I believe fate tied us together with a double knot…

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Intro

You're not alone
Together we stand

I'll be by your side
You know I'll take your hand.


"Ms Hewley, can Angeal come out to play?"

Gillian Hewley got down on her knees to be on the same height with the slender seven-year-old. "I'm sorry, Genesis, but not today. Angeal has to stay in bed. He's ill."

The light green eyes immediately widened in panic. "Is… is he going to be ok?"

"No need to worry, it's only chicken pox. But he has to stay in bed for a while, and I can't allow you to visit, because you could catch it, too."

According to the look in his eyes, Genesis did not exactly mind that thought; but with an expression far too grown up for his young age, he nodded seriously, thanked her politely and left.

The next day, however, he came back to ask how his friend was doing. The same on the next day. And the day after that. On the forth day, it was raining heavily. Still, Genesis came over as usual.

"Aren't there any other kids you could play with?" Gillian asked. When Genesis slowly shook his head, she felt sorry for the little boy.

"Well, you could come in and sit in the kitchen with me, if you want to."

"Thanks, Ms Hewley."

When they entered the small kitchen together, Gillian could not help but to wonder. She did not like Genesis' wealthy parents at all. Almost nobody in the village of Banora did, anyway. That had been the reason why she initially hadn't been pleased to know that her son was spending all his time with the only child of the Rhapsodos family.

But as soon as she met Genesis for the first time, she changed her mind. This calm, serious, well behaved boy was nothing like she had imagined him to be, and surely not like his parents at all.

She had instantly liked him, and sometimes she even worried if Genesis was behaving too much like an adult person already, being the core opposite of her lively son. To Gillian, that fact was speaking volumes about the different styles both kids were raised in.

On this rainy afternoon, Genesis sat quietly next to her at the kitchen table and read in his book while she was sewing.

When she handed him a cup of tea later, she got a very polite "Thank you so much, Ms Hewley. You didn't have to."

Once again, Gillian could not help but to wonder. In her view, saying something like that would have suited a grown up man, not that small boy with the big green eyes.

Does he ever behave like a child at all? And why is he always so serious? The only time I have ever seen him smiling is when he's with Angeal…

She interrupted her thoughts. "Call me Gillian, Genesis. You are my son's best friend, so I think we should be on first-name terms."

Later, Gillian started to fix some lunch for her son, while Genesis, obviously finished with his book, took one of Angeal's pencils and began to draw something. When she started put everything on a tray to carry it over to her son's room, Genesis handed her his drawing.

"Could you please give that to Angeal, Ms Hew… - Gillian?"

Regarding the picture, Gillian was thunderstruck. It featured the two boys playing outside in the forest, but it looked more like a photograph than the work of a seven-year-old. At the bottom of the paper were two carefully written lines in round, almost calligraphic letters saying: Please get well soon. I miss you.

On the next day, Angeal asked his mother for his set of crayons to draw a reply for his friend. Soon, Gillian was carrying pieces of paper back and forth.

And finally, the week was over and she could allow Genesis to enter her son's room. She would always remember Genesis' bright smile, as if he found something that had been lost for a long time.

He almost jumped on Angeal's bed, embracing his friend with the words: "I missed you soooo much!"

And Angeal hugged him tightly, replying: "I missed you, too, Gennie. It was boring without you."

Later that evening, Gillian entered the room to announce: "It's getting late, and it's already dark outside. I think Genesis should go home, before his parents start to worry."

Genesis looked at her, calm and sincere. "My parents never worry. But you are right, it's getting late. Thanks for everything."

Gillian still thought of that words long after Genesis had left. What a strange little boy… She could not say why she felt at the same time incredibly happy and utterly worried that the two had become that close, being more like brothers than friends.

Little did she know at that time that her former husband was watching the development with great scientific interest…