The beggar and the blind

The beggar (present/past)

Henry Fox was a twenty-year-old boy. He had a handsome face with a sharp nose and jawline, he had a small mole on his left cheek a little beneath his blue shiny eyes which was brought out by his pale skin and black hair.

Henry was once very charming but over the years he changed. he no longer smiled and he no longer had the ability to think of a reason to keep living.

The only way he can describe his life was living because he simply couldn't die. His soul was chained to the prison of his body.

If only he could turn back time and take his life on that spot without telling that man
anything, maybe he would've been somewhere in the clouds.

Henry was once very poor he lived with his mother in an old wrecked mansion they called home. Back then he was only sixteen but his life was evermore hard.

He can remember all the details of that house from the spider webs in the top corner of the so-called living room that his mom didn't bother to clean to the cold dark bathroom he locked himself in, the night he met the man.

He could remember the crooked streets where he begged for some money that day, the gazes of disgust from the people he begged as if he was some kind of nasty animal.

He hated them for that, he also hated himself for being so low to beg.

Every breath he took felt like it wasn't his and he wasn't worthy of it.

He watched the busy streets and the motion of people taking off to their world, a world in which Henry thought he will never meet. As it got dark the people slowly made their way home and the streets became almost empty, a few stores were opened but Henry knew that he couldn't do anything anymore.

He finally gave up and made his way home through the dark allies every one avoided.
He was full of hatred he didn't know who to blame for his miserable life.

His father? A sick alcoholic bastard that only knew how to beat up Henry's mother, or his mother? who brought him into this world, or perhaps god? for making him in the first place.

He punched the wall as rage took over him. His thoughts were hurting his head as if trying to bust his head open from inside.

He looked at his now bruised hand that was shaking from the cold. He felt pathetic and weak. Droplets of tears gushed down his face. He grabbed his bruised arm tightly as tears dropped on it.

Then and there he decided to give up. He was sixteen and he's been through so much, if it was going to be like this forever, then he thought he couldn't handle it.

Suddenly he wasn't in control anymore. He couldn't calculate his thoughts properly and his body moved on its own. Slow steps turned into heavy running.

He looked up at one of the tall abandoned buildings. He didn't think twice and rushed to the door opening it and leaving it behind as he ran past it.

He found the stairs and made his way up. He was being pushed by an invisible force in which he couldn't see, but he didn't mind it, he was too sick of this world to mind anything, really.

When he reached the top he slammed the door open. His eyes quickly adjusted to the man standing at the edge.

He had on a black long expensive-looking coat that flew as the air crashed on to it.
His jeans were also black.

The man looked back at Henry. He was wearing glasses and he looked handsome, probably popular among the ladies.

Henry inhaled some air as if he wasn't breathing for a while. The man's mouth opened slowly, he was hesitant.

Something about this man felt familiar to Henry, he thought that maybe he saw him in a dream or something.

The man finally spoke, "Give me a reason to keep living." his voice deep and somewhat sad but also very clam. It felt like he was holding the weight of the world on his wide shoulders but still manage it somehow.

Henry gulped as if trying to make something out of this situation or at least give the man a proper answer. Then it struck him. How was he going to advise the man when he was so desperate to end his own life.

"How can a suicidal give you a reason to keep living," Henry said making it obvious what brought him there.

"I see" said the man in a deep husky voice but still clam " let me rephrase that question then" the man's gaze concentrated on Henry "what will lead you to keep on living?"

Henry of course didn't know what the man wanted from him but he answered anyway. He thought 'if this man wants to spend the last few moments of my life with me then so be it'

"Money!" Said, Henry.

The man looked forward at Henry still on the edge of the wall "You may have what you wish for" the man said loudly spreading his arms as if he was going to fly. He gave Henry a smirk and stepped back causing him to fall.

Henry quickly ran to the edge looking down and there he was lying on the ground lifeless.
Henry was terrified he quickly made his way down and out of there. on his way out he glanced at the man as he ran. The blood was gushing out everywhere. A shiver went down Henry's spine but he ignored it and kept on running.

He stopped for a while and without knowing he was in front of his house. He was so frightened of the experience he just had with that strange man that he didn't know where his feet took him.

He didn't hesitate to go in. Inside, her mom was sitting on the floor shattered glass all around her. Her face was pale, paler than usual. That only meant one thing, his father beat her up again.

The body in front of him slowly raised her head and her eyes quickly became wide "what happened" the words escape her mouth as she looked at him, concerned.

He didn't say anything, he ignored his mom and walked to the dark and filthy bathroom.
That was the only place he could go to get some privacy.

He slides the water fountain open. He slashed the cool water on his face while staring at the mirror.
His breathing was slow, he couldn't breathe well, it was like a huge boulder was on his chest.

His mom on the other side of the locked bathroom door started banging the door and begging for his son to come out, she was afraid he would do something to himself.

He spent the night sitting at a corner of that bathroom, thinking.

Henry at the age of twenty, now, fears one thing but he also longs for it.
That four years that he spent living in this luxury led him to many misfortune, many losses, and hardships.

Until he met her.