue her scolding.

“Once again, I’d like to apologize for any inconvenience that kid may have caused. Have a nice day.”

She turned and followed, shouting in his direction.

“I said wait. How dare you run when. . .” her voice trailed off as she disappeared into the crowd, as well. Nathan watched them, confused, unaware that his father had seen the whole incident from the alley.