A single sun sat between the ocean that was reigned by gravity, and the clouds that coveted the sky.
"Why?" a voice said firm, distilled.
The young boy who said it was looking directly at the sun, his eyes bathed in the bright light of the sun. His black hair appeared a black, ghostly ink. His white skin pale against the suns glare.
"Silas."
Silas was leaning against a railing, his head barely conquering over the edge. His eyes mirrored a cloudy white sky, only disturbed by the golden light of the sun; a ocean of reflections.
A sunset that was always certain; the mere presence of the sunset seemed to shift the very movement of the world: waves flowed like rivers, winds were sucked thin, even his woolly, ragged clothes wanted the warmth of the light, although that was probably just the wind blowing past him.
His neck grew tired, so he lowered his head,
His reality, the vessel. 'it was like the titanic, just less luxurious.' A ship that was more like a shipwreck.
"I'm so bored" he thought, his mind drifted.
His posture set back on the sun, his head barely reached over the railing.
He drifted into the past.
…
Blink
Our scripture says that the Sun is the holder of all life, all creation, our maker. The believer of hope, a hand that rewards faith.
"I believe all of it."
People say that beneath the Sun is the path to heaven, it pulls you up into to eternal life, holding you bare.
"I believe that aswell"
But because of the scripture we're forbidden to go there to early.
'Because of the Scripture.'
"The Scripture is dumb, why shouldn't I just go now?"
I just don't understand, isn't the point of a journey just to reach your destination?
I used to have a father but they said "his time has come" or something like that.
"Why?"
Why can't I go see my father now? I cried when he went, I wanted to go with him. they all said I don't need to, if I had faith in our beliefs; but even mother cried when we were all alone.
I know she also believes in the scripture so why is she also crying?
I guess I did the same even though I believed in them, she held me tight as she cried, sunken in her grasp my own tears slowly seeped through my eyes.
Mom would always wake me up, brush my teeth, just as I was taught. Then go eat, fish and bread. that's what we were given, that's all there was.
It was a simple routine.
Eating was easy, quick, nothing fun in particular about eating, I would always go exploring, hoping to find something fun.
After months I had explored everything, even places he wasn't allowed to go, but that was apart of the process, just another element of an explorer's journey.
He layed, head looking up at a ceiling, "it was fun" he thought, but it wasn't the same without his father.
"Sleep well Silas, love you" his mother said as she pulled a blanket over him, before she went to sleep on a bed of her own.
"Love you" His eyes shut, hoping for a dream where's something to do.
.
"Father" said in a tired whisper as he woke up, the word hard to form but said without further hesitation.
His eyes heavier than usual and something he felt something different, he brushed it off as he brushed his teeth and without having to explore anymore, he went and wandered.
The hallways were filled with similar doors, he stepped though the hallway. The steps quiet but they echoed in the heavy dusty air.
His destination wasn't the end of the doors, but it was where he wanted to be.
A open area with light weakly shining down, a staircase that connected all floors, the stairs only leading up. they climbed in a shape similar to a "T"; two stairs to each floor.
Distant mumbles slowly filled the silence as he climbed a vast array of steps.
He climb to the second level, another hallway, along with railing that protected him from falling.
As he climbed the air he breathed grew clearer, and just like the fresh air more people appeared, it wasn't a lot, but at the top of the staircase, the people grew into a community and the air was clear as light.
A everyday occurrence.
He walked past the people in silence, unnoticed.
He continued onto the deck, a deck that was so clean it reflected the sun as if it were water, the only visible distinction being the lines that were between the planks.
"So now what" he said as though he's asking the sun, his voice carried a child like slur.
…
Without the Sun answering something else did.
Curiosity.
He looked towards a ladder that leads even higher, like a mountain waiting to be climbed. but it was blocked, so he decided to go up the blockage as if it was the ladder itself.
The boy kept reaching until he was satisfied, he climbed til he reached the top.
It was a secluded area similar to the deck just must smaller. He felt more free, more satisfied with his exploration, his work.
He glanced at the sunset, "Did you see that sun?" although as he said that; his stomach growled.
"huh, why do I feel so hungry?" He asked himself
Grumble "Did I forget to eat?" He thought
"Why didn't I eat?" His thought echoed
'Why didn't mom wake me up?' he asked.
"mom just must've forgot, I should check on her." he stood up, the air blew harder than if he was standing on the deck.
He went back, down the ladders, through the deck, down the stairs, through the hallway.
The journey felt like he took a thousand more steps than he should've, but he made it.
What met him was a dim light, and his mother sleeping in absolute silence.
"So she's just sleeping"
Step, step, another step.
"Mom must've forgotten to wake up", his face let out a gentle smile.
"I can wake her up just like she did for me"
Kneeling down he grabbed his moms shoulder, his one hand rocking her body.
Her body felt cold to the touch, for some reason she wasn't waking up.
Silas let out a soft chuckle
"So this is must be what people are like when they're sleeping."
His smile still remained before standing up.
…
He made a decision to let his mom sleep longer since she must be tired.
He didn't understand what his mind was doing, but he knew that just how his mind works.
The boy returned to the deck but instead of journeying further, he walked to the furthest point of the ship, the closest point to the sun. He leaned against the railing; his posture set on the sun, his gaze was more intent than it ever was, and he asked a single question.
"Why?" He unknowingly asked.
His neck wasn't tired, not yet, so he patiently stared at the sun for an answer.