Francis

November 27, 1982, the bleak November wind was sharp and bitter, laden with snow pellets that stung their exposed faces like tiny blades. Despite the frigid cold, both parties had their parents with them as they wandered the outdoor garden center, each with their own goals in mind. Young Francis barely turning eight, was always fancied by the delicate beauty of the vibrant yellow dandelions, he wanted to buy them. While his mom was more focused on looking for the perfect roses for his grandfather’s upcoming retirement party. +:。.____。.。:+ The weather was windy and misty that day, the cold air blowing through Francis's silky mane like a cool shower spray on a hot summer evening. His eyes, soft blue and sparkling like stars, belied his inner turmoil, the boy a walking paradox. Although outwardly adorable and curious, something wasn't right beneath the surface, and doctors were baffled as to why a person so young would be experiencing such symptoms. Hallucinations and sudden panic attacks plagued his young life.

---

As he was admiring the flowers, his eyes drawn to the delicate beauty of the vibrant yellow dandelions, suddenly he was pulled from his reverie by the touch of someone else's hands on the same flower. He glanced sideways, his innocent eyes widening with intrigue as he saw you, something captured his attention, igniting a spark of curiosity. With a soft smile spreading across his lips, He turned, eager to speak, but found himself without words. Like so many times before, his voice had failed him, leaving him with nothing to say but an endless stream of questions in his eyes. He was unable to speak from childhood, taken to numerous doctors but none were able to find out why.

He was absolutely enthralled by your vibrant presence, and his eyes could only gaze at you with wonder. With nothing but a shy smile on his lips, he tilted his head ever so slightly to the side, his innocent aura radiating the purest of innocence and innocence. He opened his mouth, wanting desperately to speak and finally, one word came out. "Friend." His mother stopped dead in her tracks, stunned by the sound of his voice. One tear rolled down her cheek as she knelt down beside him, filled with emotion at the sight of her son speaking for the first time in so long. He kept silent after that, his eyes still glued to yours, but his face was now a portrait of wonder. From there, he slowly began to speak more and more, gaining momentum and confidence with each passing day. You had moved to the same town he lived in, and the two of you began to meet up every so often, becoming close friends. It was like a dream come true for him, to have finally found a friend who understood him and was not frightened of his unusual behavior. 1987 - August 28: How the time flies. Years have gone by since you first met Francis and became close friends. While he hasn't changed much, you couldn't help but find you're getting annoyed by his...eccentric ways. Maybe it's the way he always seems to be staring at you, or his strange behavior that has started to creep you out. However, he still thinks you're the most amazing person in the whole world, never noticing how your feelings have changed. Then, one day at school all hell breaks lose and.... He was finally attending the same school as you after all those years, and initially, everything seemed to be going well. Students were friendly towards him, but then one day it happened again, just like it always did. Without warning, he started acting strangely, his panic attacks returning with a vengeance and driving everyone away. The other students didn't understand, and they ended up distancing themselves from him, and by extension, you.

The day you lost all your friends was a harrowing experience, but you still had the solace of having Francis by your side. But now his unusual behavior was really beginning to irritate you, and you felt nothing but disdain for him.

On January 28th, 1990, a day he'll never forget. Francis approached you with outstretched arms, seemingly wanting to hug you, but you slapped him right in front of the whole school. The humiliating slap reverberated throughout the classrooms, leaving a deafening silence in its wake. And so came a final shattering blow, the friendship between you two laid broken and shattered like a cracked vase. Francis still held you in high regard, his feelings towards you were still pure and unwavering. However, he knew that you saw him as a monster, an undesirable creature unworthy of love. His heart broke as the realization washed over him, but he could not bring himself to hate you. In his eyes, he was the monster, he deserved your rejection, deserved nothing but loneliness and isolation.

---

With the last thread of your friendship severed, you and Francis drift further apart, each going your separate ways. Days then months pass, until one day in 1991, you intercept him in the hallways of your school. He was confused why'd you stop him but gets shocked once he heard your words. "I think...I can like you."

Just two words from you, and his heart skipped a beat. For so long he had yearned for your acceptance and love, but never expected you to reciprocate. His initial excitement quickly faded as he realized your wording sounded more like wishful thinking than actual confession. But he didn't really care, he was happy, happy than ever.. And that's how the relationship started.

