It is easy to take a life.
The brilliance of their very being snuffed out in mere moments, akin to a candle exposed to turbulent wind.
A light so bright and beautifully anchored within this abyss-like world of his, one couldn't help but think they would be eternally steadfast, flickering in the void for his eyes only; to appreciate until the day he died…
Yet, time and time again he witnessed how fragile they truly are. How their very mortality works against them in uncountable ways.
Certainly, it was enlightening.
Most definitely, it was disheartening.
But, is that not the norm?
'Indeed.' the man summarized. 'For that is the cycle of life.'
Fleeting yet beautiful….
…. And today was no exception.
The wind was gentle, caressing the man's skin in a refreshing breeze that made him unconsciously relax. He could feel the rays of sunlight softly shine on his face, hear the laughter of children in the distance and smell the scent of nature's fragrance all coalescing into a soft hymn of life.
His world was dark indeed, but inwardly he knew his surroundings were vibrant. Filled with magnificence he believed he could never appreciate. Things he could only hear about, but never truly experience.
And that was okay, for him it was enough...
….Yet, his mind betrayed him still, his cursed curiosity forcing his mind to wander.
Was it the grass the tickled the children that caused them to laugh? Maybe the wind did it? Was there flowers nearby that gave off such a pleasant scent? Roses? Perhaps tulips?
What were their colors again?
His curiosity was certainly endless, but who could blame him? After all, he could only really think but never imagine.
For how can a blind man imagine?
The sentence briefly flashed Sylvester's thoughts, snapping him out of his usual tangents. The thought only making himself chuckle, shaking his head out of self pity and amusement. He had already made peace with his disability a long time ago, accepting that this is his own road he must walk. He figured blaming his circumstances and taking it out on those around him was highly counter-intuitive and idiotic.
Something he had learned the hard way himself over the years. After all, one form of joy a blind man could ever have was his own thoughts.
Besides, he loves his life. Despite all the rude remarks he had faced over the years, despite people's misplaced pity on his only way of life; he very much enjoyed it, and will continue to do so until the day he dies.
Why?
Because of his secret!
Indeed, a special little secret that apparently not even other blind men or women have….
He could see life!
"Well… rather than life… I could see their souls? Well I think it's their souls, at least." Sylvester mumbled, thinking out loud as he rubbed his trimmed short beard.
He shook off his thoughts and consciously began to be more aware of his surroundings, turning his head to the only source of children's laughter he had heard earlier. There he saw a couple of brilliant golden flames flickering within the darkness. Watching with a smile as they float and chase each other in what he presumed to be a game of tag.
While the flames do not outline their body or even reveal their silhouettes, Sylvester could still see the uniqueness of each flame; of which he naturally assumed to be a window to their Souls.
A window of opportunity which allowed direct view to the very essence of their being - into their outer and inner self without fail…
…A fun little game of guess who! A joy Sylvester loves to partake in as the sole player. With that thought in mind, he focused his 'sight' onto the first child with gusto.
His years of experience from being the sole player of his own game already found the immature Soul to be quite unique yet similar to those he'd been exposed to before. Glancing at slivers of intense flame with familiar concepts, he began noting the very fiery and explosive energy it radiated off that gave him the impression that the child was quite hot headed and tough outwardly. Strong, even.
Yet, inwardly, it gave off quite the different scene as his mind elatedly tugged at his memories.
Sylvester leaned a little forward, narrowing his eyes to stare more deeply within the distant flames core. There he finally detected the contrast, showing him an enriching, warmer gold that flickered gently, yet seemingly fragile despite the fiery outline.
He smiled as everything clicked, already figuring out the child's character.
'Turns out that child is quite the softy!' Sylvester thought, chuckling in amusement as he turned his gaze to the other child present. Their chase still ongoing as surprisingly the tagged child began slowing down, his flames giving off a less intense glow due to exhaustion…
At least, he thought it was exhaustion.
'This one is not a sporty-type.' He grinned in amusement before finally focusing deeply onto the child's Soul. He narrowed his eyes to once again examine closely…
And just like that, he remained still for a solid minute, his mind unable to register the sight before him.
