Chapter 90: A Peek Into The Past (2)
Fourteen years ago....
The sun had just set over the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the sky. The calm waters of the river beneath the bridge reflected the gentle hues of the sky, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. The streets of the upper East quarters were sometimes empty in these parts, making it the best place for someone to take a walk if they felt like they needed some alone time to themselves.
But amidst this tranquility, there sat a little boy on the edge of the bridge. His natural curly hair fluttered with the breeze as he remained where he was, looking unaffected by the long height below his feet for someone his age.
His side profile already gave away his adorable charms, one that was so eye-catching that it made people stop to do a double take on who could have birthed such a dainty-looking child.
But once it became clear who the child was, everyone stayed away since he was considered illegitimate by the duchess herself. Besides that, his unruly actions that had been rumored across the upper East quarters was enough warning that alerted the passersby to keep moving and never go near him.
The little boy who was known to be Cassian by name, continued to stare blankly into the deep river, his small legs dangling over the side as he studied how high the bridge was from where he sat to the running river below. It was a river even an adult would find his/herself struggling to escape from if they end up falling into it, talk more of a mere child like himself.
And that was his main goal for coming to the bridge.
His mesmerizing face was solemn, and warm tears were streaming down his cheeks, yet he made no effort to cry them out as his hands balled into little fists. His eyes were filled with sadness and pain- something beyond his young age.
The sun continued to set gradually, and the bridge began to empty, but the little boy remained. Lost in his thoughts, feeling a pain that even he could not comprehend, he sat there silently, staring into the darkening water as though he was deciding whether he should jump off the bridge or not.
It was a sad picture, one that tugged at the heartstrings of anyone who saw it. But for the little boy, it was just another moment in his life, a moment filled with confusion and heartache.
He had no one to talk to since he got rendered illegitimate, there was no one to tell him that things would be okay even if they wouldn’t. So he just sat there on the bridge, alone, with his sadness.