[Winter Contest Entry 2012] Love

It was this time of the year…

Luke stares out of the snowflake-covered windows. The sun shines its ray down to the red tile roofs, now is being covered in the whiteness of winter. Though weak as it may be, it could still bring a touch of warmth, but yet so light that it could hardly be recognized, even if without the fireplace burning next to Luke. It’s snowing outside and the wind is blowing through the leafless trees, the coldness and the sound would make you shiver down to your spine. That is, if there weren’t any kids outside throwing snowballs. Houses let smoke fuminge out of itstheir chimneys as everyone is wheither chilling around the fire or roasting turkey, making a scent that fills the air. The town’s bakery is just adding even more to the aura. Almost everything has been decorated. Everyone is happy for it is the most beautiful time of the year.

But(You really shouldn’t begin your paragraphs with the word †˜But’) Luke just can’t seem to bring himself to smile. He’s looking at the kids who are playing in the snow, enviously. A warmth-bringing voice echoes behind Luke:

_"What is it that you’re looking at, my dear?"

_"Grandma…" - Luke turns back to see a kind face – "I know it's impossible for a kid who sit on a wheelchair like me, but still, I-I want to go play down there.," – Hhe said in a melancholic voice.

_"Oh, my dear, don’t be like that. Of course you can join them," – Hholding Luke’s head, she said kindly.

_"You’re fooling me…"

_"Have I ever lied to you? I remember someone hasd said: “'One can only be as free as one’s soul”.'"

Having said that, she went out and returned with a sketchbook, a brush and a bunch of water colors.

_"Here, dear. Set your wings free." – She smiles, with grace like an angel.



That was three years ago…

It is this time of the year again…

The sun is still shining. It’s still snowing, the wind is still blowing. The houses, the smoke going through the chimneys, the atmosphere being filled with scents of foods, the decorations, the people…almost everything is the same.

Almost.

Luke is sitting in his room, missing his grandma. He’s drawing something. It’s him and his grandma. They look happy, but somewhere, hidden under his smile, there’s a drop of sadness, perhaps the fear of losing her…which Luke already did. Lying around him is a lot of paintings, of him and some others. ButHowever,(Avoid beginning your sentences with the word †˜But’) none of the paintings draws are of a kid with a pair of disabled legs, but rather a kid who can run and scream.



Having eaten half of his breakfast, Luke heads for his school.

_"Do you need anyone accompany you, son?" – Hhis dad asked.

_"No, I’m fine.," – Hhe replied.

Rolling down the road, he can see the leaves have all fallen down to the pavement. The way to school has not been just painted white, but also dotted red. From his house to school, Luke needs to walk past the heart of the town, the church. It has been gorgeously decorated, to every detail. He stops at the gate for a moment, stares up to the tip of the lightning-rod of the church, to see how it thrusts through the sky.



Break time has started. Luke goes out to get some fresh air. He sits at his usual seat, at the rear of the playground. He raises his head to the laughter of other kids, but not to see them, but rather searching for a girl, and he found her, sitting across the yard, at her usual spot. He can’t see quite clearly, but he can be sure that she has beautiful long, dark hair. And(Try not to begin your sentences with the word †˜And’ either) sShe’s playing a harmonica.

Suddenly, a snowball, luckily blocked by his sketchbook, startles him, followed by a harsh voice.

_"Hey, pips,. wWhatcha looking at?" – said Marc, the biggest kid in school, who obviously picks on smaller kids, especially Luke. He throws another ball. It was Llucky for Luke that he was able to dodge theat snowball, or maybe it’s just that Marc ihas a terrible aimer.

_"Ha, can’t hit back?" – Marc laughs gloatingly.

Luke tries to endure it. After all, he has been enduring it for years.

_"Hey, break it off!" – Aa fierce voice yells at the kids.

_"Hey, it’s Ms. ShHelly!" – Aa kid screams.

_"Tch! Let’s get out of here." – Marc ordered his troop.

_"These kids, no manners!" – Ms.(space)Shelly mumbles. – "Hey, are you OK, Luke?"

_"Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you, Ms. Shelly."

_"Next time the kids bully you, tell me about it, okay?" – Ms. Shelly looks worried.



The bell rings again, for it’s time to head home.

Home…why does that word sound so distant to Luke? Because,(Also avoid beginning your sentences with the word “Because”) hHe’s a member of the prestigious Fakku! family. And(Again) bBorn not being able to walk, he’s obviously a disgrace.

_"How was school today, son?" – Hhis father asked.

_"It was ok." – Hhe replied.

_"All is well then." – Hhis father replied with a cold attitude.

_"Do you know something, father? Today I was called up to the board to solve a mathematic problem!" – He tries to liven up the bland conversation.

_"Is that so? Why don’t you fill your mother in with all the details?" – He finishes his meal and stands up. Then he left.

Dinner time is Luke’s least favorite time,. hHe has to spend it with his family, and they don’t even want to have him.

_"I will just go to my room then.

The mansion is always full of people, but why does Luke always feel so lonely? The only one who has ever loved him is his grandma, but now she is long gone. He’s painting. His parents don’t even know what their son is doing every(space)day.



It’s another day at school. ButHowever,(Again) unlike other days, Luke stays after school, at his usual spot, to finish what he couldn’t yesterday. He drew a kid who is playing with other regular kids in the snow field. And(Again) aAmong those kids, there is still Marc.

_"Hey, pipsqueak!" – That cranky voice again, – "You were lucky yesterday. Well, not today!"