"Huh? What the hell?" His mouth agape as he blurted out his thoughts.
Sylvester watched with awe at the utter serene nature of its flicker, the ripples from inside and out resonating together as one. Sure, it didn't glow as brilliantly due to the child tiring himself out… but he still couldn't help but marvel at what he was seeing. His gaze locked onto it with intense curiosity, breaking down the flame's tips, outline and core; analyzing the very sparks that crackled with grace from the flame.
It was a complexing flame indeed.
A flame he never imagined a child could possess.
It coalesced in what he assumed to be kindness, bravery, maturity, and something deeper… akin to a stone wall that will never break…
'Resolve? On a child? And Soul Resonance to boot?! ' Sylvester could only stare at the child slack-jawed, his mind already a mess from his former analyses, the latter leaving him utterly shocked. 'His soul is strangely mature as well?! What the hell?'
Although he felt something was missing, he didn't pay attention to it as he focused on the most shocking portion of the child's Soul.
Soul Resonance, a term he coined to explain the phenomenon before him, is a very rare encounter Sylvester had the pleasure of stumbling twice before in his life. The child now being the third.
While he cannot claim to fully understand it, what he had managed to glean and understand from past experiences is that those whose Souls are in Resonance are, for all intents and purposes, true to themselves to their very being. A being no different inwardly and outwardly.
They quite literally take the quote, 'Know thyself' to the next level. Embodying who they are as a person from their very soul.
It was strange sight indeed, and a significance perhaps only he could really understand.
'Truly, life finds a way.' Sylvester could only inwardly sigh in resignation and fulfillment. This child is a reminder to him, an example which brought him more life than he expected within this void-like world of his.
A reminder that he hadn't truly seen everything that life had to offer. Singing a song of promise and joy. Not unlike an ode if he really thought about it!
An ode he could certainly drink to!
"An Ode to Joy!" Sylvester shouted, laughing as he picked up his walking stick and began practically skipping away to his next destination; his favorite bar! He walked away from his spot and down the familiar pathway through the park.
Although he was curious about the boy, it was not his place to pry, and getting a good drink to celebrate his findings took priority.
Totally not an excuse to drink.
Really.
He wandered how wide his smile looked to other people as he walked down the path. However, after walking a short distance, he could not help but feel something behind him, an intent he rarely ever get other than pity and some other more unpleasant thoughts;
Confusion and curiosity.
Sylvester stopped on his tracks and looked back, finding the very same Soul 'looking' at him. The next moment he twisted around fully to get a good look, tripping a little from an unseen rock but gaining his bearings instantly.
He knew without knowing if the child was looking at him, a blessing and a curse from this gift of his.
Perhaps his outburst got the boys attention, perhaps not. But all things considered, giving thanks is a must to his benefactor, it's only right. Even if the other party doesn't know what they had done to earn it.
He smiled kindly and waved to the distant flame, now too far to see it in detail.
"Thanks, little Hero. It was a good flame you had shown me!" Sylvester shouted to the distance, his happiness carried by the winds. "I hope you succeed in whatever you resolved yourself in."
Sylvester gave one last look before turning around and going his merry way, not minding the sense of bewilderment behind him. Calling the child a hero was intentional, as it was funny, since the Soul of the child gave him a very 'Heroic' vibe, hence the little nickname he spontaneously gave to the child.
It was not his place to do so, sure. But, was it funny? Yes, yes it was. At least to him, it's not like they'll meet again any time soon; the world is too large for that.
His thoughts were immediately cut off in the next moment as he stumbled from a small rock that got past his cane once again, catching himself with ease and experience with a large step forward, balancing himself as his mind half-cursed-half-apologized karma and God simultaneously.
Clearing his throat, Sylvester prayed the child didn't see his stumble - a futile endeavor since he could still feel the child's intent slithering on his back. With feigned nonchalance, he once again set off in a brisk pace, as if nothing had happened.
Blissfully unaware of the storm he had set upon the child.
And luckily, his little embarrassment entirely forgotten, too.