The ‘Good’ Adam| Part 2

One day as I stood on the edge of the forest, I watched Luzia gently stroking an injured dog that had nestled up to her side.

“Luzia,” I began hesitantly, my deep voice breaking the silence between us. “Why do you do this? Why do you care for those who have been abandoned by others?”

Luzia smiled and straightened up, her iron-coloured eyes meeting mine. “Because everyone deserves a second chance, Adam. These dogs are not to blame for the suffering they’ve endured. It’s our responsibility to take care of them, just as it’s your responsibility to find your own destiny.”

“My destiny?” I repeated, furrowing my brow deeply. “What is my destiny, Luzia? I am a monster, a product of Victor Frankenstein’s reckless pursuit of knowledge. The moment I opened my eyes, he fled from me. What can I possibly do, except spread fear and terror?”

Luzia stepped closer, gently placing her hand on my rough, seam-stitched skin. “You are more than that, Adam. You are a being of flesh and blood, with a heart that beats just as strongly as mine. You can choose who you want to be, regardless of what others think of you.”

I lowered my gaze, my thoughts swirling in my head. “But how can I learn to do the right thing when I’ve never had anyone to teach me what it means to be a good person?”

Luzia smiled wisely and replied, “By listening to me, Adam. By learning to be compassionate and empathetic, you will realize that it’s never too late to become a better person. And I will always be here to accompany you on that journey.”

A moment of silence hung between us before I slowly nodded, a spark of hope in my dark eyes. “Thank you, Luzia. I will try.”

I watched her with fascination, admiring her selflessness and compassion. She showed me kindness when I least deserved it, taught me the value of empathy and understanding. Under her guidance, I began to see the world with new eyes, learning to appreciate the beauty that surrounded me.

As days turned into weeks, a shadow fell over our idyllic sanctuary. The villagers grew suspicious of Luzia’s presence, whispering stories of witchcraft and sorcery. They saw the outcast as a symbol of everything they feared and despised.

When they came for her, their torches burning bright in the night, I felt an inexplicable urgency rising within me. With a roar that shook the earth, I stepped out of the shadows and confronted the wild mob with a rage that seemed to come from the depths of my soul. In that moment, I felt a power and strength that I could not explain, but that drove me to stand up for what was right. To protect Luzia.