Laughter could be heard ringing through the halls. It was not playful laughter. It was laughter full of mock and hate. "Look at that creep!" They would say. "He's such a loner!" Words of insults rung through his head but Paton didn't care. He was used to it but he wasn't used to the pain and hurt it gave him.

The 12 year old boy in his blue cape would march down the halls, head placed firmly down, not wanting to meet anyone else's eyes. Insults and whispers would surround him as soon as he would walk by. Why did people do this to him? He didn't know. Maybe it was because he hid himself, maybe it was because he shutted himself away from everyone else. But why would they care? "Leave me alone!" Paton would shout at them.

On the weekends when Paton was allowed to be at home he would shut himself up in his room. He had no friends, he had no life. He didn't care what others thought of him. They thought he was a creep. "Who cares what they think?" Paton told himself. Even though he said this, deep down in his heart, Paton did care.

One day, one dark rainy day, Paton couldn't take it any longer. Paton through himself onto his bed and cried. He pulled his knees up towards his chest and folded his arms over them. He continued to let tears flow from his eyes. He hid his face into his folded arms and cried. This was very unusual, Paton never cried. This was his first in 5 years. The last time he cried was when he was 7 years old, hiding under a tree, mourning over the lost of a loved one; his mother.

Knock knock.

A soft thump could be heard knocking outside Paton's door.

"Paton are you all right?" A familiar male voice called.

No response.

"I'm coming in Paton." The door opened and a man with dark hair and grey eyes entered.

James Yewbeam watched as his son shifted his legs closer to his chest as he continued to cry. "Paton.." James Yewbeam said softly. Why did his son always have to suffer? James walked over to his son and but an arm around his shoulder. "Paton what's wrong? Tell me.. please." James asked softly. Paton wouldn't say and continued to shake as he held in his tears. James could feel his son shake from under his arm.

"Hush.. it's okay to cry. Let it all out." James Yewbeam said as he gently brushed his son's hair. So Paton did. He let his tears flow down his cheeks and down to his chin. He cried for 10 full minutes before saying something.

"The other kids think I'm a freak." Paton said as he finally lifted up his head. "I never go out. I never talk. And because of that they think I'm some sort of monster who has no friends." Paton quickly brushed away his tears with the sleeve on his shirt. "In a way.. I guess I am a monster." Paton clenched his fists and glared angrily at his wall.

"Don't say that. You're just as normal as them." His father told him.

Paton turned his angry glare at his father and yelled, "Do you think exploding light bulbs is normal!?"

James was taken aback from his son's angry glare and then said, "No-" But before he could finished his sentence Paton interrupted and said "I'm not normal. Our whole family isn't normal. The Yewbeams are never normal. Sometimes I wish I was never born into this stupid family!" Paton gave one last angry glare at his father and then looked down to the ground.

James Yewbeam didn't know what to say after that last comment. "Do... Do you really feel that way?" James asked after a moment of silence. Paton then realised that he hurted his father's feelings. "Dad.. Look, I didn't mean it like that.. I.." Paton choked on his next words and fell silent as tears began to build up again. "I just hate my life. I don't like being endowed. It's just a big burden." Paton said quietly. "I can't even go out and hang out like other kids."

Another moment of silence followed after this comment.

"Dad?" Paton asked breaking the silence. "Yes, son?"

"Will I ever be able to go out like other kids? You know.. go out like a normal person.. in daylight." Paton looked up at his father as he waited for an answer.

"Only time could tell." Was all his father could say.