Madeleine looked flabbergasted at the stranger sitting on the wooden bench, his face completely covered by the black and stiff fabric.
He was wearing what seemed to be old rags. His hands were bandaged seriously and covered in a dark mixture Madeleine couldn't identify because of the darkness surrounding both of them.
As she listened carefully, Madeleine caught some bribes of information concerning the weird dialogue occurring between the person's invented characters.
"Ugly…"
"Personality…"
"Monster…"
"Love…"
He was speaking in such a low voice Madeleine had to stop moving on the seesaw to catch a simple sound and assumed she had heard correctly. Judging by what she had heard so far, the person wasn't from Canada, since she had a strong accent she couldn't associate to a country in particular.
Madeleine observed the strange shadow as if some of her physical traits could help her trace his origin. She noticed long loose bangs covering the major parts of his head which was bent low hiding his full face. The darkness couldn't help her decipher its colour, but she still assumed they were darker than simply brown.
Madeleine finally decided to drop down of the seesaw in a noiseless jump. As if on cue, the stranger lifted up his head, and even though Madeleine couldn't see fully his face, she knew that under those bushy bangs, the person was glancing at her. What type of look he was sending her, that, she couldn't identify, but somehow, it made her feel uncomfortable. As if these eyes could not only pierce her simple clothes, but even go deep within her soul.
The first image that came to her mind was that of a young person she had read about in some fiction book, which eyes were deep black pearls that seemed empty. Yet, if you looked closely, you could see a burning flame in them, in that case, the burning of love and compassion.
But she doubted it was the case with this weirdo.
Madeleine managed some quiet steps. Even if she wanted to escape his glance, and get out of the shelter that had quickly became a prison of fear in the instant of a few seconds, she had to go past him, the only entrance to that park beside her. Gulping and breathing hard, Madeleine took more rapid steps closing in the distance separating them.
The silence was unbearable.
So was his glare which she could feel as the chill making the hair on her arms rise all at once.
The gate was mere steps away from her as much as what she considered a potential danger for her life.
She kept on walking, not breaking her eye contact with what stood beside the iron gate. As her sweaty palm touched the cold metal of the barrier slightly opened for her to pass, she observed the person moving, slowly standing up.
This was her signal. She sprinted out of the place faster than she thought she could. The fear was caught up in her throat, keeping her cry from escaping her lips safely inside.
Her home in view, Madeleine managed a quick glanced back to see if the shadow was following her. She felt relief submerged her as the view was clear of anybody. Entering her house, quickly brushing her teeth and changing into her lucky pajamas, not bothering to wash, she slipped in bed, wiping the fresh sweat covering her face in her warm jasmine scented covers.
The rush of adrenaline slowly leaving her body and the security of the walls protecting her crashing in, she felt the sleep clawing at her and let herself go, not realizing the effort it had taken her to maintain a certain control on her actions.
-X-
She decided to go back, again at night.
Even though she felt it was a bad idea.
Because there was no way a stranger would keep her away from her little shelter.
No way she gave what felt like home because of fear.
She was tired of being a coward and not confronting the real problems she would have to face one day.
It was time for her to fight for what she loved no matter the consequences.
With that train of thoughts, she entered the park.
Concentrated on the stranger that might pop out of thin air, she didn't notice the slippery ground nor did she understood when the world vacillated and went dark for a few seconds.
She lifted her head, pain thumping like a heartbeat against her skull.
Her butt was on the floor, sand scraping her hands as the person was standing above her. She wanted to scream, seeing her life passing in front of her as she thought she might die on the spot.
Or worse.
Madeleine closed her eyes, preparing for whatever was going to happen to her in the next seconds, her body unable to move, frozen by fear.
She waited.
And waited.
But nothing came.
With a surge of courage, she slowly managed to open her eyes. The scene in front of her might have been enough to make her faint.
The person was still standing beside her, a palm reaching out to help her up.
Madeleine didn't move.
The stranger seeing the fear in her eyes and the way her chest heaved up fast practically making her hyperventilate, backed up a bit and rested his butt back on the bench. The next second, he was hugging his knees firmly and rocking slightly murmuring things so low, that even with Madeleine's proximity to him, she couldn't identify a single word.
Madeleine stared, waiting for the worst to come as she was laying there defenseless.
But the stranger didn't even try a move in her direction.
That's weird…
Madeleine started thinking about the whole thing, wondering if she might have been mistaken on the intentions of the person.
Thinking it through, still stuck to the ground by fear, she decided to test out her theory. Gulping noisily and breathing evenly to calm her body shaking, she moved her tongue against her teeth trying to humidify her mouth that was dry as a desert.
"You" she managed, looking straight at the bangs which she supposed were hiding his eyes.
No answer
"You there" she continued, this time managing to point at the person's chest.
No answer
"You speak English? She tried yet again, as a terrible feeling of doing the wrong thing was gnawing at her limbs.
He nodded.
First answer, man this was going to be long.
Madeleine, then tried to think about something to tell him, but nothing came to her mind. It was all blank.
She opened her mouth and let the first words that came out of it to start up a conversation.
That way, she thought, I might be able to buy myself some time until my body works again…
"What's your favourite color?"
Realizing what she had just asked, even with the fear, she managed to feel the fire burning her whole face at the stupidity of her question. She felt as if the stranger could even see how bright red her cheeks were at the moment.
"Black" answered a grave voice, which was pretty ironic considering he was wearing an all-black outfit, at least judging by what Madeleine's eyes perceived.
But what had caught the most her attention wasn't actually the answer, but mostly the tone of the voice that had answered it.
It was soft, yet really low and totally impossible for a girl to own.
