THE SON OF LIGHT AND SHADOW.

It was a warm summer morning, and a young boy was struggling to get comfortable in his bed. Despite rolling over numerous times, he could not find relief from his restlessness. It was as though his body was in combat with itself, preventing him from receiving the rest that he so desperately needed.

Eventually, the boy jolted awake, gasping for breath and looking around with a confused expression. His eyes seemed unfocused, as though he was struggling to comprehend his surroundings. Slowly but surely, he began to remember the details of his life. His name is Gu Xi Chen, and he just turned thirteen years old today. He had just experienced the worst nightmare of his life, and he still felt the lingering effects of the terror that he had experienced.

Although he could not recall the specifics of the nightmare, he knew that it was a dark and horrifying experience. He had been on the brink of being consumed by the darkness that had been closing in on him, but he had managed to escape. However, the trauma that he had experienced continued to follow him, even now that he was awake.

Despite his distress, Gu Xi Chen knew that he was no stranger to nightmares. He had been plagued by them for as long as he could remember, although he could never quite remember what they were about. Even though he knew that his nightmare was over, the fear and uncertainty continued to linger.

He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes and taking deep breaths to calm himself down. Gu Xi Chen knew that he needed to shake off the effects of the nightmare before it consumed him completely. He got out of bed and went to the window, looking out at the world outside. The sun was shining brightly, and birds were chirping in the trees. It was a beautiful day, and he knew that he couldn't let his fear overcome him today; it was his birthday after all.

He grabbed his stuff and headed out to the bathroom. The clink of plates and pans, along with the voices from the kitchen, let him know that he was the last one to wake up; everyone else was already up and about. He wondered why no one had bothered to wake him as they usually did, but then remembered it was his birthday. It had already become a family tradition to let him sleep in and not do any chores on his special day. He smiled at the care and love that they always showed him. The truth is, he didn't grow up in a wealthy or privileged family, but he grew up happy. His father worked as a gardener for the esteemed Lin Family, one of the top families in G-country, while his mother earned money by doing laundry and mending clothes. They were just one paycheck away from experiencing abject poverty and living in the slums. However, fortunately for them, his father's employers were kind-hearted people who never had any issues with him. As far back as he could remember, there were consistent paychecks and even bonuses. They also always received gifts from them during every holiday and birthday, which is why they had decent electronic gadgets like their laptops and phones and decent school materials, including uniforms, shoes, bags, and other school supplies. Despite their humble circumstances, he grew up surrounded by love and lacked nothing. He adored both his parents and cherished his little brother, and they, in return, loved him just as much. Not only did he have financial stability due to his father's job situation, but he also received an excellent education. Despite the challenges they faced economically, happiness filled their lives. Though monetary wealth eluded them, their lives were rich in love, happiness, and resilience. Their small house brimmed with shared laughter, mutual respect, and a strong, unyielding bond of kinship. Their experiences, both highs and lows, served as crucial threads in the fabric of their simple yet fulfilling lives.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

He smiled as he padded into the bathroom, looking forward to the day, and as he emerged from the bathroom, ready to face the day, he was greeted by the warm smiles of his family. Happy birthday, they all said as they presented him with his gifts, which unsurprisingly included one from his father’s boss. He smiled and hugged all three of them; to be honest, they were his best gifts, but he would never say something so corny to their faces. He headed to the dining table, where his mother had cooked up a spread, and a huge cake was sitting in the middle with 13 candles on it. Birthdays were always the days to splurge on food, and although he felt a bit apologetic knowing that this was going to be an extra bit of work for his mother, he couldn’t disregard her intentions. He promised himself he would make sure to succeed and take care of his parents so they never had to work a day in their lives again.

Breakfast was a joyous one; after singing happy birthday and cutting the cake, they proceeded to eat. After breakfast, he thanked his parents and happily hugged them both before he headed back to his room with his gifts. He would unwrap them later, but he had to go get ready for school now as he was about to be late. He and his brother both threw on the school uniform, grabbed their bags, and headed out in a run to catch the bus before they were too late. They caught the bus just in time; it seemed as if the bus driver had slowed down, taken his time, and covertly waited for them to get there. He high-fived both of them as he wished Gu Xichen a happy birthday. The two brothers headed to their usual seats at the back of the bus to wait for their stop, which happened to be the last stop on the bus's route.