CHAPTER 2
His mind jumped back to his childhood. He was a dreamer, a loner, immersed in his imagination, someone the other kids shun away from. He would spend time on his own ?ingesting? knowledge while others played. It seems it helped cushion the emotional blows his peers would subject him to relentlessly, for, appearing normal was a struggle he would often lose.
There was nothing he wasn?t interested in and often sought the company of adults for conversation's sake. It attracted puzzled looks but he was safe from the school bullies while it lasted.
Celestial bodies were begging to be observed. He had repeatedly bothered his parents for the latest star-gazing tools, the first of which was presented to him on his 6th birthday. Now he owns a state-of-the-art instrument that he acquired on his own.
He focused his device on one of the brightest blue star in our part of the galaxy, he was mesmerized, and then to the constellation that looks like a scorpion with its red giant. In an ancient creed, being born under the influence of that system granted you a keen intelligence and an avid curiosity, he thought.
An aircraft was flying over in silence, presenting its sleek underbelly to the onlooker. He was living alone in that tiny place, which gave him freedom and time for his nocturnal activities. Tomorrow he would have to work, but tonight was his, a feeling of serenity engulfed him.
Exploring the unknown provided him with time to reflect upon his life, his difficulties, his relationships. He had had girlfriends in the past but it was all so complicated, everybody?s hurt feelings were getting in the way. His true love had always been his childhood neighbor with her long flowing hair and her sparkling eyes, unfortunately these eyes were on someone else now.
He reflected upon how he had ended up with this kind of life. Was it because of many bad choices, or a lack of courage? It wasn?t the life he had hoped for.
He had successfully passed his diplomas, yet his difficulties interacting with people had doomed a promising career. He was always seen as being too everything, even his qualities were frown upon.
The large crossed-shaped constellation was glorious tonight. stretching its arms across the firmament, it made him feel incredibly romantic. The beautiful neighbor popped up in his mind as she often would.
Why was he always so awkward around people? Doctors told his parents he was too intelligent to be socially adjusted.
Shouldn't being smart help one understand others better ? Or was it the rest of the population who could not get him?
Was he simply something else ?
The job he eventually landed wasn?t very exciting, he had to compile data for the city mayor. The salary was alright, but his soul was crushed by the tedious occupation, and his dreary co-workers.
All they cared about was the local sports teams, and air-head broads.
He had friends but the relationships were superficial as they couldn't begin to penetrate the depth of who He was as a person.
He felt almost alien around most people, maladjusted, awkward, like an earthbound bird of prey, diminished by his difference and yet empowered by it simultaneously, soaring when the eyes of judgement were averted, emboldened by his aloneness to be ... Himself at last.