“This is absurd,” her voice reverberates in my mind.
“Silence,” I murmur, causing Ricky to abruptly rise and survey his surroundings with agitation.
“What was that?” Did you perceive any sound? she enquires, her eyes widening as they survey the vicinity.
I chuckle softly and signal for her to shut her eyes once more. With considerable hesitance, she reclines once more and shuts her eyes.
…Laura’s Perspective
I examine the darkness behind my eyelids when, unexpectedly, a small white light emerges in the black void of my consciousness. A woman’s soft voice resonates from the light, singing a gentle lullaby, and I become immobilised.
“From where is that voice emanating?” I contemplate the void, perceiving alone the white illumination.
Recognising my solitude, I resolve to pursue the voice towards the illumination, advancing with caution. As suddenly as it appeared, the white light envelops me, momentarily blinding me before receding and revealing a room.
The area is expansive with a lofty ceiling, and the design emulates a forest. Two arboreal structures are positioned on opposing ends of the space, with a treehouse perched on the left tree and a slide around the right tree. A rope bridge links the two trees. Immediately beneath the bridge, there exists an expansive bed adorned with forest-themed coverings and cushions. Across the room, there is a small kitchenette featuring a sink, a toaster oven, a mini fridge and cabinets that presumably hold food. A little table accompanied by two seats is positioned adjacent to the kitchenette. A diminutive workstation and blackboard suitable for a youngster are positioned against the left wall, accompanied by numerous books and index cards organised on an array of shelves. Although this space resembles a child’s room, it contains little toys, with only a small plush grey wolf positioned on the desk. To my astonishment, the room lacks windows, with an air vent serving as the sole source of fresh air, facilitating ventilation and coolness. A restroom is discernible near the room’s entrance, seemingly secured with numerous locks and chains affixed to the door.
This is not a child’s room, I comprehend. This facility is a correctional institution.
A young boy approaches the desk, stooping over multiple sheets of paper. He cannot be older than 5 or 6 years. I approach him and, to my dismay, discover that his left eye is entirely swelled shut, with dark bruises covering his face and arms. He weeps, vehemently dabbing his tears with his sleeve while repetitively inscribing “My name is Jadi” on a piece of paper. Adjacent to him is a stack of pages reiterating the same sentence.
These must be Jadi’s recollections, I murmur.
The door locks ring, causing the young youngster to tense in anxiety. Ultimately, after multiple locks are disengaged, the door opens, revealing a stunning woman entering. Her kind eyes and inviting smile mirror Jadi’s whenever he gazes at Bray.
They appear to be connected, I observe, as Jadi rises from his chair to embrace the woman.
“Greetings, my handsome son,” she chuckles as she elevates him into her embrace, Jadi reclining his head on her shoulder.
A young man with curly brown hair arrives at the entrance, manoeuvring a tiny cart laden with food. He possesses striking features, with piercing blue eyes reminiscent of the ocean, and a fit physique that is not overly muscular. Wiggles extricates himself from his mother’s embrace and hastens to the desk, retrieving a little card adorned with a rudimentary depiction of a wolf on the front. He cautiously prods the arm of the man occupied with arranging the food on the table.
The man gazes down at young Jadi and smiles.
“Is that intended for me, child?” He enquires, taking the card and articulating the words aloud. “Wishing you a joyful Father’s Day, Rocco.” Your fragrance is pleasant, and you exhibit kindness. “I have an affection for you,” he states, his expression relaxing somewhat. “Thank you, I am pleased that I do not emit an odor,” he laughs. “However, I am not yet a father.”
“Your wife is expected to arrive imminently,” the woman chuckles, with Jadi affirming her statement. “So, dear, do you possess a card for your father?” ”
Jadi’s smile diminishes slightly, yet he nods and retrieves another card, this one darker and devoid of an image. He presents it to the woman who vocalises its content.
“Wishing you a joyful Father’s Day, Dad.” <text”I vow to behave appropriately from this moment,” she states, her voice slightly trembling as she reads, before kneeling and embracing Jadi.
“You are already an exemplary boy, my dear,” she exhales, exerting some effort to prevent her tears from cascading. “Father is merely…,” she hesitates, seeking the appropriate terminology. “He adores you, dear. He holds deep affection for you. Merely in his own manner.
