Heka sat quietly in the ground. His mind was swirling about Ansel's offer. Literally It was everything he had ever dreamed of. Yet, despite the allure of the opportunity, a heavy hesitation weighed on his heart.
The offer was generous. It was almost too good to be true.
Heka felt a pang of guilt, a sharp and unrelenting, for even considering leaving Ansel behind who had shown him kindness. Instead, he walked away like a betrayal, a fracture in a fragile bond that had just begun.
Yet deep down, Heka knew the path that he should take. His principles were clear and unyielding: never to let someone new into his life too deeply, not so quickly. He had learned that trust was fragile, it was easily broke and difficult to rebuild.
Ansel's offer was easy to accept on the surface, the way out of the shackles that held him captive. However, the true challenge was not the escape itself. It was the emotional distance he needed to maintain.
He knew well the consequences if he allowed Ansel to become part of his life. He might lose himself. As he was forced to do something he hated the most.
Thus, with a heavy heart and mind full of turmoil, Heka resolved to leave before the boy was getting closer. Afterward, he was aware of something. The hardest choices were the one that led to freedom and doubts. It held him captive within.
After they separated, Heka did not return straight home. He went for a walk in a park. It was not too far from the Japanese restaurant, William E Wolfe Park.
Although he was just walking and taking some photos, it was more than enough for him to breathe fresh air. That way his mind would become clear. He would make the best decision for him. The decision was to accept an offer of assistance from Ansel or not.
Heka was indeed seeking someone who was able to help his life back to semblance of normal. The night stretched endlessly, haunted by insomnia that gnawed his sanity. Slowly, it pushed him closer to the edge of dementia.
"There is no harm in trying to receive help from Ansel. Who knows, he might be the only one who can get rid of my relentless insomnia that is getting demented." Heka thought to himself. A flicker hoped ignited within the darkness.
Yet, as soon as the thought took root. The doubt crept in, because it was fueled by memories of Ansel's true nature. Those doubts were not mere uncertainties, it also was laced with fear.
From his sight, Ansel was the kind of person who didn't care about anything, especially the feelings of others. His kindness was a mask. It concealed a vicious core that imposed his will without hesitation.
"Ansel, he is indeed friendly and quite kind. But, he looks dangerous and likes to dominate, to bend others to his desires. If the grandson is like that, then it is certain that his Grandpa is much more sinister. It's better to let him stay away and not have to accept his help to heal me." Heka admitted quietly.
The image of Ansel's grandfather, ominous and shadowy. It loomed large in Heka's mind. As it was warning if he accepted the help, the cost would definitely be far greater than he thought.
"It's better to keep my distance. It's better to face this struggle alone than to be caught on the web." Heka resolved. His heart was heavy but firm.
Just thinking about it, Heka knew it was better to refuse Ansel's help. The risks were clear, and the consequences could be severe. Yet, deep inside, he also understood the gravity of the situation. This was not a decision to take lightly.
Given the situation, finding a way to sleep normally again was no simple task. Anyway, the insomnia that plagued him was relentless. It eroded his spirit and mind day by day.
The same opportunity would not come easily again. His mind was a battlefield of indecisiveness. It swirled with fears and doubts that refused to settle. The weight of uncertainty pressed over him. It lingered his thoughts unresolved and tangled.
"But if I refuse, I will lose my chance to recover. Waiting for a similar moment like this, it is impossible to repeat. Maybe this is the only way to get rid of it all." He whispered to himself.
The words echoed in his mind. A fragile hope amidst the storm of hesitation. In that moment, the choice was his alone to make. A delicate balance between hope and fear, courage and caution.
Lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, his eyes suddenly caught sight of someone he knew. Instinctively, he raised his camera and aimed it at the figure. He captured a quiet moment.
It was Clancy. She sat alone by the lake. Her presence was still and serene. The sight of her brought an unexpected calm to Heka's restless mind. It offered a welcome distraction from the turmoil within.
Without hesitation, he approached her and settled down beside her. "Hi, Clancy." Heka greeted her softly.
"Hi, Heka." Clancy replied with a gentle smile. Her gaze flickered amazed by his sudden appearance and pleasantness.
Heka hesitated for a moment before speaking again."I don't think you'll come back here again after you go back to China."
He remembered that Clancy and her family had decided to return to China and settle there permanently.
"Indeed, I can no longer stay here. I'm just here for a short time, maybe just a week or two. There are only a few things that need to be done." She said quietly.
"Then, are you alone?" Heka asked. His gaze glanced around. He didn't see anyone else nearby.
"No, I'm waiting for my sister. She will be getting married. That's why I came back here." She paused. Then she looked at him curiously. "How about you?" Clancy wondered what he was doing in the park.