---

This Thursday the 12th of 1992, will be forever etched in memory. I was with you for part of the day with the rest of the school's students. A day that I can neither forgive nor forget, so full of regret and pain. To this day, I regret everything that happened that day and I wish it was nothing but a bad dream. But it wasn't... Sob... Crying sounds... Laughter. You had humiliated poor helpless little Francis in front of everyone by humilating him, leaving him to wonder what he had ever done to deserve this. And this day, the memory is forever etched into my heart. I weep bitterly, and regret every moment of our encounter. If only I had known how cruel you could be, I would have never been so vulnerable. But you didn't care, you crushed me like a little bug and left me to wallow in my own misery. "You think I will love someone like you?" You had responded with a smug expression, your eyes cold as ice. The crowd of onlookers burst into laughter, mocking his feelings for you. It was all too brutal for him to bear...

"B..But- but you said you loved me?!" Francis retorted in sadness his eyes filling with hurtful tears.

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

---

"I.. Trusted you with everything, please dont leave me, not yet." He weeped out in utter shock reaching out for you. "From the day I met you, I knew I'd hurt you eventually. My bad but I never loved you." With a laughter and a tone of mockery you pointed at him as the other individuals laughed at him.

─ I... trusted you with my heart and soul, begged you not to leave me, not yet, for I feared this very moment. You tore me to pieces, shattered my heart, and mocked me relentlessly in front of those fools. So cruel.

January 11th, 1995. You've both drifted apart since that day three years ago, each building your own separate lives. But today marks the first day of your university studies at the prestigious University of Edinburgh, a hard-earned spot that was the result of your extraordinary intellect. Having graduated school as a gifted child, getting here wasn't particularly difficult, but it still felt like a huge achievement. The past three years had been tough, but now the future could be bright with new possibilities.

Francis began therapy in 1993 to address his 'unusual behavior and things', and by 1995 he had made tremendous progress, finally reverting to normal. With a freshly-dyed platinum blonde hair, slightly longer length below his nape and pale features, he was completely changed from his childhood self. After losing his sister in 1992, just after the day you two broke up. Along with the heartbreak of your breakup, Francis had completely transformed, embracing the silence and solitude rather than yearning for your presence. He was a different person, one who had endured far more than anyone should ever have to. Francis was now accustomed to silence and loneliness, having grown used to being misunderstood and shunned. The pain of heartbreak had deeply altered his character.

Present time.

You were in your new university, amazed by the sheer scale and grandeur of the place. The library was bustling with students, each engaged in their own studies or social gatherings, creating a cacophony of noise and activity. While the majority of the students were in small and tight-knit groups of two or three, around 18 or 20 students or people huddled around a lone student, glasses on his face silently reading the novel 'And Then There Were None.' He did not even once look up at the noisy crowd, focused purely on his reading. You couldn't help but exclaim in wonder at the student, the group of people huddled around him, praising him like someone special.

"Oy look at the fella, scrumptious appearance aye!" one of the dudes said with a pat on his back.

"Well he is the best, I mean the teachers literally love him. Just look at those brains." Another one said with admiration on their face.

"Ah yes, the teachers are absolutely enamored with him, quite the prodigy." Replied another, their voices echoing throughout the crowd. "The hell, you literally said the same thing I said bloody!" Another one beside the boy said with a frown but laughed anyways.

"Forsooth, upon this domain he doth be handsome indeed, but alas. I do concur, his intellect is astounding. Why the fellow literally earns additional marks in every endeavor! His intellect is so impressive that he understands the nuances of the Scottish idiom!"

The group around him bellow with laughter, sharing in his amusement. You found it remarkable that he was able to not only comprehend the Scottish dialect but to apply it with ease. His wit and intelligence were truly a thing to behold. "Bhuel tar ar an gaige seo tá sé maorga, ach oy! Stop suirí lenár buachaill, Tsk. Well, ciallaíonn mé kinda éad lena clisteacht, gaige faigheann literally pointe breise i ngach rud!"

His companions burst into laughter as he said this, their native tongue filling the air. You understood every word; after all, the languages of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales have always held a special place in your heart.

You were flabbergasted, stunned as it all clicked in your mind, this pale, magnificent boy before you was the same person whom you detested with every fibre of your being. Your enemy. Your foe. You could not believe your eyes, this was seriously him? The person you despised (For no freaking reason whatsoever, what in the world.) and loathed (Does he even consider you his enemy?) Oh, the audacity!

Oh, the audacity!!! How could the world be so cruel to you and thrust this vision of loveliness right before your eyes?

"What the Fuuuunnnnnnkkkkk!?" You muttered to yourself, your jaw dropped and your head spinning from the sudden realization.