Growing Pains
There was a time when Merlin wanted to disappear. He would pretend to run away, off into the woods he'd go, trying to lose his way. He would wait till the sun was starting to go down, before slowly trailing on back home, head down, wondering what on earth he would say to his mother Hunith. The first time it happened Hunith was out of her head with worry, she and her neighbours went out searching everywhere for Merlin, calling his name. Eventually shame faced he appeared back, his eyes full of tears, Hunith not knowing whether to tell him off or hug him, such was her relief, at finding him.
"Where did you go Merlin?" she asked tears in her eyes, looking straight into his eyes. "I was so worried, please don't do that again."
He wanted to tell her why, to explain, but he felt so ashamed at putting her through such worry, he was unable to. Instead he would stare at her mournfully his blue eyes wide open, staring into hers.
"Never mind my boy, you're here now." Hunith smiled, "we'll have some dinner."
Merlin managed a smile as his mother got to work, he loved to sit at the window, of their little hut, and stare out into the world outside. At least here he could come to no harm, at least here none of the things that happened outside, would happen here.
He felt safe and secure, his mother never far away, always smiling at him. He longed to tell her of his worries, his fears, but he felt so alone at times. He had no idea how she would react, would she think him mad? Maybe even give him away, if she found out what had been happening to him recently. He shuddered at the thought; his mother was everything to him. She'd been there from the start for him, loved him, fed him, everything she did, was for Merlin. He loved her so much, that at times it hurt. Yet he knew that sooner or later he would have to tell her, his biggest fear. A fear so big, that at times, it stopped him sleeping at night. He closed his eyes and longed for the days, when the only thing he worried about, was enough sunlight to play outside in. How innocent those day seemed like now.
The next morning after another sleepless night, Merlin decided that today he must face his fear, and tell his mother of his worries. As if knowing something was wrong, Hunith had sat down by Merlin's side, and ruffled his hair.
"You know how much you mean to me, my boy?" she asked a sad smile on her lips.
Merlin nodded, feeling suddenly very emotional, "I need to talk to you." He said
Hunith nodded "What is it Merlin?" she asked already fearing she knew.
"I don't want you thinking I'm mad," he began, "I'm not –"he paused
"Merlin I would never think that you know that." Hunith implored looking him straight in the eyes.
"I don't know what's going on any more." He began, "Things are starting to happen to me that I don't understand." He said, begging her to understand him.
"What things son?" she asked.
"I can move objects just by looking at them, not only that, but other things, close doors, I even started a fire in the woods. Only by accident, I'm scared mother."
Hunith looked her son in the eyes, "Merlin you are not mad. You have a special talent; you were born with it, magic."
"Magic?" the little boy asked. "I have magic?" he breathed "Why didn't you tell me before?" he asked.
"I suppose I wanted to protect you, not everyone will welcome it, Merlin. Some people fear it, it's important that we keep it a secret."
Merlin nodded suddenly feeling a strange contentment; he had magic he thought to himself. At last he felt the mist begin to clear, from his mind. At last he began to feel that he was not a monster anymore.
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