How? Just how did this happen? Just a day ago I was laughing, playing, and eating with mom and dad. Even though I was cast outside the society, I never felt sad because of my parents, because they were with me at every step of my life. But now that they were no more, what was I supposed to do?

I sat beside their grave, kept asking the same questions over and over. Why did they leave me? Was I not a good kid? Did I fail to live up to their expectations? Did they not find me useful? Well, upon thinking, the lattermost is most likely, after all, what use is there of a 9-year-old Potential-less kid in this world of dog-eat-dog.

But still, was all of the love and affection they showered at me despite being Potential-less all a lie? Did the time we spent mean nothing to them? I wanted to believe it was not, I really wanted to, but I couldn't. I could no longer face away from the inevitable.

The elder priest came over to me holding a piece of paper.

"I believe this was the thing your parents left for you. May their souls rest in peace in the Goddess's domain."

The words rang inside my head several times but these sugar-coated words weren't the highlight. After saying his part, the elder priest went over to my relatives who were standing at a fair bit of distance from me, faking their tears. I don't understand why would they do it? They were well aware that I knew about their acts, but they still kept at it.

...Disgusting.

"Is that kid really Potential-less?"

My relatives turned their faces away from my line of sight.

"Yes. Also, he is the only Potential-less kid in the entire world."

they didn't bother lowering their voices and the filthy sounds from their mouths entered my ears.

Was it my fault that I am Potential-less? Every day, every single day, I prayed relentlessly to the Goddess to bless me with a Potential, but what did I get?

"Tch. I have to go purify myself again now that I have exchanged words with filth."

Ignoring their senseless blabbering, I raised the piece of paper left by my parents to my eye level and started to read the contents. As I read the words, my voice receded to nothing, my clench on the paper became tighter and the gritting of my teeth became harder.

I am sorry, Ken.

'I am sorry? What kind of bullshit is this? You are sorry that you left me alone? You are sorry that you will enjoy every bit of my suffering from the heavens until I can't take it anymore? Is that what you are implying?'

Rage was over my head. I couldn't think straight. I wanted to scream whatever came to my mouth. I wanted to curse myself for being weak. I wanted to curse my parents for leaving me behind. I wanted to curse that fuckin' Goddess for never stepping in... but I held back. I was in a cemetery, surrounded by priests and potential-beares who can erase my existence in a second. I did not want any more trouble on my tab than I already had.

Not a single drop of tear came out from my eyes as I crushed the paper and threw it at my parents' grave. My heart was empty. it was as if a massive hole was ingrained in my heart.

I quietly left the cemetery, never to look back again.

***

[One day after my parents' death]

I was thrown out of my family. The reasoning was obvious- I was Potential-less.

[Two days after my parents' death]

I was bullied and beaten up, my legs broken and my right arm fractured.

The Madonna of our school seemed to be interested in my miserable state. But it was too much work for me to dig into that matter.

[Three days after my parents' death]

I got bullied again. A light beating and then was pissed on. And another new thing happened, While walking down the street, anybody who would pass me would spit right in front of my feet. Seems like the secret got out.

There were gossips about some kind of "plan". Of course, I was left out and I had to fix myself again.

But there was one thing that bothered me. How the hell did everyone (except my school and my relatives) know about me being a Potential-less? My relatives wouldn't go around spreading the secret to the masses since it would be their reputation that will skydive. So how?

[Four days after my parents' death]

The same things happened again.

[Five days after my parents' death]

Again.

[Six days after my parents' death]

And again.

[Seven days]

And again.

[Three weeks]

And again.

[Four weeks]

And again.

[Two months]

And again.

[Three months]

And again.

[One year]

And again.

[Two years]

And again.

[Three years]

And again.

And again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again. And... again.

.

.

.

'I can't take this anymore.'

I rushed to the rooftop of our school building. Standing in front of the roof railings, I placed my hands on them and lifted my left leg to place it on the railing firmly while still gripping onto them. Just like that, I raised my other leg and finally stood on the railing, looking down on the world beneath me.

Anger. Hatred. Sorrow. Grief. Despair. These were the feelings that were prominent in the last 3 years. I endured them for whole 3 years, slowly chipping my emotions away, and now, they overwhelmed me.

"I can finally say goodbye to this world, but... but..." Before I knew it, my cheeks had become a sloppy mess. Tears rolled incessantly down my cheeks and my nose ran disgustingly.

"I was born without any wings so it should be natural to me..."

I jumped.

I let my body loose in mid-air. The air was freezing as I cut through the atmosphere, falling to the ground at a scary speed. The distance of the ground from the 5-story building was gradually decreasing and my heartbeat was going insane as the distance decreased.

'... but if it's possible to have a second chance, then...'

Bam!

My body fell listlessly on the ground and stayed still, showing no signs of any kind of movement. My limbs all went numb slowly. I groaned painfully as I experienced the energy leaving my limbs until they could not be felt anymore. My eyes were flickering in excruciating pain, blood gushing out of my head and mouth. But I could not perceive the pain. But I knew I was dying. It was even more excruciating.

With whatever energy I was left with, I tried to speak.

"I... would like... a pair of... wings."

At that moment of instance, the 12-year-old boy named Ken died... or so I thought.

A soft and gentle yet ecstatic voice resounded inside my dying brain.

"Your wish has been heard loud and clear!"

***