Billy - Part 6

Billy's mother stared at her son in complete disbelief, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly as she searched for words to say. She felt the world caving in as she struggled to understand what had happened to her beautiful young boy. She felt tears well up in her eyes as the sorrow overwhelmed her. Billy did not move, he still faced her with his unseeing eyes, his head inclined slightly to one side, a movement that was barely perceptible. His face was calm and he showed no signs of fear or discomfort at the sudden change in his condition. He waited patiently for his mother to collect herself, knowing how she must feel and fully comprehending her state of shock. Endless moments passed, or so it seemed to Billy's mother before she was able to speak. Her voice was shaky but she held her son's hands firmly in her own.

"You can't see me, can you?" she asked. She knew the answer but somehow felt the need to ask anyway.
"No mother, I cannot" Billy's reply was simple, his voice was calm and strong, as if his blindness was a natural progression of his young life.
"But you are alright, aren't you? You had a terrible fever last night, the worst I had ever witnessed."
"Yes, mother. I feel fine. I had a vision last night. I understand why I have become blind." Billy replied but he said nothing further. His mother waited for an explanation but when none came, she became angry.
"Well? What did you see? Why has this been done to you?" She asked exasperated.
"I cannot tell you mother, it is hard to explain, only that my blindness is a test and a necessity for what is to come." Billy's reply did little to satisfy his mother and he could feel the anger building up inside her as her grip tightened on his hands. She dug her nails in the palms of his hands and he cringed inwardly.
"What is to come Billy? What is to come that is so important that you must be destroyed in this manner?" Her voice suppressed a panic that was rising in her throat. She could feel him slipping away from her by some evil force, the same evil force that had followed him since his birth and her feelings of helplessness infuriated her.
"Mother, we must reach the town of Kasar by nightfall tonight. There is someone waiting for me there and he will be better able to answer your questions. Let us have some breakfast and take to the road." He tilted his head slightly towards the sun and then added "it'll be noon soon and we must be inside the city gates before they close."

Billy's mother stared at him a moment longer and she felt a part of her die inside. She swallowed hard against the pain in her chest and her mouth became a thin determined line on her face. She nodded to herself, released Billy's hands and began to prepare some breakfast. They ate some bread, cheese, and some dried fruit, swallowing it down with some warm ale. They ate in uncomfortable silence and when they were finished, she went to find their mule. It was feeding on some grass where they had left it and when she returned, she found Billy standing waiting, with his packed securely tied on his back. He placed his hand on the mule's neck as they descended to the road, setting a brisk pace to Kasar. They would reach there before nightfall, Billy was sure. He lifted his face to the sun, felt its comfortable warmth on his face, and began to whistle the same merry tune he whistled when they left home. His mother stared at him curiously, shook her head in hopelessness and walked on.