{In The 21ST Century}
In the chilly city of Winnipeg, frigid winds whipped through the streets, making it particularly challenging for the young boy to catch his breath.
His cellphone displayed the early hour of 5:21 a.m., indicating that his first day at the University wasn't scheduled until eight in the morning. Elliot was well aware that the unease, the painful sensations, and the constriction in his stomach were to be expected. His friend, Park Sam, had paid a visit the previous evening, both of them brimming with anticipation for their impending student life at their favored 'University of Timberlake.'
They had a delightful conversation, and when dinnertime rolled in, they decided to indulge themselves in a hearty dinner for their over-excitement. Unbeknownst to Sam, Elliot hadn't disclosed the worsening condition of his stomach cancer. He deliberately consumed more than he should, all to ensure that their little gathering was filled with joy rather than endless concerns about his health.
Elliot's selflessness went above and beyond, which was a testament to his inherently sweet and caring nature.
Elliot found himself perched on his bed, bathed in the gentle glow of moonlight filtering through his window. The room was small and shrouded in darkness, and it was where he resided alone. His parents had passed away shortly after his eighth birthday, leaving him as an orphan at a very tender age.
To sustain himself, Elliot toiled diligently at his friend's café. His friend's parents compensated him generously as they ensured that he could maintain a semblance of a normal life.
While Elliot might have never accepted such assistance, Sam discovered the truth about Elliot's stomach cancer a little later on. Learning of his childhood friend's plight, Sam was determined to extend any possible help to the boy he considered no less than a brother. Sam's parents shared this resolve, as they, too, were eager to assist the fractured young boy in any possible way they could.
The doctors had laid out a regimen of tests and medications that Elliot had to adhere to if he wished to keep the embers of life burning within him. They even implored Sam to ensure that Elliot didn't encounter undue stress, as it could potentially exacerbate the pain in his stomach or worsen his cancer than it already was.
Contrary to this advice, Elliot chose to immerse himself in hard work, striving to prove that he wasn't merely taking advantage of the generosity of Sam's parents. He pushed himself to the limits both at work and in his studies, as the latter aimed at securing scholarships to cover his education expenses independently.
Even though Sam's parents regarded him as their own, Elliot couldn't shake the persistent sense of being a weight on someone else's shoulders.
Elliot had been managing well until one unfortunate day when he unexpectedly began coughing up blood.
The uncontrollable bleeding sent him into a panic, causing him to lose consciousness in his living room. If it weren't for Sam, who had a spare key and happened to be visiting at that very moment, Elliot's life could have hung in the balance. This incident left the doctors deeply concerned for the young man's well-being, revealing that Elliot had developed a panic disorder. This diagnosis meant that panic attacks, which could further harm his delicate stomach, might become a recurring issue.
Fearing for his fragile friend's life, Sam became increasingly protective of Elliot.
This was because of one misstep, and Elliot could crumble like a little fragile glass he was.
After sitting for an extended period while remembering the past events of his life, Elliot soon realized that his pain wasn't subsiding; in fact, it was intensifying.
Hastily, he made his way to the bathroom, where he coughed and spat blood into the sink. After several minutes of this distressing ordeal, he cleaned himself up and the blood, feeling drained, and left the bedroom to descend the stairs to enter the kitchen.
Elliot filled a glass with water from the dispenser and retrieved his medication from the cabinet above the shelves. He downed the pills with a sip of water, though his breathing was heavy. Afterward, he returned to his room, where he clutched his mobile in his clammy hand. His bed was slightly disheveled. Switching on the phone, he checked the time.
With just seventeen minutes remaining until the clock struck six in the morning, he released a sigh. He decided to refresh himself for the new day at the university by taking a warm shower, and so he made his way to the bathroom to get ready.
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Once he was ready, Elliot checked the time, finding it to be only 6:30 in the morning. He realized he had a considerable amount of time before his classes at the university began. Gazing at his reflection in the mirror, he let out a sigh. His pale and slender form didn't look too bad in his white hoodie and light blue jeans paired with white sneakers.
