Lethal sun, envious moon

Cid

When Shalua told me that my son was making huge progress in his therapy and his physical condition was improving I was totally shocked. I was unable to make a decision whether to go see him or not. A part of me wanted to be there for him and express my support but the other part said not to go and stay away because I knew how he thought about me. After a messed up meeting and a very annoying migraine my secretary practically begged me to have some rest. So I took my stuff, told my copter to get prepared and asked my assistant not to notify me unless if there was an emergency. I left without even trying to think rationally.

Because of the medicine for the headache I was unable to fly on my own so Rude, my personal bodyguard, had to do it for me. The flight was quiet and steady, there were no incidences whatsoever. The silence in the cockpit was heavy and oppressive – it seamed like all the bad thoughts I was too busy to think about pressed on my head at the same time. I was trying very hard to think what to say to him but I had no idea how to communicate with my reclusive son. I knew very little of him and I was sure I wasn't the only one – he hadn't let anyone close to him since the day he lost his mother. If only I'd noticed sooner...

I only remember little pieces from that time. I tried to keep my newly born company on the surface for my newly born family. I didn't want my wife and my child to live in dearth so I worked hard day and night just for them. All my attention was on "Highwind Airways" so I practically didn't sleep or eat during that time. I was only skin and bones... But the most damage was done to my beloved ones. I missed out all important things like his first steps or his first words...and the fact that my wife was getting weaker.

After a while my hard work started to pay off and I managed to spend some time home. First it was a little odd that my 3 year old son didn't recognize me and started to cry when I tried to hold him. Inside I hoped he would get used to me and in some ways he did. Soon we were able to play and laugh together like a father and a son should but as the years passed I knew Cloud still thought of me as a stranger.

Cloud was very shy and naïve but surprisingly independent when he was growing up. He didn't have a lot of friends nor was he very socializing. He was strong and healthy with good physical prerequisites but he chose not to show them. I was already getting concerned but somehow I found out about his passion for martial arts and that he was secretly practicing. I never said a word on his 10th birthday when he found his present - a set of equipment and a full suit in his room. All I remember was the smile on his face and how he thanked me just before stepping out from the front door. Cloud started having lessons with a tutor, his grades went better, his lifestyle got healthier, he even had some friends with similar interests.

Life seamed perfect for a couple of years- I had achieved everything I had hoped for and even more. And then came the terrible shock – my dear wife, who had struggled and hid her bad condition for some time told us about her tumour. She started having blurred vision but when she went to the doctor to check her eyes they found out that the real problem was in her head. I had been too busy and maybe a bit euphoric to see that she was acting weird and having troubles. But the moment she told me my whole world collapsed.

The only cure was a very dangerous surgery with a highly risk loosing her memory and the able of taking care of herself. I was so afraid of it I started searching alternatives. She tried so many possibilities and treatments that I lost count. It was like an endless rollercoaster – some things made her better, some worse. I felt guilty for treating her like a lab rat. But she went trough it all without complaining. She smiled calmly right to the end, excepting her destiny. All I could do was smile back while breaking up inside.

All that time we spent travelling around the world chasing the wind Cloud had to stay at home. We decided that it would have been too difficult for him to continue his studies while moving from one place to another. So I was thorn up between work, my sick wife and my teenage son. I cursed at life, god and everything else that seamed to be guilty for my miserable life.

Finally we stopped hoping on herbs and voodoo, they were only slowing down the tumours growth. And when we were finally prepared for a surgery the doctors said it was too late - it had went too deep into the brain that it was impossible to cut it. I was stubborn and somehow convinced her to go through the procedure. The only reason she did it was to give us the last hope. She knew it was only going to make her suffer longer.

And she was right. The surgery was a total failure with only bad results. She couldn't use the right side of her body correctly anymore and she was having memory problems. She had approximately 6 months when we moved to the mansion where we had spend our previous summers. Cloud somehow got into university, my wife spent her time in the garden and I tried to make our time as happy and pleasant as possible. Being together was the only thing that mattered.

We finally felt like the kind of a family we were shown in the media. As a successful businessman my private life was examined multiple times and we tried to look our best. But when the info about my wife's illness leaked I was furious and rejected all interviews and comments. There were many nasty rumours going one during that time, the worst version was definitely the one where I had supposedly poisoned my wife to marry my secretary...

While I was reminiscenceing I hadn't noticed that we had landed and that Reno was calling me. "...sir, sir...we are here." He said and grabbed my shoulder. I simply nodded and opened the door. "Take it away. A temptation to fly back is the last thing I need now." Just as I was about to close the door, Reno started speaking. "Sir, not that it is any of my business, but you should try to talk with your son...you know, get to know him. You won't have another chance." I was shocked, his words were like a slap in the face. But even more, the fact that he knew what had gone on in my head minutes ago concerned me. "Sir, you were mumbling during the flight...I apologize." He explained looking down. "Oh..." I whispered trying to imagine what was it like for him and started laughing. I knew Reno must have been thinking I had gone crazy but I didn't care. I just took my stuff from the back and walked to the house. The sound of the impellers and the sudden strong wind were surprisingly relieving, like a part of my burden had flown away.

I stopped and looked at the huge white mansion. Suddenly I noticed every detail – the complex pattern of the carvings, the smoothness of the stones, the precision and the proportion. It was a true masterpiece. After a minute I made my way to the house but I stopped near the hedge because I was sure there was someone behind it talking. I dropped my suitcases and went towards the voices coming from the garden. When I went closer I recognized one of the speakers as Shalua and the other was Cloud. They were standing near a huge flower bed full of lilies.

"...if you don't know what's wrong then no one does." Cloud crossed his arms standing firmly: He looked just like he did before the surgery, if not better. "But there is absolutely no explanation to it. I mean...look at her." Shalua said pointing to her right. "She should be totally fine, but she is not!" And then I looked past Shalua where she had pointed. There was figure sitting on the ground with a wheelchair nearby. She had the longest hair I had ever seen meandering all around her. I was just staring at the beautiful stranger when she was examining something on her palm poking it with her finger.

Then Shalua turned her head and noticed me lurking. "Cid, what are you doing here?" She called to me catching Cloud's attention. At first he was surprised but that expression turned to disappointment very quickly. I walked out of the shadow with no idea what to say. "Hello, son." There words came like from the bottom of a well. His "Hello, father" had the exact same sound, followed by silence.

"It's getting late...let's go inside..."Shalua suggested looking at the sky that had turned pink. Cloud nodded and marched to the stranger probably to help her to the cahir. He was just about to lift her up when she raised her hand. The girl placed her palms on the ground and slowly pushed her weight to her knees. Then she was able to put her foot on the ground and stand up. A smile appeared to her face just before she lost her balance and collapsed. Luckily, Cloud was close enough to catch her.

I turned to Shalua who foresaw my questions. "Let's talk inside..."