REPENTANCE

A man stood at the window, looking at the fading sun from a skyscraper, holding a stone. His desk was covered with all kinds of illuminating rocks, with a corner filled with many broken ones, and the floor was covered with gold-like dust around the mess. As the sky darkened, he walked to the corner where there were broken stones and threw the one in his on the wall. An emerging light came out as the stone cracked open and the gold dust. He inhaled it all as if it was his last breath and fainted.

*

Wake up, son!! You can’t sleep in here.

The voice woke him up.

Where am I?

Are you on drugs, son?! How old are you?

I know you. You are the one who looks after this place.

Yes, I do. Please leave, your parents must be worrying about you, it is not safe here.

*

He got up and ran until he found the fountain he was looking for. He looked at his face. He was in the transition; he went to the nearest convenience store and checked up on the time, and then the newspaper for the date.

He asked the till boy for directions to the water tower, and as he got there, he found his grandmother’s place. It was not the first time he was there. Every decision he made and action he was taking was either wasted or utilised wisely.

He remembered all the wrong choices that he made each time he was there and determined not to repeat them. He ran inside his grandma’s house and ignored her, went straight to the basement and looked for an old chest.

*

Matteo. What are you looking for?

Nothing that concerns you.

What happened to you? You have never talked to me like this.

I am sorry, but I will tell you if I find it.

Matteo. Matteo.

*

He didn’t reply and kept searching. An hour went by and then he finally found it, and amongst all the other chests, and before he could open it, he fainted again. When he woke up, he found himself back in the room with the rocks. He took his pen out and drew the chest.

“Wooden chest, lion lock, brown and cracked, unlocked, at the back,” he wrote.

Checked the clock and it was close to midnight. He walked out of the room, leaving the note on the table.

Matteo had been leading a very private yet simple life. In the daylight, he functioned as an architect. After the sun sets, he vanishes.

It was another evening, and he repeated his action from the other day. He looked at the sun setting after it was dark and he broke the stone and fainted after inhaling the gold dust.

When he opened his eyes, he was drowning.

*

Oh, no. Shit.

*

Abruptly, Matteo woke with terror in his eyes.

*

God. Please show me the way, please.

*

He pleaded and looked at the ceiling with disappointment in his eyes. The next morning, he cancelled all his meetings, took the blueprint out, multiple locations were marked cross, and he took a pen and marked his grandmother’s place. Twenty years after that, she was gone, but he was seeing her now and then.

Later that evening, he picked another rock, but it didn’t break. He picked another one, and it didn’t break either. It maddened him.

*

The stone can only be broken if your intention is pure, if not it will not, you can never be in charge of where the gold dust will take you, but you can let the stone know what you are seeking and it will lead your way.

*

A voice whispered in his ear.

*

The next day, he made a reservation to see his sister. It was the arrangement that she agreed to after they lost their parents. A last promise that they both honour. He took Aria to the finest restaurant in the town; he sent a car to pick her up and when she arrived; he was already there waiting.

Her gown was losing a thread from the side, which Matteo noticed.

It had been eight years since they had talked to each other, but to honour the last wishes of their parent, they saw each other once a month. Matteo tried several times, but Aria never accepted his help. She led a different life than Matteo, living in a small apartment in the suburbs with her son, who was homeschooled by her. Matteo dared not to speak to her, knowing it was all his fault, and he’d do anything to make it right.

While she ate, he looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. She finished eating and left without even saying anything or making eye contact with Matteo.

Once Matteo offered to at least pay for her son’s education but Aria tore the cheque and mailed it back to his penthouse.

Seeing her go, he shed a tear, while rubbing the stone he held, then he left as well.

*

How far are you willing to go? Could you lose it all for what you desire?

Matteo was left hopeless, yet even after knowing the consequences, he broke all the stones at once. The entire room was filled with gold dust and a mystical figure floated around. Matteo didn’t faint and looked at the voice he had been listening to for several years.

*

Shall I take you to a venture, my son?

Yes.

*

The gold dust figure made its way to Matteo’s lungs and spread all over his veins. His body floated in the air and he appeared to like a golden flame. The light glowed the entire room, and then he fell on the floor and the light vanished.

*

It brought him back to the time when he was in his teenage, most of his friends had turned into junkies, and he was one of the few who could not dare. Yet it was all a matter of time, some peer pressure and mocking his curiosity, and he was in.

It was how it started, and then he got lost with his junkie friends. Unlike them, he was not from a place where he could afford to be blissed every day, yet he had developed a taste for it.

