The friend from the darkness

    Dimas was an 11-year-old boy, the only child of a well-to-do couple who had grown up in a middle-class neighborhood of the city. He always had all the toys he wanted. His parents put him in the best school in the city, where he lived with other important children: children of politicians, businessmen, military, etc.

    However, Dimas was not happy. He had no one to play with or talk to. He had grown up accompanied, but totally alone. At school he had no friends; nobody invited him to participate in collective games. When he tried to play some game, or the children allowed, but the game cooled so much that soon everyone gave up playing, or they said no, that the group was already full or that they did not accept him. Over time, he stopped trying to be sociable. He would go around by himself, with some toy or reading some book.

    One day, Dimas had a particularly sad day due to rejection from his schoolmates. On that day, he wanted to play with them and get busy. His desire to socialize was much greater than on other days, however, the rejection was the same as on other days. Only his sadness was greater. Dimas was very distressed. He came home with tears in her eyes. As he passed a customary junction on the way home, he was found with a very ugly accident: a young girl had been run over with her six-year-old son. The bodies were still on the ground covered with yellow canvas. Some onlookers were snooping around. There was an old lady crying, hugging a young man who also cried.

    --- What happened? --- Dimas asked a young man in the crowd.

    --- She was holding hands to her son but he suddenly let go of her hand and crossed the street without looking to the sides. She ran to get him, but a car rolled around the corner. They died. --- The curious man explained.

    Dimas felt a great pain in the soul of that lady who was weeping and hugging the man who might have been the husband of the run-down girl with her mother or mother-in-law.

    There were trees on the sidewalk. Behind one of them there was a very thin old lady dressed in black. On her shoulder there was a burrowing owl. The old woman looked deeply at the bodies on the ground. Dimas was walking past her to follow her way home when she put her hand on his shoulder. He got scared when he looked because the old woman was very ugly. Her face was crooked. She stared into Dimas's eyes, startled, as if she saw something sinister inside them. Dimas did not want to pay attention to her and continued on his way home.

    On that day Dimas wanted to talk to someone. His relationship with his parents had always been very superficial. With his father he barely spoke because the two hardly met. The father was always in the office taking care of business. His mother was a rich lady who used to travel and shop more than anything.

    Arriving home, he followed the usual routine: he took off his uniform and went to play with his toys in the room. Only he could not forget the solitude joking. It was so sad. It was really the day to feel the pain of so many years of solitude; he was speaking alone: “What did I do to deserve such rejection? It's a curse in my life!!!" He cried with deep anguish.

    Later that day, Dimas decided to go to bed early. He straightened his bed and turned out the light. Before he lay down, he felt a strong wind coming from the street, swaying the window curtains. His room was on the second floor of the house. Dimas closed the window. A minute later he heard a voice:

    --- Wanna talk? --- A soft, low voice said slowly.

    --- Who's there? --- He replied, startled.

    --- Just a friend. I just want to talk a little.

    Dimas thought about calling his mother. He got up and went to the switch to turn on the light; when he raised his arm toward the switch was interrupted by the voice:

    --- Please! Not the lights! Do not turn on! I will not go near you! I swear! --- Dimas lowered his arm.

    --- How did you get in here? --- He asked, lowering his arm.

    --- I went through the window. If I disturb you, I can leave. It's just that I thought you'd like someone to talk to for a while.

    --- No! --- He said suddenly as he remembered how bad it was to be alone. --- You can stay for a while.

    --- Do you want to tell me something? --- Or... we can play.

    Dimas and the voice spoke for over an hour. He told it all about the suffering that had gone on since he was little with loneliness. Then they played the gallows game, and the voice always won. It explained that he could always have its company but that he should never turn on the light or it would leave. Dimas nicknamed it The friend from the darkness.

    Time passed and their friendship grew steadily stronger. The dark friend gave advice to Dimas whenever he had a problem. It even helped him with homework and tutoring. The visits were daily and always late at night. During this time of conviviality, Dimas may realize that his friend was not physically like other people. It seemed to be ethereal and without concrete form.

    Two years passed and Dimas finally got a friend. His name was Fabrício. He was three years older than Dimas, already a man. The difference in age might have been important for the friendship to revenge since Dimas was very mature for his age. Fabrício, every day, went to Dimas's house. He was a very poor boy who had just moved into town. They studied together, played, read, ate, and walked. Dimas's parents were very pleased that Dimas had arranged a friend and even liked it when he would land at their house. The two became nails and flesh. Where one was, the other one was too.