"You're a guy" Madeleine squeaked as the surprise of reality hit her plainly.
Nod.
"Well I'm a girl" she responded, the only thing she could think of.
Stupid.
"Okay" he answered, something in his voice pointing out a restrained laugh.
"What's your name?" she inquired, trying to pick up the broken pieces of her honour scattered farther away from her at each and exact word she pronounced.
"Satan" he answered
"Kinda unconventional" Madeleine commented.
Nod.
"What made your parents think of that name?" she whispered.
"Not my real name"
As Madeleine was about to formulate another question he continued:
"People call me this way when they see me"
Madeleine's heart stopped for a second.
"YOU'RE A CRIMINAL?" she screamed finally regaining her voice, which surprised the man slightly.
"Sort of…"
"POLICE! SAVE ME!"
The man pressed quickly his hand to her mouth, blocking the screams and turning them into mere groans.
"The police won't arrest me. I didn't do anything illegal. I just regret some parts of my past alright!"
Madeleine slowly regained her composure, enough for him to leave her mouth alone.
She managed to stagger away from his reach.
"Don't touch me you filthy criminal."
Madeleine swore she saw hurt flash trough his face even though it was hidden by hair.
The man sighed heavily.
"Don't come near me or I swear the cops will come after you and this time you will go to jail and be accused of doing something illegal."
"What am I doing wrong?"
"First you talk to me and then you shut me out with that bandaged hand of yours. I better not be sick or you'll feel sorry!"
"Hold on a minute, you are the one who started this whole talking thing and I didn't have a choice but to make you shut your mouth or the cops would have thought that I was molesting you or something"
"Because that wasn't was you were planning on doing?" she shot back
"Of course not! Do I look that suspicious?"
"Says the creepy dude talking to himself in different voices, alone on a bench, all dressed in black in the middle of the night."
No answer
"It's actually four in the morning" he finally answered, not losing his composure but still trying not to tarnish his honour.
Wow.
"You really are annoying. Anyway, I am going home! Don't even think about following me"
"Not really what I was planning on doing"
"Liar"
"You think I like following little kids home or what?" he shot back insulted by the liar statement.
"Maybe, who knows what strange hobbies you are into"
"Look, I like kids, but not in that way"
"You surely are not helping your case right now."
"I like women alright!"
"Good for you. I actually like people my age."
"What do you mean"
"Judging by your voice you are what… Twenty? Maybe you should think about getting yourself a girl around that age, not forty or more... Just a friendly advice"
"For your information I am twenty-one!"
"You talk like a three year old"
"And you like a…"
"Go flirting with your cougar women. I am going to sleep."
"Better get yourself a nice job…"
Madeleine turned around, hatred flashing in her brown eyes.
Another one trying to turn my dream down without even knowing it…
"After all, the guy that will be stuck with you will need all the money on Earth to endure you!" He said and slouched in a sleeping position on the bench.
"You will still be sleeping on benches when I will be the most popular violinist known from all around the world."
And with that, she left.
-X-
Madeleine woke up, guilt ripping her soul to shreds. Maybe that man she had seen last night was homeless. It was a cruel thing to wish him to stay poor… Horrible.
"I called in another college. Because of your excellent grades, they are ready to get you a place in the science and math enrich program." A familiar voice told her from the door of her room.
"Then I shall call right away because it wouldn't be really nice to never show up right, after all of the efforts, they did to save a place for me. "
"That is not an option. You don't have a choice. Science will get you a nice job. You will have money and you will be happy. You have the talent to accomplish everything you want to be. Don't make such a terrible mistake. Do you really wish to end up in the streets like…"
"Look at our family. I could have anything that I wish for, even a car. You are rich, but are you happy? "
"…"
"No you are not and you want to know why? Because you are not living in a happy marriage. Mom only chose you for your money and even though you deny it, you know I am right. You try to forget the number of time she cheated on you with other guys, just because you are afraid to be alone. She is only using you and your money…"
"…"
"Are you happy to do a pricy job that you hate? Don't pretend! I hear you each and every morning whining about how boring your job is! But you are right! We don't live in the streets and we can have any material things we want!"
"…"
"But have you thought about the things that cannot be bought? A career in music which necessitates a whole lot of hardworking, for example. Or maybe love between two people regardless of their genders? Or family bonding? No you haven't! Because you still think that forcing me into choosing a pricy career over the one I would love to do is the right choice to make. And to be honest, I am sick of it!"
"You will start in two weeks"
Screaming her lungs out, Madeleine ran out of the house.
She entered the park and swung on the seesaw furiously.
As tears poured on her cheeks, she slowly took in her surroundings.
She looked at the little kids playing with their parents, wide smiles on their mouths, cheeks red from the running and happiness. She heard their gentle laughs as they ran everywhere, never stopping to even catch their breaths.
The air was filled with their joy and somehow, it made her stop crying.
It made her wish to someday be in that park, with a loving husband and many kids. And, as she would play the violin, their father would form a circle with them and make them dance on the melody she had created. They would accompany her with their cute little singing and endless laughs…
She smiled.
And suddenly, she caught a black shadow resting on the same bench as yesterday.
His head was propped in his open palm. The sun was barely catching a bit of his tan skin. And yet something else made her look even more. Something she hadn't noticed back then in the dark. His full mouth was curled upward showing off bright white teeth.
He was smiling broadly looking at the little kids running.
The grin wasn't mean though. It was childish and so wide she could fully see all of his front teeth.
Somehow, it didn't look out of place at all either. The way it fitted so perfectly on his face as he looked at the young ones running as if somehow it had always meant to be there…
She could feel an aura of joy surrounding him, slowly dispersing the somber one she thought was permanently by his side.
And it was beautiful.