Peace At Last

On a bleak fall night, a quiet guy walks into a club, not having any intentions of indulging in a conversation with anyone, just looks for a quiet spot avoiding the loud music and hiding in the dim lights he finds a spot in the corner, he reaches to the corner and sits at his table with a straight face observing the room, minding his own business. He is too occupied with his thoughts, lost in his own mind gathering the broken pieces of his shattered heart and twisted soul. He lights a cigarette and the crackling sound of burning tobacco makes the voices in his head blur. He silently sits and smokes in his own zone, it seemed as if he teleported into some other dimension. The more he smoked the more calm he felt not knowing that his thoughts were consuming him slowly. He found peace in things that caused him nothing but destruction.

The waiter at the club shows up at his table with the menu card and asks him in a polite tone "Sir I'm sorry to disturb you but the club has rules against smoking so I'm afraid I'd have to ask you to put off the cigarette." - the waiter smiles. "Just let me be please!" Exclaimed Lux with a fake smile and a slight hint of grin on his face. His low deep voice sounded disturbed. The waiter insists "Sir if you really want to smoke I can escort you out of the club and you can return when you have finished smoking?" Lux quietly extinguishes his cigarette and replies "Is that all?" This time Lux was evidently disturbed.

The waiter left the table and after a few hours the waiter again showed up at the table. “Ready to order sir? May I entice you with a drink perhaps? Or maybe some snacks?" Lux was bothered by the waiter but he knew the waiter was just doing his job so Lux gathered all the kindness he had left inside him and spoke in a subtle tone, "No thank you, I just need some space."

The waiter noticed Lux hasn't ordered anything and he's been just sitting for hours now. The waiter felt something was wrong with this guy and the guy needed help so instead of calling the bouncers he reached out to the club manager, Ms. Leo. A young woman with blonde hair, blue eyes and a powerful personality.

Waiter : Ms. Leo we have a problem at table no.22.

Ms. Leo : It better be something important because you're well aware we have 36 bouncers in this club to sort any problems that occur at tables.

Waiter : Ma'am this is something serious indeed... The guy on that table hasn't offended anyone or flouted any rules therefore we have no reasons to kick him out but..."

Ms. Leo : But what? What's wrong?!

Waiter : Ma'am he hasn't ordered anything and he seems lost and disturbed.

Ms. Leo : Alright let me speak to him.

Ms. Leo walks to table no.22 and finds Lux, charmed by his dark aura and intimidating personality Ms. Leo gets mesmerized but gets a slight sense of pity over the ruffled appearance of Lux,

Ms. Leo initiates a conversation,

Ms. Leo : Excuse me sir, is there a problem?

Lux : Huh? No nothing... Did I do something?

Lux stutters with a tone of anxiousness and hesitation as he gets a little scared, unaware of what's happening. Ms. Leo comforts him and asks the waiter to bring a glass of whiskey.

Ms. Leo continues, "Relax please, I'm Grace Leo, the manager of this club. And you are?" Lux replies in a nervous tone "Lux Tenebris, you can call me Lux." Ms. Leo smiles and offers a glass of whiskey to Lux and says "So, Mr Lux, you seem a bit tense. Is everything okay?" Lux looks at Grace with a puzzled look and a hint of fear. His eyes held the pain caused by the torment going in his head.

Grace sits next to Lux and says "Look I understand you're disturbed but we have some rules in this club. You can not sit here idle and smoke cigarettes. You seem like a nice guy, if you need anything let me know. I can offer you money if that's what you need. Do you have a place to go? Perhaps a home?"

Lux looks at Grace, enchanted by her strong personality and soft heart. Her kindness felt like a hug to Lux and he replies softly "I have a house but that's not home. And I don't have money to pay you for any food or drinks, that is why I haven't ordered anything." Grace felt bad for Lux and responded in a pitiful tone, "Oh you poor guy, I'm sorry I can't help you much but you can have food and drink today, on the house." As good as the offer seemed still Lux politely rejected the offer as it wasn't a pity Lux needed but all he craved was to feel love.

Lux leaves the club and wanders the streets lost in his thoughts, until he runs into a woman. Hesitant and puzzled Lux apologized for his distracted behavior and as he locked eyes with this beautiful woman he was lost in her deep black eyes full of light and love. Her bright and positive aura was having an effect on Lux. They both were lost in each other and felt something sparking between them. Was it love? Was it just an attraction? Why did a random stranger feel like this? Lux began to think, this one little encounter changed something inside him.

