Lann

Since his mother died, Ian has never been the same. Before, he used to run around the house, ask questions nonstop, and laugh at any silly joke. But after that day, the smiles disappeared. His father tried everything. She bought him expensive gifts. She took him on trips. She hired private tutors. But nothing worked. Ian remained quiet. Closed. Distant. When his father opened a new business in another city, he decided that a move might be a fresh start. On the drive to his new house, Ian observed the scenery through the car window without paying much attention to anything. Ian was sitting in the back seat of the car, looking out the window without really paying attention to the landscape. Since her mother's death, nothing seemed interesting. The trees passed by. The houses went by. People were passing by. Everything was the same. Then he saw a girl riding a bicycle. She rode her bike calmly down the street, bobbing her head as if she were listening to a song that only she knew. For a moment, she looked at the car. Their eyes met. But then she looked ahead again. Or at least he tried. Because, seconds later, the bicycle wheel ran over a rock. Hey! The bicycle turned to one side. She turned to the other one. And it fell onto the grass by the sidewalk. The funniest part wasn't the fall. That was her expression. The girl sat on the ground, blinking several times at the fallen bicycle. Then he looked at his own hand. Then to heaven. Then back to the bicycle again. As if he were trying to figure out which of the three had been responsible for the accident. Ian watched that scene for a few seconds. And then... He laughed. He laughed genuinely. A laugh he hadn't given in years. Even he was surprised. The driver looked in the mirror. — Mr. Ian? But the boy had already become serious again, looking out the window as the car continued its journey.