"It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone." ― Rose Kennedy
Prologue: A white dove in the dark
Raindrops fell down mercilessly. The clouds were black as the feathers of a raven. Lightnings cut through the sky like a sharp knife. It seemed the earth trembled under the heavy sound of the thunder. It was like the world is going to end that night.
A little boy, his hair as black as coal, his eyes blue as aquamarin, and his nose slightly crooked, sat on the roadside, crying. He held his hands before his face and sobbed uncontrollable, clothes were slightly torn apart. No one of the busy people on the street took any notice of him. Nobody cared.
His hair and clothes were soaked wet already. He felt lonely. Lonely and abandoned. A cute little girl with a white umbrella, patterned with strawberries, came across. She wore a white dress, white socks and red shoes, her hair was placed into two ponytails by red ribbons.
„Why are you crying?", she asked him, honestly concerned. She held her umbrella over the boy's head to protect him from the rain. When the male child looked up at her she could see his bruised face.
The kid stopped crying. He didn't want a girl to see him crying. How humiliating would that be for him?! „I didn't cry!" the boy snapped. „I had to fight with some of my classmates. I showed them who's boss!" His eyes were sparkling slits, and through clenched teeth he added, „You would do well to take my advice and leave."
Instead of leaving the girl sat beside him, not caring her white dress became dirty and wet. „Why you had to fight? And where is your umbrella? Weather forecast said it will be like this today." „Why should I use one? I don't need it. I don't need anything or anyone! I will be somebody someday in this town, you know, and I will accomplish it alone! Go away already!"
Of course, not everything was true. A few of his fellow students followed and dragged the black haired child into a side street. The scared boy held his umbrella tightly to his chest, as if it would protect him that way somehow.
„Hey guys, look who we've got here. It's baby penguin." „My name is Oswald! Not p-penguin!" One boy started to shove the boy with the umbrella. The others followed.
„Stop it!" Oswald yelled at them. „Sorry, we don't understand Penguinish!" All laughed. „And what's up with that stupid umbrella anyway? Why do you always carry one? You are such a creep!" Another guy tried to take the umbrella away from Oswald, but he didn't give in so easily. „Stop it! It's mine!" Since his father's death - he died because of pneumonia - Gertrud, Oswald's mother, insisted he always carries an umbrella with him.
The first raindrops began to fall.
Oswald didn't let go, and so one of the boors punched him into his face first, followed by a hit into his stomach. Oswald convulsed in pain. The second one hit the defenseless boy with his feet, while another thug tugged on his clothes. „And what about your clothes? You always wear so strange clothes. Think you are something better, huh?"
All four kids started to beat the cowering boy up, made fun of him. Desperately Oswald tried to protect himself, his hands slung around hid head.
The first rolling thunder could be heard.
„Awh, mama's boy is down for the count," the one who appears to be the leader said. He spat at boy on the ground. „Go home to your mother and your father and cry. Oh, sorry. Forgot your daddy pegged out already." Everyone laughed again. „So next time, birdy, we want to see you fly. I read penguins can't fly and I want to check whether it's true or not." With that they left, proud and satisfied.
The rain fell down more heavy when Oswald was finally able to move again, and he walked towards the sidewalk, to the crowd. And there he sat. For a long time. He often had to endure a situation like this. Crying he curled up into a ball. His tears mixed up with the rain.
None of these things he told the girl. „Are you still here? I told you to go away!" Shaking her head the girl said, „You are very unfriendly, Mister." „I don't care." „Fine." The voice of a woman could be heard. „_! Come, we have to go!"
The female child gave Oswald a kiss on his cheek and stood up. Completely stunned he looked at her. „I am sorry, I have to go. My mother is waiting for me. Please take care and don't be so grumpy anymore!" With the fingertips of her forefingers she touched her cheeks, gave him a huge smile and showed her teeth, „Smiiiiiiiiiiiile!"
The girl thrusted her umbrella in Oswald's hands and ran away. She turned hear head once, and while running, she waved and shouted towards him to take her umbrella. „I don't need it! Byeeee!"
In disbelief Oswald touched his cheek. It still burned where her lips met his skin. For the first time in his life another person than his mother cared for him. And for the first time in his life he saw something like a light. Upset he looked after her, albeit deeply in his heart he hoped he would meet her again…
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Present time:
Oswald holds a woman in his arms. His eyes are closed, but he is fully awake. Smiling, he's humming a calming song, almost like a lullaby. The female in his arms also smiles. Deep love can be seen on your face as well as on his.
Gently he kisses the top of your head; with one of his hands he tenderly strokes your jowl.
Slowly the sun was rising. Seems like it will be a wonderful, warm day. The sky is clear and blue as the sea. Cloudless. In the air hangs the smell of spring, fresh and flowery.
The pale young man began to talk. „_ _ _ _ _, my dearest. Look, a new day begins. Do you know how much I love you? Promise you stay with me forever. I won't let you go anymore. Never. Can you remember? Our story?" He smiles down at you.