Stepping Outside [Solo]

[Shadrach Primrosgleam]

Trauma. After he lost his father, Shadrach felt emptiness in his life. The grief he had felt, slowly eating his soul. Why I didn't realized that I have healing ability. If I had knew this ability, my father would have been with me now. He kept blaming himself for not being able to save his father's life from the tragedy.

His mental state messed up al of his abilities. Whenever he was going out, he couldn't control his Emotional Synesthesia. His eyes saw colors of others feelings uncontrollably, making his head aching and losing consciousness. He lost the his sense of empathy, so he could not heal anybody. He also could not controlling the water and wind element around him. Talk to Animals and Help It Grow seemed impossible for him. He felt useless and could not doing anything. So he kept himself inside his room and never came out.

knock knock

He heard the knocking sound from the outside of his room. "It's me. May I enter your room?" It was Hannah, his mother. It was the umpteenth time his mother came knocking on the door. "Please, let me enter your room." Shadrach felt uneasy hearing uncomfortable hearing that. So he got up from his bed, and opened. "Thank goodness. I finally can see you." Shadrach tried to put smile on his face. He looked so messy. He had  eyebags under his eyes, messy hair, dry lip.  Then Shadrach walked back to his bed and sat on it. Hannah followed him. "You looked not okay, honey. It has been too long for you to be in this room." Shadrach didn't respond it. There was a long quiet time between them. "It was not your fault. Please don't blame yourself for what had happened in the past."

Shadrach looked at Hannah with rage. "It's totally my fault. If.. if I had knew about my abilities at the beginning, I would have been saved father. It's my fault. It's totally my fault." His tears burst out from his eyes. He cried so hard.

Hannah waited him to calm down. Then she patted Shadrach softly on his back. "No... It was not your fault, Honey. It is not. It's... It's just..." Hannah could not continue her words for a moment. "It's just his time. He had finished his task in this world so he came back to his actual place. We may be immortal. But there will be a time for us to go back to our actual place just like your father." Hannah turned Shadrach's face to look at her. "You know. The most relieving thing for me today is still having a chance to see you again. I'm not and will not blame you. It's not your fault. I just want you to know, I will always be there for you, so your father is."

Hearing his mother's words, Shadrach cried harder. He hugged her harder. The feelings he had kept for so long now poured out in his tears. He cried about a minute until he calmed down. "Thank you, Mother. Thank you so much. I-I.. I'm sorry for making you worry."

"It's okay. It's really okay." She patted Shadrach's back again. "Do you fell better now?" Shadrach nodded. "Clean yourself and go downstairs. I'm making your favorite meal. Let's eat together." Shadrach did what Hannah told him.

His burden on his shoulder is lightened from that moment. He slowly can forgiving himself.

[Shadrach Primrosgleam]

A few years later, some small changes were seen in Thistlemoon Forest. However, one thing changed drastically, and that was Shadrach. His haggard face and unkempt body had been replaced with a handsome appearance and a toned physique. His skin was slightly tanned, evidence that he no longer confined himself and was active under the sun. He looked fresh, like a young man his age. 

A change in oneself did not necessarily indicate a significant shift in attitude. Although he remained cold and reserved in his speech, he was beginning to demonstrate empathy towards others. He had utilized his Healing Light ability to assist several injured individuals in his vicinity. Nevertheless, he still in struggle with the trauma of losing his father.

Sometimes, he thought about leaving Thistlemoon Forest because of his great sorrow. But he always dismissed the thought when he remembered his mother. Shadrach couldn't leave his mother behind, but on the other hand, the grief and trauma still haunted him while he was in Thistlemoon Forest. One day, he was having dinner with his mother.

"What's wrong, dear?" his mother asked when she saw Shadrach looking more down than usual.

One minute, two minutes passed without a sound until Shadrach began to speak up. "I want to leave Thistlemoon Forest."

His statement surprised his mother. They continued their dinner in silence. "Do you still feel that sadness?" his mother asked.

"Yes, I still feel it," Shadrach replied. Silence began to fill the air as he finished speaking.

His mother then put down her utensils and said, "I can't hold you back. If that decision can make you better, do it. One thing is for sure, you come from Thistlemoon Forest. Never forget this place. Thistlemoon Forest always welcomes you. I always welcome you." His mother got up from her chair. Shadrach also got up from his seat and hugged his mother tightly.

Two days later, Shadrach appeared ready with his backpack containing items that he deemed useful for his journey around the world. His mother checked several times to ensure that he had brought everything he needed. They then parted with a warm embrace and tears streaming down his mother's cheeks. Shadrach walked towards the border and stepped out of Thistelmoon Forest. Adventure, friendship, love, sacrifice, and betrayal awaited him in the future.