Having said that, heMarc picks up a snowball and starts throwsing it at himLuke. After a while, he approaches Luke.

_"Heh, have enough?" – Hhe asked sarcastically. – "Hmm? What’s this?" – Marc forcefully pulls the sketchbook that Luke was trying to protect the whole time out of his hands.

He quickly goes through the pages. He burst out laughing.

_"Hahahaha. What’s this? You want to have normal legs, like normal people?" – Marc laughs in a despised way. – "Not in a million years. Not even your father and mother want you! Why in the world do YOUyou want normal legs?!?"

_"Give it back!" – Luke uses all his strength to lean to Marc and bites him.

_"Uoahhhh!" – Marc screams – "It hurts, you freak." – He gave Luke a kick in his stomach. – "You want it? Come and get it!"

Marc starts to rip the paintings of Luke to pieces.

_"Nooo!" – Luke burst into tears. – (Oh, man. My eyes watered up at this point. This is such a sad part.) "Give it back! Give it back!"

_"Hey, give it back!" – said Aa voice that sounds like a thunderclap in Marc’s and the gangs’ ears.

_"It’s her again!"

_"Let’s run!" – Marc threw Luke’s half-ripped sketchbook on the ground and fled.

_"Are you hurt?" – Ms. Shelly hurried to Luke’s place.

_"Let me pick it up for you." – After helping Luke pick up all of his paintings'
pieces, she tries to comfort him. – "Are you hurt, let’s get you to an infirmary, OK?"

But(Again) Luke suddenly ran(Ran? As in without his wheelchair?) off. Ms. Shelly fealls when she tries to catch him.



He ran(Again, did he miraculously heal or is he still in his wheelchair?) to the river bank behind the church. It’s the place that he and his grandma went to after she handed him those things three years ago. It’s the only place that can calm his heart, besides his own room.

_"Grandma!!! Is it true that I am just a useless being in this world??" – Hhe cries out to the river., Bbut the river says nothing.

_"Of course not." – A strange voice breaks the silence., Aa voice that belongs to a girl.

Luke turns back to see the girl that was always sitting across the yard at the exact same spot every(space)day. He already knew that she was pretty, but now he gets a chance to see her up-close, she is really beautiful. Dark silky hair drops down from her back. She has aA kind face. But(Again) tThe most impressive thing has to be her eyes., Ddark bright eyes that seem to be able to see right through you.

_"Every single being was born to this world for a purpose., Aand I believe you are no exception.," – Sshe continued.

_"How can you be so sure?" – He wiped the tears.

_"Because I believe so."

Her eyes… ItThey light up so bright that itthey rival theat light of the Northern Star. Eyes that believe in God, believe…in me. It made me believe her.

_"Are you the girl that's always playing the harmonica in the school-yard?" – Luke asked.

_"Ah, yes, you’ve noticed? How delightful!" – Her face makes Luke feels joy as well.

_"W-would you mind playing it right now? I really want to hear it."

_"Oh? Well, I guess it’s not too much of a trouble," – Sshe smiles gracefully.

Then(Also try not to use †˜Then’ at the beginning of paragraphs) sShe starts playing. The sound …It was Aa sound that could soothe a grieving soul. It almost sounds like not that of a human’s, but rather, the godly sound of the Muses’. Luke was so entranced by her music, that he unconsciously takes out his brush and starts painting her. It Llooks like she has noticed, but doesn’t care. Looking deep into her eyes, he feels like he could see the universe.

After she’s finished her performance, Luke’s also finished his.

_"Wow, that was so beautiful. Sorry, but I drew you when you were performing, I didn’t want to interrupt so I didn’t ask for your permission…"

_"Oh, that’s OK. Can I see the picture?" – She smiles at Luke.

_"O-of course" – He’s caught up in her eyes again.

She stares at it for a while… – "It is very beautiful!"

_"Really? Can I draw you again sometimes?" – Luke asks joyfully.

_"Yes. Of course. I live in the church.," – she replied.

_"Oh, okay. I will be stopping by!" – Hhe speaks as he’s leaving. – "Oh, I forgot,. wWhat’s your name?"

_"My name is Silviest, call me Sil.," – Sshe smiles back. – "Luke, don’t give up easily, only when you tryies your best and finish it can you make it that beautiful!"



The next day, Luke coame looking for Silviest, but only to find there’s a funeral taking place in the church. Luke tries to slip his way to see the who it was, after having overheard it was just some 12-13 years old girl. And(Again) hHe couldn’t believe his eyes, when he sees the name “Silviest Vaning.”.

Later that afternoon, he talks to the pastor.

_"Why did she die, father?"

_"She was born with a heart disease, nothing we could do about it, son."
Stopping for a while, he continues. – "Having known she has an innate heart disease, her father abandoned both her and her mother for another woman. After that, her mother worked hard to raise her, but then, how God’s desires play with us, she and her mother wereas in an accident. So, very unfortunately, her mother died, but she survived and was bought under my care since. But death escapes no one. Having a heart disease… I couldn’t do anything. She knew she was going to die that night."

_"It’s impossible!" – Luke screams. – "She was so optimistic yesterday! She even said my painting was beautiful and said 'OK' when I asked whether I can draw her again."

_"But, son, how can that be? Due to the accident, her vision had been decreasing rapidly, in the last six months,. sShe couldn’t see."

It dawns on Luke.



The next day, Luke returns with a painting of her and himself, on that day. This time, he was not a boy with normal legs, but rather, sits on a wheelchair, with Silviest, a girl with long dark hair, and beautiful eyes.