Zaria Dove

Another Point of View

"She’s always been like this, ever since I reached an age where I could understand things!” I said.

“I’m sorry that you had to go through so much because of them, and I apologize for misunderstanding all of you for such a long time.” I whispered as his hand gently touched my shoulder.

My eyes widened; it was fascinating to see how they had lived such different lives, even in hiding. I can only imagine the immense challenges they must have faced.

We sat together in silence, or maybe he wasn’t even sitting at all or maybe he wasn’t there anymore. All I know is that he answered most of my questions. The only thing that still troubled me was a strange longing to see him, to truly know him. I knew it could potentially put him in danger, but the heart wants what it wants.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Jarred, they call me Jarred!” he replied.

“I’m Zaria, Zaria Dove!” I introduced myself. And that was just the beginning; we talked for hours until I eventually fell asleep right there.

The next day, I felt so happy, finally finding someone who could make sense of everything. I didn’t bother anyone, and strangely enough, the fact that I didn’t bother anyone seemed to bother everyone the most.

Especially, my mom, she had a hard time accepting that I was just like everyone else. But despite her struggles, Jarred and I kept meeting up, and with each encounter, I discovered more and more fascinating things about his life. It was during one of these meetings that something unexpected happened - we started developing feelings for each other.

As usual, we were sitting together one evening, engrossed in conversation, when he shared a story that I had never heard before.

“Do you like looking at the stars?” I asked.

“Stargazing?” he repeated. “There’s this island not too far away. It has a field full of flowers, and if you walk barefoot, the grass tickles your feet in the most amazing way. I promise to take you there someday.

We’ll lie in that field together, and I’ll show you the true magic of stargazing. When the clouds pass beneath the stars, it feels like you’re drifting along with them, as if you’re sailing on the surface of a calm sea.”

His words transported me to a different world, a place I could imagine even though I had never been there. I longed to experience everything he described, and in the midst of our shared imagination, we found ourselves holding hands. In that moment, I realized that his presence was just as real and genuine as anyone else’s.

“I want to see you,” I whispered.

He stayed quiet, but his hand slowly moved away from mine. “I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I shouldn’t have...” Guilt washed over me for making him uncomfortable.

Suddenly, I felt him walking away, his footsteps echoing in the distance. Then, right in front of me, a shimmering golden figure appeared, revealing a man dressed entirely in a blue leather suit. Even his head was covered in the same fabric.

He grabbed the top of his mask and pulled it off, revealing a man with tousled blond hair. His hair was messy from wearing the mask, but he tucked his mask into his belt loop and ran his fingers through his hair. When he looked up, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. His gray eyes held me captive.

Every aspect of his face was flawlessly perfect, causing me to blush and look down at the ground. “What?” he asked with a smile.

“It’s just... when I heard about the unseen, I pictured monsters, animals, maybe even aliens... but I never imagined...” I trailed off, turning away.

“What didn’t you imagine?” he prodded.

“I never imagined that you would be so beautiful!” I whispered, though he heard me. After a brief moment of silence, he slipped his hand into mine.

He had taken off his gloves, and I felt his bare skin against mine. He turned me around and gently lifted my chin with his finger. As I sensed him getting closer, I closed my eyes, and then... we kissed.

That marked the beginning of our love story, a tale filled with countless hours of being wrapped in each other’s arms, expressing our love in every possible way. Time seemed to blur as days turned into months, and my deepest fear transformed into the star I desired the most.

After a long and exhausting day, I sought solace in his embrace, finding refuge from the troubles that burdened me. Together, we would spend hours practicing, finding joy in this unforgiving world.

However, everything took a drastic turn on one fateful night.

As we finished our practice session, I noticed a sense of distraction in his behavior.

“I need to tell you something,” he said, gripping my hands tightly. His invisibility shield, which he used to wear when teaching me how to defend myself from enemies like Type C and his own people, was still activated.

“Have you ever noticed the island behind you?” he asked. I turned around and nodded, acknowledging the elevated spot overlooking our building.

“There’s a hidden sanctuary there. If you ever find yourself in need of help and I’m not around to protect you, go there,” he explained. Confusion filled my mind as I questioned where he was going.

“Just listen,” he pleaded, his worry evident.

“I don’t know why, but something feels off. I think you might need to seek refuge there.” He held onto my hands tightly.

Though fear consumed me, I tried to reassure him.

“Promise me, Zaria! If anything happens to me, you’ll go to my people,” he urged, blurting out his request.

Fear gripped me as I responded, “Nothing will happen to you!” But no words could ease his worries.

“Sprite Harbor” leaving me perplexed as I struggled to comprehend the situation. “This is the code. They will let you pass. Please, just promise me,” he insisted, tightening his grip on my hands.

“Okay, I promise!” I reassured him, gently cupping his face. “You don’t need to worry, Jarred.” With caution, I removed his mask and planted a tender kiss on his lips. He kissed me back, this seemed to be only thing that calmed him, but suddenly, he gasped and emitted a small sound resembling a hiccup.

Concerned, I pulled back and noticed blood trickling from his mouth. My attention shifted to my mother, who stood behind him, clutching a pike in her hand. The pike was lodged in the center of his chest.