1 Luka

My life is a drag. My parents basically abandoned me the moment I was born. They always favored my little brother. He was always so good at everything. He was handsome, smart, athletic, and all in all a great person.

My parents always gave me that indifferent stare, like I didn't even matter, a mistake that somehow got born. It made me grow jealous. I felt like all the talent that should've been mine was stolen by that brother of mine. He was only born 1 year later than me yet the difference between us is so vast.

The only light in my life is my grandpa. He took care of me when no one else would. He fed me, clothed me, made me feel that I had a place in a world that didn't want me.

He often took me camping. He taught me basic survival skills. He had a weird taste for food however, he often caught bugs and ate them. I think it was because he fought in the Vietnam war. I heard people there ate insects, maybe grandpa took a liking to that delicacy.

Anyway, eating insects isn't really for me. My grandpa forced me to eat it though. I eventually got used to eating bugs. I still don't like eating them but I could tolerate them... somehow.

It got to the point where I just completely moved in to my grandpa's house. My parents were more than happy to send me away and my brother... they didn't even care.

And just like that, I moved in with my grandpa. Grandma was already dead before I was born so it was only the two of us. I was never great at school but my grandpa always helped me with schoolwork. He was surprisingly smart in academics. He always took me hiking and camping so I never expected to see this side of him.

I was slowly improving in my studies with grandpa's help. Of course, I was never that smart so when I graduated high school, I was only in the top 20 or something. But grandpa looked so proud when he saw me get my diploma.

It was this time in my life that I have to choose a path for myself. My grandpa taught me pottery a few months after I moved in with him. I unexpectedly enjoyed the feeling of molding clay. I chose that profession and started a small pottery business.

Life after that was fine. My pottery business was slow and not that profitable but it was honest work. It satisfied me. I moved out of my grandpa's house and started living in an apartment. I often visited grandpa, he was really old and was having trouble walking.

Nevertheless, he still gave life lessons to me. He never gave up on making me a better person. He was the light in my life and I'm proud to have him as my grandfather.

But life isn't always easy. One day when I was tending to grandpa, he suddenly collapsed. I immediately called for an ambulance and he was taken to a hospital.

Soon after that, I was waiting patiently in the emergency room. Waiting for the doctors to finish doing a check-up behind the curtains. Not long after a doctor came out.

He told me that my grandpa had stage 3 cancer for quite some time now. I was confused, I asked more questions to the doctor. It turns out that my grandpa had already been to the hospital a few times when he found out he had cancer. He said that my grandpa didn't have much time left.

Why didn't he tell me? I could've tried to get the money needed for treatment while it wasn't too late... why?

The doctors soon left. I sat next to grandpa's bed as I waited for him to wake up. He woke up 2 hours later, looking lethargic.

"Heh, hey there kiddo. *sigh* I guess you already know huh?"

"Why? Why didn't you tell me? I could've found a way to get money for treatment! I could've-"

"Shush kid. I didn't tell because I'm old."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean that it's a waste to use your money for my treatment. I'm already old, I knew that I would die sooner or later. It's a miracle that I lasted this long. I didn't want you to waste your money on me. Use it for yourself. Live a better life than mine. I'm old, you're young. You still have a lot to do in this world, may it be big or small."

"Grandpa..."

"Try to help people, ok? Even if they don't thank you, try to help in any way you can... be the good man I raised you to be. Make me proud... kid..."

He took his last breath, telling me his last words.

Help people? How would I even do that?

And just like that... the one who lighted up my life was gone. My parents didn't attend the funeral. Only me and some of his old friends were there.

Everything started going downhill after he died. My pottery business failed, my hair started becoming thinner and I got into debt.

Fast forward to the present. I was working part-time in a fast-food restaurant, earning as much as I can to pay back my debt.

My shift ended soon. I switched to normal clothes, walked out the door, and walked back towards my apartment.

Along the way, I passed by many vagrants and delinquents. I soon reached an area where there's not a lot of people. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a little girl looking around.

What's a little girl like that doing in a place like this alone? She must be lost. I tried to ignore her but eventually gave in and walked towards her. Maybe I can help find her parents?

Just when I almost reached her a white van pulled up next to her. I sped up my pacing, I felt something was off.

2 men got out of the van and approached the kid. One of them offered her candy.

Ok ok ok. Child predators, can't believe they actually exist. No need for hesitation here, I gotta save that kid.

