The sky was a dark blue that night. It's the kind of sky that appears hollow when reflected in your eyes. It was not the kind of night that Lucy Sky was used to, it felt busy for a time she used to find such calmness in. She'd just arrived on the islands by boat but she would need to take a bus in order to get to the dorms where she would begin her new life.
Trying her best to stand up straight, she held firmly onto her suitcase, payed for her ticket, and made her way towards the bus. It was more fancy than she had expected and almost no passengers were aboard. She made her way to the more cramped, but quiet back-end of the bus.
She peered over a small door that appeared to house two adjacent seats. Desiring a better look, she opened the door to find that one was taken. It was a man who's figure appeared quite young, his face disfigured. She caught his attention. She knew it was rude to stare and opted to apologize as she attempted to close the door, seeking to be alone.
"I'm sorry."
"No no, it's fine. Why don't you have a seat?"
"Certainly."
Lucy was uncomfortable but didn't wish to offend. She took her seat and pulled out a paperback she had been reading, trying her best to not look up. It wasn't long before the man attempted to strike up a conversation which Lucy felt obligated to contend with.
"Isn't this nice? Traveling with another person?"
"Certainly."
"Young woman, am I right to say that you have Asian blood? It's your face is all."
"Yes, I'm half Japanese."
"Japanese eh? Know that ol' saying then? I believe it was a Japanese one. It was "In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion."
"I've never heard such a thing."
"What do you think though?"
Lucy brought down her paperback, enclosing her thumb as she closed it to save her spot- intending to get back to it as quickly as possible.
"Whether it rings true or not, has no impact on my own life."
"Why is that? A pretty girl like you must have lots of friends. I'm not sure if I have any myself, it's strange and confusing to say so."
Lucy's eyes appear ambivalent, her mind both annoyed and calm. In lone thought, she would channel her rage and felt uncomfortable with having to communicate with others. To mend her emotions for a purpose other than her goals. She opened her book and looked down as she responded.
"I have no need for friends or companions."
"I see. I'm not really sure what having friends is like, but to deny yourself them; to me that is the saddest thing in the world."
"I'm sorry. I feel as though I am offending you."
"Girl, what is your name?"
"Lucy, sir."
"Lucy I feel as though you have your reasons for the things you say. You seemed saddened but determined in your view. I cannot changed that, and I thank you for your patience with me. Most people don't have that."
"Thank you?"
"If I may ask, why have you come here?"
"I'm a new student, yourself?"
"I'm a teacher, but I'm just here to visit a friend."
The pace of the conversation changed immensely, Lucy found herself looking up, book still open.
"Are you considering teaching here?"
"I'd like to given the kind of place this is, but it's all up in the air."
"I see."
There was a small silence after that. Conversation start, fading in and out throughout the late-night ride. When they reached their destination Lucy helped the man get his luggage down and the two walked out of the bus. Their paths split, but not before the man said one last thing to Lucy.
"It's nice having a traveling companion. It's nice being with people. You may feel as though being alone is fine, but you are surrounded by many wonderful people you haven't met yet everyday. Please don't give up on that."
As he left, she stood there pondering.
(It's too late for me. The only thing I need to do is to achieve my goals, to have my vengeance. It must come at any cost. Even the destruction of my heart and my head).
Lucy headed to the entrance of the dorm. With unwavering determination, she headed inside.
Trying her best to stand up straight, she held firmly onto her suitcase, payed for her ticket, and made her way towards the bus. It was more fancy than she had expected and almost no passengers were aboard. She made her way to the more cramped, but quiet back-end of the bus.
She peered over a small door that appeared to house two adjacent seats. Desiring a better look, she opened the door to find that one was taken. It was a man who's figure appeared quite young, his face disfigured. She caught his attention. She knew it was rude to stare and opted to apologize as she attempted to close the door, seeking to be alone.
"I'm sorry."
"No no, it's fine. Why don't you have a seat?"
"Certainly."
Lucy was uncomfortable but didn't wish to offend. She took her seat and pulled out a paperback she had been reading, trying her best to not look up. It wasn't long before the man attempted to strike up a conversation which Lucy felt obligated to contend with.
"Isn't this nice? Traveling with another person?"
"Certainly."
"Young woman, am I right to say that you have Asian blood? It's your face is all."
"Yes, I'm half Japanese."
"Japanese eh? Know that ol' saying then? I believe it was a Japanese one. It was "In traveling, a companion, in life, compassion."
"I've never heard such a thing."
"What do you think though?"
Lucy brought down her paperback, enclosing her thumb as she closed it to save her spot- intending to get back to it as quickly as possible.
"Whether it rings true or not, has no impact on my own life."
"Why is that? A pretty girl like you must have lots of friends. I'm not sure if I have any myself, it's strange and confusing to say so."
Lucy's eyes appear ambivalent, her mind both annoyed and calm. In lone thought, she would channel her rage and felt uncomfortable with having to communicate with others. To mend her emotions for a purpose other than her goals. She opened her book and looked down as she responded.
"I have no need for friends or companions."
"I see. I'm not really sure what having friends is like, but to deny yourself them; to me that is the saddest thing in the world."
"I'm sorry. I feel as though I am offending you."
"Girl, what is your name?"
"Lucy, sir."
"Lucy I feel as though you have your reasons for the things you say. You seemed saddened but determined in your view. I cannot changed that, and I thank you for your patience with me. Most people don't have that."
"Thank you?"
"If I may ask, why have you come here?"
"I'm a new student, yourself?"
"I'm a teacher, but I'm just here to visit a friend."
The pace of the conversation changed immensely, Lucy found herself looking up, book still open.
"Are you considering teaching here?"
"I'd like to given the kind of place this is, but it's all up in the air."
"I see."
There was a small silence after that. Conversation start, fading in and out throughout the late-night ride. When they reached their destination Lucy helped the man get his luggage down and the two walked out of the bus. Their paths split, but not before the man said one last thing to Lucy.
"It's nice having a traveling companion. It's nice being with people. You may feel as though being alone is fine, but you are surrounded by many wonderful people you haven't met yet everyday. Please don't give up on that."
As he left, she stood there pondering.
(It's too late for me. The only thing I need to do is to achieve my goals, to have my vengeance. It must come at any cost. Even the destruction of my heart and my head).
Lucy headed to the entrance of the dorm. With unwavering determination, she headed inside.