A faint smile touched his lips at his reflection as he mustered the courage to keep himself upright, even though he was painfully aware of how frail he appeared and barely holding himself together on unsteady legs.
Elliot slung his black bag over his right shoulder, left his small house, and locked the door behind him. He made his way to the bus stop, knowing the path to the 'University of Timberlake' would take approximately thirty minutes. He didn't have to worry, though; he'd have ample time to explore and find his classes before the university day started.
As the bus pulled up, Elliot donned his headphones and began listening to melancholic music as he boarded, moving toward the rear of the bus. He chose a window seat and stared blankly out at the passing scenery.
In the solitude of his thoughts, he pondered, 'What did I ever do to deserve this? This cancer, the absence of family, and the persistent embarrassment I feel whenever Sam and his parents extend their helping hands. I sometimes wish I could just end it all, escaping this pain and humiliation. But then, I can't bring myself to do it because my mother wouldn't be proud of her son. What am I supposed to do?' As the music softly played in the background, only his internal reflections resonated aloud in his mind.
Before Elliot could dwell further on the faded canvas of his life, the bus came to a halt by the designated stop, signaling that he would have to continue on foot to reach his university. Stepping out of the bus, he embarked on the six-minute walk to the 'University of Timberlake,' his destination from the bus stop.
The brief stroll passed in the blink of an eye. Upon entering the university gates, every gaze seemed to converge on Elliot, fixing on him as though he were a rare sight.
A nervous lump formed in Elliot's throat as he swallowed hard, the weight of those collective stares pressing down on him.
He treaded through a gauntlet of lingering eyes, each glance dissecting him in ways he couldn't fathom, accompanied by hushed murmurs that swirled around like leaves in the wind.
'Is there something peculiar about me? Maybe it's because I'm new here... perhaps,' Elliot pondered to himself, though his response did little to quell the unease that clung to him like an unwanted companion.
Nevertheless, he persevered, the weight of anxious anticipation pooling in his chest.
Too self-conscious to meet the gazes of his fellow students, Elliot kept his eyes firmly trained on the ground, his shyness an insurmountable wall between him and the inquisitive stares that seemed to follow his every step.
With determination in his stride, Elliot pressed on into the building, steadfastly ignoring the impolite behavior and stares of the people around him. Upon reaching the office of the principal, he politely rapped on the door and was met with a gentle "come in." As he entered, his presence immediately drew the principal's focus.
The principal's gaze lingered on him, bearing an air of uncertainty as if questioning his presence. Nonetheless, Elliot brushed off any discomfort and proceeded to introduce himself formally with a warm, respectful smile, considering her elderly appearance.
A gentle smile graced Elliot's lips as he approached the principal. "Good day, Mrs. Walker," he said cordially. "I've come to retrieve my student identification and the keys to my locker if you wouldn't mind."
"Ah, Elliot Amell! Please, have a seat," the principal cordially invited, her tone masking a hint of unease. Elliot settled into the chair and shook her hand in return, a gesture of appreciation. As he sat there, the principal retrieved his schedule and his student ID from a desk drawer and handed it to him, along with his locker number and keys.
Elliot accepted the items, rising from his seat to express his gratitude and prepare to leave. However, he paused when the principal offered some soft words of advice.
"Listen, son, should you ever encounter any difficulties or feel troubled by anyone or anything, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'm here to help, all right?"
Elliot's smile held a sincerity that reflected in his eyes as he nodded in response. "Yes, Mrs. Walker. I understand," he replied with a reassuring tone.
With an endearing and innocent smile, Elliot nodded in acknowledgment as he then left the grand, expansive room.
As Elliot strolled toward his locker, he deftly inserted the key and stowed away his various textbooks, selecting only his essential business books for the upcoming classes. After securely closing his locker, he turned around and found himself ensnared by a pair of fiery, ominous eyes fixed upon him.