I kicked off the ground and towards them. Using the momentum I punched one of them as hard as I can right in the face.

I can't believe I just did that. I punched someone. My knuckles hurt and the guy I just hit staggered.

"You son of a bitch... you're dead meat."

I turned towards the girl and I shouted.

"Run kid! They are very bad men! Run away!!"

I didn't have time to check if she actually ran away. My entire focus was keeping these disgusting people here, at least until the little girl gets to a safe distance.

Turning back to the pedophiles, one of them punched at me. I dodged by a hair's width and tackled him.

My tackle worked, but as I was about to keep beating the guy I pushed down something hit me at the back of my head.

I almost blacked out and felt a hand grab my collar and threw me away. I fell hard on the floor.

"STOP HURTING HIM!"

What? She didn't run away? Stupid kid!! Why didn't she run away!?

"Come here kiddo~ Hehehehehe..."

"Fuck off you creep!!"

I quickly stood up, still dizzy from the concussion, but tolerable. I raised my fists up, ready to fight them again.

Pedo #1 sent his fist towards me, I quickly ducked and sent my fist straight to his crown jewels.

"GAAAHHHH!!! YOU BITCH!! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"

Pedo #2 sprinted towards me, holding a baseball bat. He swung the baseball bat at me, I tried to dodge but failed to do so. The bat hit my side and I felt my ribs crack.

"AAAARGGHH" I tried to endure the pain, but it was too much.

I fell to the ground, seething from the pain. I could feel my fractured ribs puncturing my lungs.

The pedos took the opportunity to gang up on me. Kicking every part of my body. Swinging the bat at me. My bones fractured and my flesh tore open.

I looked at the girl. She's holding something. Is that my phone? I think she's dialing something. I heard 3 beeps.

If there's a God out there, please let that be 911.

I noticed that the pedos didn't pay attention to the girl. Their heads are probably full of adrenaline. Good, let's keep it that way. I have to buy time until the police arrive.

"You... mother.. .fuckers... is... that all... you got?" I taunted them, which worked, but their assaults got more aggressive.

I didn't know how long this has been going for. Probably a few minutes but it felt like hours. My entire body is only feeling pain. I could feel my blood gathering into a puddle under me. Every time I breathe it feels like breathing in cinders and ash, my lungs feel like burning. I'm dying, aren't I?

Soon I could be police sirens. I smiled, that kid did call 911.

"Shit... we gotta get out of here."

"No shit jackass. Now come on!"

My eyes were bruised so I could barely see, but it was enough for me to see that those bastards got caught by the cops. They were too late to escape.

I did it. I helped someone, saved someone. The girl is safe and the bad guys are caught. Are you proud grandpa?

I can feel myself slipping away. Before I knew it I found myself on a stretcher, I was being carried away. I could hear the panicked voices of the people around me. Sorry but... it's too late to save me. I'm dying.

I let myself go and welcomed death's cold embrace...

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"LINDA!!" Dorian ran to his house. He just got back from hunting animals for meat when he heard that his wife was already in labour.

"Get out Dorian! Not right now! Linda is- Great Frigga! The head is poking out!" The midwife scolded Dorian then went back to helping Linda give birth.

"LINDAAAAAAA!!!" Dorian had to be restrained by multiple men to stop him from bothering the midwife.

"Holy shit! When was Dorian this strong!"

"His wife's in labour, He's worried about her."

The men who chatted looked back at Dorian who was tied up tightly in rope with his mouth gagged with a piece of cloth. He was trying to scream his wife's name but failed to do so, only muffled grunts came out.

Several hours later of what felt like days, the door to Dorian's house opened. Dorian was finally released from his restraints and entered the house. There he saw the midwife carrying something wrapped in cloth.

The midwife saw him and smiled. "Congratulations Dorian. It's a boy!"

Linda woke up and looked towards the midwife. She stretched out her arms, wanting to hold her child. The midwife gave the baby to her and Linda held her child while still laying on the bed.

Dorian walked towards them and knelt down beside the bed. He saw his child, he had gray hair just like his father. The baby was sleeping peacefully as if all that's bad in the world didn't exist.

Dorian held out a finger and the baby instinctively grabbed on to it. He could feel how soft and fragile the baby's hands were. Dorian felt the urge to do everything he can to protect his son.

"What will we name him?" Dorian asked Linda.

"Luka... his name will be Luka."