    The dark friend never showed up to talk to Dimas when he was with them. If Fabrício was at Dimas's house, his friend would not show up. This generated a great discontent on the part of the friend of the darkness that, after a few weeks, appeared to Dimas in one of the nights in which the boy was alone and gave him an ultimatum:

    --- If this guy does not get away from you, he'll pay dearly!

    --- But why? I like him. He's my only friend!

    The friend of darkness was furious and said loudly:

    --- How unique? I was already your friend before he showed up. Did not I keep you company?

    --- Of course yes. I like talking to you. Only you do not show up, you do not play with me during the day because of the light, I cannot introduce you to my parents... It's very different.

    --- After he came into your life you did not have more time for me. --- Said the friend in a low and sad voice.

    --- But now I'm talking to you. Let's Play?

    Dimas played for a long time with his friend. The two of them stayed talking late into the night. But the voice was not satisfied with that situation, and before Dimas went to sleep she warned:

    --- If your friend does not get away he can get very ill!

    --- How bad? --- Dimas asked.

    --- Tell him! Very bad!

    Dimas tried to ask what "evil" it was, but his friend had already left.

    The next day Fabrício spent the day with Dimas and then landed at his house. The two of them stayed playing and talking late into the night.

    Three days passed and Fabrício continued to go to Dimas's house. On the fourth day, Fabrício did not go to school or look for Dimas, who was surprised by his friend's absence. Another day and another and nothing of Fabrício go to school or Dimas’ house.

    On the seventh day, early on a Saturday, the doorbell was activated. The maid answered. She was an old lady. The maid went to Dimas's room and said:

    --- She's a very strange lady. She says she wants to talk to the "boy." I thought it was you. --- She explained to the boy who was still under blankets.

    Dimas ran downstairs to see what it was about. The old woman was all black and had an owl on her shoulder: she was the same old woman with the owl he had seen in the accident long ago. The old woman looked deep into his eyes and said in a dry voice,

    --- I am the mother of Fabrício. I came to tell you that he's in the hospital. There's a mysterious disease that doctors cannot figure out. He does not have much time to live.

    --- Ah!!! What happened? How did he get sick? --- Dimas asked in shock.

    --- Today is the big day! --- She opened a gray bag and pulled out a black glass carafe. It was enclosed by a cork covered with rugged green leather. Then she glanced sideways and into the house; seeing no one, she handed the bottle to the boy and continued: --- Do not let anyone see this car, especially your night friend. --- She was leaving and Dimas asked:

    --- But what do I do with it?

    --- At the right time you will know. --- She spoke with her back to him and walking toward the gate. --- But remember: you cannot pass today, or Fabrício will die. His life is in your hands!

    Dimas was in despair. He thought of asking his parents to call the doctor’s family. He thought of calling his dark friend for advice, but he remembered what the old woman had said about not telling him. And how did she know he had a friend of the night? That had made him very confused. After some thought, he remembered that he had seen the old woman just the same day she had met his friend in the dark. Were they both related? Why had Fabrício suddenly become ill? He was a big, sturdy boy with strong arms, perfect health. There was no explanation. Even more than the doctors did not know what disease it was.

    After spending the day trying to understand, Dimas concluded that the bottle being black as night, the old woman knowing the existence of the friend of darkness and the latter having threatened Fabrício, obviously his night friend was related to the boy's illness. After analyzing the whole situation, Dimas had an idea.

    That night, his night friend appeared. Dimas said nothing about Fabrício illness. He only said that the two had gone away because he had discovered that in fact Fabrício only had friendship with him to enjoy the stewardship of staying in his house to eat well, sleep, use the pool, etc. It was then that Dimas decided to end the false friendship.

    --- I should have listened to you and stayed only with your friendship that is sincere. You have never taken advantage of anything that my parents can provide. He explained to his friend in the dark.

    --- You're not going to walk away from me anymore? --- Asked the voice in a tone of joy.

    --- No. Never again!

    --- That's really good!

    --- I missed your advice. After we stepped away, my grades at school have dropped. You helped me with the stories. Fabrício did not help me at all. But there is one thing that makes me sad...

    --- What?

    --- I would like to have your company longer. I would like to talk to you during the day. There has to be a way.

    --- I cannot stay in the light. I really cannot!

    --- What if I had a way to stay in the dark even though it was day?