This beautiful woman with bright eyes, radiant skin and silky hair was stuck in Lux's mind. He couldn't stop thinking about her beautiful vibe and the charm she held in her black eyes. Lux felt something but he wasn't aware what this feeling was... He was in love. A feeling he never felt in his entire life.

Lux continues his night and walks his way home. As he reached his house, a small apartment where he lives with his best friend Rio, a Spix Macaw that has been with Lux for years. Rio excitedly welcomes Lux home and flies to his shoulder.

Lux pets Rio and gives him a few sunflower seeds and sits with Rio but still thinking about the woman he had a small encounter with on his way home. Lux was a lonely guy with very few friends and his introverted nature and dark personality always made it difficult for him to blend in and get along with people. Lux is a guy with his own struggles and his own failures but before all this darkness and silence he used to be a kind hearted human with a life full of joy. He used to go out, play sports, crack jokes and have a lot of friends. This woman somehow reminded Lux of his past and suddenly after this beautiful encounter Lux was away from his miserable thoughts and was thinking about his good old time.

Rio, noticing the change in Lux’s behavior, asks him if he is okay? Lux smiled and responded “You won't get it buddy.”

Rio (in a chirpy voice) : I won't of course unless you tell me what's on your mind?

Lux : You won't understand even if I tell you.

Rio : I'm your best friend you say, why don't you try sharing your thoughts with me? It's not like I will tell someone

Rio laughs a little trying to lighten the mood but still curious about what's going on in Lux's head. Rio never saw Lux having mixed emotions. Lux chuckled and responded “Alright but it is a lot more complicated than you think.” Lux continues telling Rio all about his little encounter with this mystery woman and Rio notices a change in tone and happiness in Lux's voice as he describes the incident.

As soon as Lux finishes, Rio looks at Lux with awe and says “I think she cast a spell on you.” Lux laughed over what Rio said and responded “See, I told you, you wouldn't get it buddy.”. Rio felt a bit humiliated and helpless since he couldn't do much for his best friend Lux but after a moment of silence and thinking Rio replied with a brilliant idea…

Rio : Oh yes I'm sorry I'm just a bird I won't understand human emotions but you know who would understand human emotions?

Lux : Who? A sorcerer who would clear me off this woman's spell? (Lux laughs)

Rio : No you fool! A human would understand human emotions.

Lux is confused not knowing what Rio is suggesting but to kill the conversation Lux pets Rio’s head and says “Let's forget about it mate. It's late and we should sleep. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow and I have to search for a job too.”

Both Rio and Lux didn't really sleep that night. Rio was awake worried if Lux is sick or under some kind of spell but Lux was in love and he just spent the night thinking about this charming woman.

Days passed and Lux was back to his mundane life, searching for a proper job during the day and working odd jobs during the night, until one day Lux received a text on his phone…

“I am in your city, it's been long since we met so if you're free tonight let's meet at our old hangout.” The message was from none other than Mark, Lux’s school friend who was just like a brother to him.

Mark was Lux’s best friend and they used to have a lot of fun back in their teens, but Mark left for Germany for his further studies and got settled there. Mark and Lux had an unbreakable bond and their duo was incredible but after Mark left Lux detached himself from everyone and was left all alone spending his life with Rio.

Lux got excited upon the news that Mark is back in town and immediately agreed for the meet up. They both decided to meet at their old hangout on the weekend and Lux finally had some happiness and excitement back in his life.

A few days later, the weekend arrived. At last it was the time Lux was really excited for, a long awaited meet up with his dear old friend Mark.

The alarm rings, and morning sunshine was brighter today for Lux. He woke up excited and smiling thinking about how fun it would be to spend time with his brother from another mother. Lux made himself a warm cup of coffee, the air filled with sweet aroma of coffee and Lux’s head was full of happy thoughts imagining the meet up, also remembering all the good times he had back in his teens, all the adventures, laughter and memories he made with Mark. Along with all the good stuff, in the background of Lux's head lingered the thoughts about the mystery woman too, a gentle hum enhancing the hope towards good things in Lux's life.

After preparing his breakfast, Lux opened the door of Rio's cage and gave him some seeds. Both the best friends had their breakfast together and Lux looked at Rio with excitement in his eyes, “Rio guess wh