An involuntary shiver coursed through Elliot, and a nervous gulp betrayed his unease, for he found himself deeply uncomfortable under the scrutinizing gaze of the numerous onlookers. A panoramic survey of the hall revealed a sea of eyes, some glaring at him with disdain, others filled with anticipation, and some bearing a sinister gleam.
Elliot found himself at a loss, pondering the reasons behind this sudden focus on him, which had transformed him into the unwitting centerpiece of their attention. It struck him as rather odd that they chose to engage in this peculiar and unsettling spectacle of unabashed staring and open murmuring instead of partaking in more enjoyable activities.
The mounting intensity of their collective gaze began to unsettle him, and he couldn't shake the growing apprehension that unless they relented, it might trigger an anxiety attack.
What heightened Elliot's distress the most was when the surrounding students wouldn't come to stop their predatory gaze, leaving him feeling hemmed in between the lockers and a wall of peers since the tension was thick in the air; it almost made Elliot think as if they were closing onto him even when they stayed glued in their spots a little further away from where he stood.
The atmosphere was akin to a group of predators who had stumbled upon their most cherished prey after a prolonged absence.
'What's going on? Why won't they stop staring at me? They're like as if something… misfit just walked in'. It was a thought that crossed Elliot's mind at that moment.
As if that 'something misfit'… was him.
It sent a chilling shiver down Elliot's spine, and the young man found himself at a complete loss, so he decided to just leave.
He had never encountered such a bewildering and intimidating situation before, and it left him utterly perplexed. Overwhelmed with trepidation and confusion, he was rendered speechless, his body trembling uncontrollably. The looming threat of a panic attack hovered dangerously close as it threatened to engulf him.
Was it always like this? Or is it this bad because Sam wasn't with him? Elliot couldn't help but ponder aimlessly because he wasn't even sure if he had missed something within the details or not.
But just when it seemed as though he was about to succumb to the mounting fear, the inexplicable phenomenon came to an abrupt halt. The crowd of onlookers ceased their stares at him, their collective gaze shifting to the far end of the hallway while a few of them even started to evacuate the hall in a hurry.
Before him stood a young woman, her attire exuding a casual yet fashionable vibe, with her long, wavy hair cascading down her back. Her choice of a grey sweatshirt, black ripped jeans, and grey sneakers was stylishly effortless, but an air of authority and power surrounded her.
As Elliot grappled with the bewildering turn of events, the girl advanced with a stern countenance, prompting a collective bow from the few surrounding and remaining students as if she were... royalty. This left Elliot utterly perplexed, struggling to comprehend the dominance exuded by the brunette girl, though he didn't dwell on it for long as he thought of his tired mind playing tricks on him- which wasn't a rare case in his tired life.
Approaching with an air of confidence, the brunette girl halted in front of Elliot, maintaining a comfortable distance. She graced him with a small, friendly smile."Greetings," she began, "I'm Luna Silverton. And I'll be your guide for today." Elliot looked at the girl before him with a questioning gaze as he blinked in indecision.
Luna. It sounded so obscure and beautiful yet... secretively destructive.
The recent unsettling experience had already put him on edge.
Following her introduction, the entire hallway dispersed, engaged in hushed conversations about him and the enigmatic girl.
Nevertheless, Elliot remained oblivious to his surroundings as he was entranced by the mesmerizing silver eyes of Luna, who had unexpectedly grounded him in his place and who even had made Elliot's heartbeat a tad bit louder even when it was their first encounter, rendering Elliot as innocent as ever for not noticing the reason behind his escalating heartbeat.
Perhaps subtle details and nuances were eluding the notice of someone as naive and innocent as him, much like a spider's web that remains invisible until you inadvertently stumble into it.
However, all Luna could dwell on was the singular realization that meeting with him for the first time hadn't been as unpleasant as she had initially believed.