Star Child - Everyone's Blood is Red

‘Son, rules exist for a reason,’ he’s speaking to me slowly and patiently, as if explaining commonplace facts to a three year old. ‘Your rash actions and blatant disregard for the customs may have some dire consequences. Some things are kept secret because not everyone can comprehend them. If we hide something from children, it is not to punish them but to keep them safe. A truth half understood is worse than a lie.’

‘Truth is always truth. Lies are always lies. It’s either one or the other, for there can be nothing in between!’ My voice is trembling slightly with the effort to keep it level.

Oh, how I hate this self-righteousness! ‘We’re the only ones who know the truth! We’re the only ones who have the right to decide who is allowed to know the truth. Because we’re the chosen ones and all the others are too stupid and unworthy of our sacred knowledge.’

Bullshit!

I feel my cheeks flush. Father must have noticed my agitation and shakes his head disapprovingly.

‘You’re young and lack the experience. Your judgments are flawed, and your emotions get the better of you. Wisdom comes with age.’ His quiet voice is still steady.

Yeah, okay, I’m too young, but at least I’m sincere!

‘If wisdom means having a stone for the heart, then I’d rather be stupid!’

Father shakes his head again.

‘Yeshua, being stupid will only get you in trouble with Sanhedrin. If you start stepping on their toes, they won’t tolerate it. They have too much at stake.’

Oh, I have no doubt about that! Their own asses are at stake, and those, of course, are the most precious part of their organisms.

‘That bunch of liars and hypocrites!’ My self-control has its limits, and I’m not going to stretch them. Not on the account of those assholes, anyway. ‘They care about no one but themselves. I don’t give a damn about their opinion!’

The restraint finally lost, father speaks forcefully:

‘Son, if they decide that you’re dangerous to them, they’ll snap your head right off, literally—and won’t think twice about it!’

Do they expect me to cower in fear and give in? Then they don’t know me!

‘If my head is the price to pay for achieving my goal, then I’m willing to pay it!’ I jump up. This conversation is useless, like I knew it would be.

I turn on my heel and march out.

Mother is standing outside. She must have heard our heated exchange. Tears are streaming down her pale cheeks. The look on her face makes me stumble. I see the dark foreboding in her eyes, as if she knows beforehand that my venture is doomed. She covers her mouth with a corner of her blue scarf. Her long thin fingers are trembling slightly. I’ve got those fingers from her. I’ve got my very life from her. And now I’m causing her pain. She doesn’t say anything, but I’d rather she scolded me. This silent anguish makes my own heart break.

‘Forgive me, mother,’ I whisper, lowering my eyes. ‘Forgive me, mother, but I have no choice. I must stand up for what I believe in. And I believe that we’re all human and deserve to be treated like humans, not like dogs. Even dogs should be treated kindly, so how much more kindness should we show to people?’

I look up and see father standing in the doorway. He frowns in concern when he sees that mother is crying. Then he looks at me. His broad shoulders are now slumped; the head, usually held high, is down. For the first time in my life I realise that there are wrinkles of worry around his eyes and silver threads in his dark hair

In a split second something shifts inside me, and I suddenly see things with different eyes.

My parents used to protect and comfort me. They were the all-knowing and all-powerful beings in my life. But not anymore. Now I have to follow my own path, and my parents are powerless to either stop me or help me. It is my path, and I have to walk it, wherever it leads me. My cup is filled, and I must drink it.

I have no other choice.

I hold father’s gaze and speak slowly, hoping that he will finally get my point:

‘Yes, people are different, but everyone’s blood is red!’

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This story is a part of The AD World series. Other stories from the series are:

The Dawn

If you enjoyed this story, you might also enjoy other stories from Star Child — more is to come soon. Check for new stories http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/sc

(Photos used on the cover are taken from Wikimedia Commons. The photo of Michelangelo’s Pietà is by Stanislav Traykov)