The Eyes he couldn't Read

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. You've seen the soul of everyone you've ever met eyes with. Except for one.

Max innately received a gift that he was not born to handle, and he lived with that harsh reality everyday of his life. If he locked eyes with someone, a stranger or the closest of kin, their true self was absorbed right into his mind's eye. A quick download of an individuals intent, all their inner most feelings and how they view the world, burst into his conscious.

Anyone who knew Max understood his kind disposition and the burden this caused him. Over time, the cheerful boy that was adored by all, grew jaded with everything around him. Thousands of souls paired with their stories, the pure joy of the world and the evil that walked along side it, had taken an unspeakable toll on Max. He vowed to never meet another human being and sometime in his early twenties he left his town in search of the darkest spot he could find, to live out the rest of his days in seclusion.

Max laid on the sea of red dirt that made up the cave floor , the hue of clay coated his greasy hair. It had been nearly ten years since he had a proper shower. The odor that seeped of his body would clear a crowded room within seconds but his nose knew nothing of it. Everyday, he ate the insects that scurried near his head, hardly wasting any energy when he slowly snatched up a cave beetle or a plump worm. The verge of death was always hovering over him, but he welcomed it. His cowardice was the only reason he did not off himself all those years back, but when she came along, it changed everything.

"Hello!", a female voice resonated through the blackened cave.

It was the first time Max had heard the sound of human since he left civilization. He moved to his feet as fast as his withered frame would allow. He aimed his ear towards the mouth of the cave, his heart beating so fast, he was afraid he would miss if it she called again.

Not another word followed, which may seem like a good thing but the thud of her footsteps that grew louder made for a scenario that was infinitely times more intense for Max. She was mere feet away, and he knew he could not avoid it.

"Stop!", Max yelled, his vocal cords straining from the absence of use.

"Who-Who is it! Who are you?", he said, his voice bouncing off the walls into the pitch black. Her hands fumbled around as she removed her cell phone from her pocket and turned the flash light on. Max's face illuminated for the first time in a decade. He shunned away from it, like a scolded person would from their abuser.

She was not scared, nor did she try to run. She looked Max directly in the eye and cautiously proceeded towards him. Max flinched hard in anticipation, his frail mind preparing for the barrage of incoming thoughts. But as he clinched his head tightly, mumbling like an insane person, he soon realized they were not coming. It was the first time he had ever looked into a pair of eyes, and had actually been able to enjoy the moment of meeting someone new.

His tense body relaxed and before he knew it, the young woman had embraced him. She hugged him like she had known him her whole life. Her fingers gripped the back of his protruding ribs, and he could feel the wet of her tears drip onto his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry it took me so long", she whispered into his ear.

He wept into her arms, his body releasing the torment of a thousand souls. She never let him go, and the burden he had carried for so long dissipated into her bosom.

"I see your soul Max... I know you are broken but I will fix you. I promise, I will fix everything.", she said, her soothing voice released all the anguish inside of him.

Author's Note

Another Writing Prompt (all submissions of mine but one, are all WPs from the past)

Reviews

[brinda]

Its beautiful.Seriously.It actually made me realize that though we seek transparency in the people around us,somethings are best left undiscovered.

[Raven Moonchild]

(applauds) Amazing,deep,mind and heart capturing. I know from personal experience how it feels to have everyone dump their woes on you simply because you're happy and listening. It takes a heavy toll on the mind and soul.