Shadow Of Grace

Chapter 2: The Call

As Edward took steps toward the Diego Circus, it felt as though each step he took was heavier than the previous one. He walked with his head lowered, his red checker-patterned shirt flapping lightly in the breeze, while his faded trousers enjoyed the coldness of the day. People brushed past him in pursuit of their own errands, but Edward remained unbothered, locked inside himself.

Then his eyes caught sight of a young boy with his parents. They had just parked their car and were approaching the mall. The father bent low and kissed his son on the forehead, while the mother lifted the child into her arms, planting a tender kiss on his cheek before carrying him inside.

Edward stood still watching the beautiful moment between the parents and their child. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he enjoyed the sight. He wished that he had encountered such an experience – love and care as the young boy had received without asking.

His mind quickly drifted to an aged woman who picked him up from the streets of Portland when he was 10. The aged woman, Cassie, didn't have any kids, and her situation was like that of Edward. They had a strong relationship: one of a mother and son. One fateful day, this bond was broken. Mrs Cassie had a heart attack. Where was Edward? He had gone to a nearby store to get some groceries with the little money Mrs Cassie gave him.

Mrs Cassie struggled with the attack and slowly gasped her last breath. Edward got home; he noticed that Mrs Cassie wasn't in the living room, and her favourite old-time channel had just begun to play. He thought she might have been in the restroom and decided to call out to her, but no one answered. He got distressed and walked up to her bedroom. He glanced at the room, no trace of Mrs Cassie, but something was off: he stared at the bed whose sheets were in disarray, as though someone had struggled with it. He moved a little bit further, and there he saw Mrs Cassie lying helplessly on the floor beside the bed with cold hands and feet.

” Mrs Cassie!” He shouted, his voice breaking. He cried his eyes out as his only friend and roommate was taken away by the cold hands of death, and there was nothing he could do.

From then onwards, he had to learn how to live independently. Just as he was thinking about how wretched his life was, his phone began to ring. But just as he was about to answer, he got hit by a stone, and he began to bleed. It was unfortunate that he didn't see who threw the stone at him. What could he have done if he had seen the person? Absolutely nothing!

He quickly paced towards the entrance of The Diego Circus, realising he was late.

“Edward! Edward!” Mr Angelo yelped.

Edward was confused about who could be calling out to him in such an angry manner. Just as he could turn back, there he was – Mr Angelo ( His landlord). His heart sank upon seeing an angry Mr Angelo pacing towards him.

"Why haven't you been answering my calls?” He snapped.

Just as Edward was about to explain what he had faced, Mr Angelo grabbed him by the collar with a firm grip, and his pot-bellied stomach bounced up and down.

“I've had enough of this! You had the guts to ignore my calls, knowing fully well you haven't paid your rent that was due as long as 2 years ago. Two years! I gave you that apartment out of pity and humanity, and you dared to take advantage of my kindness. Enough! I'm giving you an ultimatum –3 days, I give you 3 days. If I don't see my money within these days, you will not walk out of this apartment alive.”

Mr Angelo, a short, dark man with a pot-bellied stomach who was in his late 50s, gave off the vibe of old school brutality. Mr Angelo isn't fond of chasing people around. Many of his tenants never dare to owe him because he's known to be a lunatic. The last time someone owed him, he hired some goons to beat him up. Luckily, he presented the rent to him, and he was saved.

Edward, on the other hand, was filled with the spirit of fear as he received such a threat from Mr Angelo. He went down on his knees, crying, but someone tapped him on the shoulder. It was Mr Hovey.

“Ed, what's wrong with you? Why are you in this state?”

Edward quickly stood up and said,

“Nothing, Mr Hovey”

Edward then entered the arena. His mind filled with thoughts of the past, present, and the future ahead of him.

The Diego Circus was surrounded by the fragrance of joy and liveliness. Children ran around with balloons in their hands, filling the atmosphere with their laughter, toppling over vendors' goods, but who could scold such a light-hearted trouble?

Edward blends with the crowd, trying hard not to be spotted by anyone. He adjusted his outfit and tried to get rid of his shirt that was stained with a drip of blood that had trickled down his forehead. But it was pointless. Nobody seemed to care, or maybe nobody did care

Inside the arena, performers were rehearsing, acrobats stretching their limbs, clowns getting their faces painted, jugglers tossing the pins into smooth arcs, some cheerful, while some were sad. For Edward, the Diego Circus was more than a workplace, rather a place where he could escape his haunting reality.

"Edward!" An angry voice cut across his thoughts. It was Marcus, the Circus Manager. A tall man with a bearded face and cat-like eyes.

“You're late again” He furiously approached Edward.

“I'm sorry, sir “, Edward murmured with his eyes downcast.

“Sorry doesn't get you any wages. Get to work, boy! Those cages won't drag themselves ”

Edward simply nodded and approached his work area. He had applied for a job but was given a caretaker job. He was told to look after the animals that would be displayed during the event. He grabbed the handles of the cage and began to pull with all his might.

As he worked, he couldn't control the urge to glance at the performers. Deep inside, Edward wanted to be more than just an animal caretaker; he wanted to be known, live his dreams as being the boss of himself, fulfil his wishes and not cope with the awful smell of the animals in the cage.

But for now, he continued pulling with sweat trickling down his face. The Circus was not just a stage of wonder and fun but a stage of survival for Edward.

Edward wiped the sweat with his worn-out sleeves, his hands aching from pulling the handles of the cage. Marcus, on the other hand, barked an order at the performers nearby. Edward had to focus on his job so as not to attract any attention.

Still, he couldn't resist the urge to look at the wonderful sight. Every cheer from the crowd, every painted smile from the clown, got his lips to lift up a smile. That was the life he always wanted to live - a life where he could smile away his pain and grief.

“Edward!” Marcus snapped

“ Eyes on the cage, young man!” “ If anything happens to that cage, it won't be me who pays for it– it'll be you.”

“Yes sir,” Edward muttered, hauling at the handle harder than before. His hands ached from the strain, but he had to keep pulling.

In that instant, his phone buzzed again. He was frightened, The landlord's words kept echoing in his mind: Three days… or your dead body will be thrown out. He didn't answer.

He shiveringly shoved his phone deep into his pocket to escape its vibration. His life was a Circus – the fact is he didn't have control over it. Edward stood still for a moment, staring at the performers basking in their freedom. A thought sparked in his mind: “What if I tried? What if I stepped into the ring, just once ?” But the thought vanished as soon as he heard Marcus’ voice.

For Edward, survival was the only art he had mastered.