Chapter 10: Stranger's kindness part 2
1087 Words
Somewhere in the town of Edemein, the Cole household was filled with an unusual silence as Sebastian Cole took his son home from school. The journey back was quiet, but the silence carried more weight than words could express. Sebastian had just been called to the principal’s office because of the theft that happened in Xavier’s class, and now they were returning home together with questions hanging heavily between them.
Xavier sat quietly beside his father, his eyes fixed outside the car window. He wanted to explain. He wanted to tell his father everything. He wanted to say that he did not steal anything. He wanted to say that Victor was the reason he was afraid. But every time he remembered Victor’s warning, his voice disappeared.
Don’t tell anyone.
The fear was stronger than his courage.
Sebastian glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
“Xavier.”
“Yes, Father?”
“What happened at school?”
The boy opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Sebastian waited.
He was not a man who needed to shout to command attention. His presence alone was enough. He had built his life on discipline, honesty, and responsibility.
But his son’s silence troubled him.
“Are you protecting someone?” Sebastian asked.
Xavier looked down.
“No, Father.” he replied
“Then why are you afraid to speak?”
Again, silence.
Sebastian turned his eyes back to the road.
Something was wrong.
His son was not behaving like a child caught in a lie.
He was behaving like a child trapped in fear.
When they arrived home, Sebastian walked into the house without saying a word.
“Your room,” he said firmly.
Xavier stopped.
“Father—”
“Now, Xavier.”
The boy obeyed lowering his head. He walked upstairs slowly and closed his bedroom door.
Sebastian remained downstairs, his mind racing. He was angry, but not because he believed Xavier was guilty. He was angry because his son was suffering and he did not know why.
He had always believed that a person must face their problems. He wanted Xavier to grow into a strong man, not someone who ran away from difficulties.
But Sebastian also knew one thing. Strength without guidance could become loneliness.
And Xavier was already becoming too alone.
Later, Sebastian entered his office and called for Emilia.
Emilia had worked in the Cole household for years. She was Xavier’s nanny, but she was more than an employee. She understood the boy’s moods, his fears, and the things he struggled to say.
When she entered, Sebastian looked up.
“Emilia.”
“Yes, Mr. Cole?”
“I want you to speak with Xavier.” Sabastain Cole said as he adjusted his himself in in seat.
She looked surprised, “about what happened at school?” she said trying to keep her composure
Sebastian nodded.
“I believe something is happening that he is not telling me.”
Emilia was quiet for a moment.
“You think he is being bullied?” Sebastian’s expression changed slightly, he was impressed seeing how smart the woman was
“I do.” he said while nodding his head.
Sebastian Cole was a man who could handle enemies, business battles, and pressure from powerful people. But seeing his son hurt was something he did not know how to fight.
“I do not want a weak son,” Sebastian said. Emilia looked at him carefully.
“And I don’t think you have one.” Sebastian looked at her.
“He needs to learn how to stand.”
“Yes,” Emilia replied. “But sometimes a person needs someone beside them before they can stand on their own.”
Sabstein Cole looked at the middle age woman and wished it was her he had married.
That evening, Sebastian made a decision.
If Xavier could not find confidence in Edemein, perhaps a different environment would help him grow. He would send Xavier abroad, a new school, a new beginning,a chance to become stronger.
"Mark, please call me Xaviers" Sabastain Cole said to his secretary
"Yes sir" he said and walked away in a rush
Sebastian had also decided that Xavier would not eat until he told the truth.
He believed consequences were necessary.
But when Emilia saw Xavier sitting alone in his room that night, she saw something Sebastian did not see.
She saw a frightened child.
Not a guilty one.
She quietly went to the kitchen and prepared food.
When she returned, Xavier looked at the plate in her hand.
“Emilia… Father said I shouldn’t eat.” She placed the plate in front of him.
“I know.”
“Then why?” he asked puzzled at her
“Because hunger will not make you tell the truth. Fear will only make you hide more.”
Xavier stared at her.
“He will be angry.”
“Maybe,” Emilia said softly. “But you still need to take care of yourself.”
For the first time that day, Xavier felt like someone was on his side.
Emilia was not his mother.
She was not family by blood.
She was simply a stranger who became a worker for his family anf chose kindness.
Amara collapsed in front of Grandma Ruth’s gate.
For a moment, everything was quiet.
The street that was usually filled with movement and voices became still. Amara lay there helplessly, her body too weak to move, her eyes slowly closing as the last bit of strength left her.
Inside the house, Grandma Ruth suddenly stopped what she was doing.
Something felt wrong.
She walked toward the gate and froze when she saw someone lying outside.
“Amara?”
Her voice immediately changed.
She rushed outside and knelt beside the young girl.
“Amara, open your eyes.” But there was no response.
Fear filled Grandma Ruth’s heart.
Without wasting time, she called for help and took Amara to the hospital.
Hours passed.
Grandma Ruth sat beside Amara’s hospital bed, watching her quietly.
The woman had always seen something special in Amara.
From the first day they met, she noticed that the girl was different. Amara was respectful, gentle, and always tried to hide her pain behind a smile .
But Grandma Ruth knew something.
People who smiled the most were sometimes the ones carrying the heaviest burdens.
She held Amara’s hand.
“You have been fighting alone for too long,” she whispered.
“Now someone will fight for you.”
- Writer