Causing a small theft in his own house didn’t bother him much, but things went out of his hand when he sold all Aria’s sketches and paintings to strangers. He disregarded the worth of those creations in his sister’s life, and the value it had in her life. Seeing her losing her mind and seeking professional help scared him, and he lied. Yet he got caught in an evening when they discovered one of the sketches hanging outside a small art store, upon inquiring Matteo’s lie unmasked.

Aria grieved even more after finding out the truth, which she could never forget or let go.

Matteo begged for her forgiveness and she agreed.

Amongst all of it, there was one, closest to my heart. It was the only creation which has inspired me in many ways. Bring it back to me, and till then you will not hear a word from me.

So many years went by, so many losses they have shared, yet not a single word. If it was not for their dying father’s wish, Aria would have a mind to cut her out of Matteo’s life.

Since, then Matteo’s never-ending search for the masterpiece began, his quest for the masterpiece showed him the world beyond anyone’s imagination, he witnessed the work of the dark sorcerers and sought any help that he could use to restore his relationship with his sister. There were twelve pieces of them, and he didn’t know which one was the masterpiece, he had no other option than bringing them all back, so far, he had found eleven pieces, but there was not a trail that he could follow to find the last one.

Then, he found the illuminating stones which caused a mine to shut down. He had heard tales about them and how it opens a portal to take a glance at the past as if it is present. He pulled all the strings that he could and paid high prices to possess them. Not many knew about the power of the stones. Most of its collectors were fond of its beauty, but Matteo’s intentions varied from them. After every sundown, he throws himself into the past in the hope that he can find the man he sold the last piece of Aria’s painting.

Many had gone to waste, yet each one gave him a glimpse of the past that he regretted. It broke his heart after Aria stopped cherishing the gift she was born with and blamed himself for it all.

Living without her dream was a life all living around her. She found a man who loved her and left nothing behind except for their son, Kye. Matteo offered her a place to live and a life that Kye deserved, but she refused. With the small savings she had on her, she made peace with her life and led it by herself.

The voice guided Matteo to a shop where he found the man. He sat in the distance and imprinted his face into his memories.

When he woke up, he called a sketch artist and prepared a sketch of the man. After it was done, he circulated it on every street of the city and put a reward for the one who’d get him.

Days turned into a week, and weeks into months, yet Matteo got nothing on the man. He ran out of the stones as well.

One evening, he was sitting in despair, with no hope he received a call from a woman.

*

What does this man mean to you? Why are you looking for him?

He has something that I sold. I want it back, and I am willing to pay any price for it.

What is it?

A painting.

Oh, the curse. I don’t care about the money. Come and get it. It cost me my husband.

Send me the address.

*

He wasted no time and left his place. When he met the old woman, she had the painting wrapped in black sheets.

*

He got obsessed with it. Hours he spent alone with this painting to understand what it depicted. His children hated him for not being there, but he didn’t care. Many times I tried to ruin it but every time I did, it didn’t feel right. Why do you care about it?

Well, this painting cost me my sister.

*

Matteo didn’t say much, wrote a cheque for her, took the painting and left.

*

Another month had gone by and the day came when Aria and Matteo saw each other. She found it strange that there was no restaurant but the coordinates in the note for Matteo. She assumed it was one or another trick to make her speak to him, but she was being herself. She put the coordinates on the map and it took her to an abandoned building.

Many cars were parked outside. She entered the building, and it seemed like an exhibition which fumed her, and again she took it in and wandered around.

A glow sparkled in her eyes when she recognised the one put on display. She felt a swift warmth in her veins, and her breath got heavy. One by one she looked at all of it, yet there were only eleven, and each had a sign, “NOT FOR SALE”. Her eyes searched for Matteo and he was there on the balcony looking at her. He sent a man to escort her to him.

*

This way ma’am.

*

Her eyes filled with tears, yet her gut in fire. When she saw Matteo there was one covered in a black sheet. She couldn’t hold herself and unrevealed it. The moment she laid her eyes on it, she broke down and fell to her knees, and burst out in tears. Matteo never felt more helpless than ever and looked away.

*

I am sorry; I failed. Matteo whispered.

You didn’t fail. Aria spoke.

*

He turned and looked at her.

*

You didn’t fail. I failed, and I am so glad that I did. I was wrong about you that you did not care. This is you when you were lost.

*

And they both turned and looked at the painting.

*

Would you like to come for dinner at my house? I know it is not going to be fancy like you make it all the time.

I’d love to.

*

After having dinner with her sister, Matteo claimed his right to love and take for her sister and nephew, and she gladly accepted.