The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)

Chapter 30.5: Her Eyes

Part 3/3

“Well, think about it like a book,” she answered softly, “We read and we get information from the text. When you look into someone’s eyes, that tells you everything you need to know.”

Ben looked into her eyes… but there was nothing but the deep, thick brown that resided within. Unmoving and still, and all that remained of Ben’s memory of her. Her eyes… her eyes were the prettiest of all. And no matter how hard Ben tried he could never read those deep eyes.

“You’re confused as to why you can’t read my eyes,” she observed with a wink, “Don’t worry. It’s not you. But some people are more complicated than others. They are harder to read. It’s like reading a poem. They are harder to read and understand, but they have the most beautiful stories to tell.”

She looked off to the side and noticed a couple kissing. She narrowed her eyes at them, and looked back at Ben.

“You were one of them, if I am going to be truthful,” she said, “Before today, you always had that dull look in your eyes. As if you didn’t care. You… don’t care about this life, do you?”

Ben looked down at his plate of carne asada tacos, ashamed.

“It’s okay. A lot of us are lost souls,” she reassured him. Ben squinted his eyes and noticed the white blobs covering her face getting stronger and more aggressive, “Find a purpose… Okay? Promise me… Promise me you will find a purpose in this life.”

She reached forward and caressed Ben’s hair out of the way, taking one final look into his eyes.

“And promise me one day you’ll be able to read eyes as I have.”

The world began to tear apart around them, and soon Ben was forced out of his memory. Cruel of the world, yet necessary for his well-being. Ben blinked his eyes a few more times, and looked at the flower one last time. He could feel her touch as he stared into the bulb, and he could sense her presence. It was almost as if she was there with him.

“I get it now,” Ben said, pocketing the flower, “It’s all about understanding. I need to understand Samuel. And then I’ll be able to read his eyes… just like how she could read mine.”

Ben walked off to his hut, that feeling in his heart unchallenged.

That feeling of hope.