3 Farewells and New Beginnings

The weekend passed in a flash and it's Monday again. Leo's weekend was filled with paperwork and preparation before he switched schools. He got used to the frequent transfer of schools due to his work although there was a time where he hated it. The periodic transfers made it difficult to make long-lasting friendships. Every time he would make a few friends, he would need to change schools from time to time and the friendship he built slowly wore thin by the passage of time before disappearing. Arthur once asked him if he wanted to quit but Leo persisted and continued. He greatly admired Arthur as he did not have any other role model to follow, he has never seen his parents after all.

However as time slowly goes on and his experience grew, Leo took a liking to his work. It brought him joy as he noticed the people he interacted with outlived their doctor's so-called "expiry dates". Families and friends of his patients are especially grateful. He brought meaning to their lives again.

Leo started his day as usual, despite it being his last day of school and he might never see the friends he gained ever again. He got used to it a long time ago and he did not have a close connection with them anyways, perhaps his subconscious's way of protecting himself to not let his heart be broken again. Sometimes he would feel a little lonely but he became accustomed to being alone. Yet, his friendly and outgoing personality gained him many friends and many people liked him. Many people came to talk to him, some expressed disappointment, some even cried and many told him to keep in touch. He felt happy and grateful for the people who came to see him but he knew that slowly, he would fade away from their minds. He hoped he left a mark in their lives at least, a piece of proof that he existed.

The walk home was anticlimactic after the crowd bid their farewells and now he's back alone. The orange sunset looks as if someone spilt gold paint over the world. He continued walking up the hill that he walked daily for the past year. Right below him, he could see the straight road splitting the world into two, inviting him for his march down the hill.

Nobody walks with Leo on the way home and he had grown to enjoy solitary walks. It clears his mind and allows him to view things from a different perspective on his journey.

'I feel like painting this scene now,' thought Leo. He had not been painting for some time now.

When he got back to his studio apartment room on the 10th floor, he dug through his bag and rummaged through all the messages and gifts his former classmates gave him before finding a single brass key with a paintbrush key chain attached to it. He opened the door and as usual, a dark and empty room greeted him. He had lived alone for many years already but yet he hoped to have at least someone to greet him as he returns. He gave out an audible sigh before going to the shower. He liked showers, it refreshes him and gives him a sensation as if he had been reborn. After the shower, he started to cook dinner. His experience of living alone made him a skilled cook, from Oriental cuisines to Western ones although he preferred oriental cuisines especially dumplings probably due to the influence of Arthur. Tonight's meal is dumplings, a treat for himself for the new job.

After his dinner, Leo sat at his workstation right by the window, displaying the splendour of the city. From his large leather office chair, he could see the nightlife of the street below. A couple walked beside each other, wearing matching yellow outfits, linking their hands together, and hopped a little in their slow strides, giggling and laughing. Suddenly the man froze in his tracks, his partner got yanked behind by his abrupt halt. In their way was a woman in a light brown trench coat. Their conversations got tense and it grew until everyone around them started looking at the trio. The woman in yellow ran off while the man had an angry few words with the other woman and chased after her.

Leo smirked a little. There is always something interesting happening in the city, in daily life.

The clock strikes 9 and a little beep wakes him from the focus of his people-watching.

"I should study the target. Ahhhh, I have to change schools again tomorrow." lamented Leo.

He flipped through the first pages of the dossier. The picture of the girl is attached with her familial background. Wow, she's cute, thought Leo.

He placed the picture aside and continued reading. He sketched a portrait of her in the meantime. Luna Mocha, 17. Born September 14th. Parents are…

'What? It's redacted?' He stopped sketching, the portrait was almost complete.

'Strange...' Leo was puzzled. Not like it mattered to him anyways. There are always cases where the client wished to hide some of their details although it would make his job a little more difficult, he is always willing to take up the challenge.

He continued to flip through the crisp documents of the dossier, reading her other details, impressed by her academic record, although all other achievements were almost non-existent.

He snickered and shook his head. He looked up to the night, the full moon shone brightly, bathing his face with moonlight. He continued to study her details despite many missing details, he thought it would be fine after meeting her in person.

A beep sounded again, now the screen displayed 12 am.

He stretched his arms and yawned, "I need to sleep soon. I need to find the new school early tomorrow."

As he went to bed and switched off the lights, he still could not sleep. The darkness and the night sky reminded him of her now. He stared at the bright moon.

'Luna huh? So enigmatic, like the moon so far away.'

As time passed and the clouds slowly covered the moonlight, he faded into slumber.