    --- But as if the sunlight is very strong? --- Asked the friend.

    --- You know, I was thinking about it this afternoon, a way to have your company during the day. I went down to the basement. I found an old car where my father kept his marbles from when he was a child. It was abandoned there so I got it. --- He took out of the closet the bottle he had received from the old woman, but it was without the lid. --- It's all black. I put it in the sun and there is no light. You could stay inside it during the day, so we could always talk!

    One minute of silence.

    --- I need to analyze if any light does not come on.

    --- You can come in to see and I turn on the lamp light that is very weak. Just to give us a test.

    Another moment of silence.

    --- Dimas, you really are my friend, are not you? --- Asked the very treacherous friend.

    --- Clear!

    --- You would not fool me, would you?

    --- Of course not! I was just thinking of a way to have your company always. You are my only friend. I miss you during the day.

    --- It's ok! I trust you. I'm going to see if that bottle closes all the light.

    The dim light of the moonlight that penetrated through the window allowed Dimas to see the movements of the dark friend. As it stepped into the container, Dimas quickly took the lid from under his previously placed pillow, and covered the top of the pot.

    --- You deceived me! I trusted you. That's not fair! --- Complained the night friend very disappointed.

    --- And is it fair for you to do what you did to the boy? What fault does he has? What about me? I always wanted a real friend and when I did, what did you do with him?

    --- But I gave you my friendship.

    --- You never gave me anything! A thing of grace does not come with conditions, or is given or is exchanged. If it were for free you would not ask exclusivity in return.

    --- It's ok! I'm gone from your life forever. But get me out of here!

    --- Not before you return Fabrício's perfect health. He was not to blame for anything.

    Silence.

    --- Here, stuck like that, I cannot do anything. --- Explained the friend.

    --- How do I know you'll heal the boy?

    --- If I give you a cure, will you promise to free me?

    --- Hmm! How do I know you will not do the same thing to him or to me again?

    --- I do not want to be around you anymore. I do not feel like it anymore. I'm going to go far away. Promise!

    --- That's very good, but only after my friend is fully healed.

    --- Go to the hospital and...

    Dimas listened carefully to everything he had been told to do to restore his friend's health. As soon as dawn came, he dressed and hurried to the hospital with a paper in his hand where some words were written in Latin.

    Arriving there, he found Fabrício's mother by his bed. She looked at him with eyes wide with happiness. He had great expectations but she did not say a word.

    Dimas unfolded the paper and read aloud and clear:

    --- Ad hoc omnes mali rumpitur et sanitas. --- He made a gesture with his hands as if drawing a chart in the air.

    An icy wind rushed through the room. The light flashed as if it were going to turn off. Everyone shivered.

    When these phenomena passed, they all turned to the patient. Fabrício opened his brilliant eyes as usual. His health was restored. When he sat on the bed, Dimas gave him a hug.

    Suddenly they heard an owl sound. The old woman had turned into a beautiful younger girl, more than Fabrício.

    --- Jane! --- Fabrício said with a big smile. He ran toward her and hugged her.

    Jane had been a close friend of the same friend of Dimas's darkness, but when she realized its jealousy and possessiveness, she abandoned it. He took his revenge by transforming the girl into an old girl who had nothing but bad luck. Accidents or fights or assaults occurred everywhere she passed. People were falling and getting hurt; people were fighting for nothing; car beats; trampling; etc. That was what happened in that accident where Dimas had first seen the old lady: she stopped beside the woman with the boy to wait for the traffic light to open. It was when she greeted the woman and was charmed by the boy saying, "What a beautiful boy!" She just said it and the boy ran off across the street. His mother went after him to get him, and they were killed.

    --- Thank you! --- Jane said to Dimas. --- Thanks for being cunning and having the courage to face that creature.

    --- But why did you stop me when I saw you near the accident? --- Dimas asked curiously.

    --- Because I saw in your eyes that the shadow would seek for you to be another victim of it. That's when I saw a chance for you to help set me free. Now keep this owl. Put it on top of the pot. It will know what to do.

    --- But I promised … --- Jane interrupted.

    --- It will not get stuck. The owl will take it to the swamp and let the pot fall on a rock. He will break and the creature will be free, but it will not leave the swamp for a long time. There is where it should stay so as not to harm anyone else.

    Dimas became even friendlier to Fabrício and now also had the friendship of Jane. A few years later, Dimas married Jane and they had triplets.

The End