The Genius’ War

As Xavier left the school, he noticed that the air was grey. The cool Winchester breeze made him lift the collar of his coat. The last lesson was Maths - boring as usual. The subject was advanced differential equations, but for Xavier it was just another repetition. The formulas the teacher wrote on the blackboard immediately took shape in his mind and he understood the solution in a few seconds. These lessons were no longer a challenge for him.

As he walked through the school yard, someone called his name. As Xavier stopped and looked in the direction of the voice, he made eye contact with the girl who was approaching him a few steps away. She was coming towards him with her long chestnut hair and her hands clenched nervously.

"Xavier, can I talk to you?"

Xavier bowed his head slightly. "Sure."

The girl took a deep breath. "I... well... I mean, I've been watching you for a long time. Can we spend some time together? Maybe go out sometime?"

Xavier noticed her excitement, but he didn't feel anything stir inside of him. People always thought something about them; sometimes cold, sometimes aloof. But in reality, he was just someone who didn't want to attract attention.

He replied in a soft but clear voice. "I apologise. But I don't think I'm the one you're interested in."

The girl's face flushed, but she shook her head and withdrew with a forced smile.

Xavier took a moment to look up at the sky. His world was different from what most people thought. While those around him were still dealing with the minutiae of life, he had already mapped out the path he needed to take.

Xavier didn't think it was wrong to have a girlfriend, but he hadn't liked a girl yet.

The house was quiet as usual. His mother was sitting in the kitchen, looking out of the window with empty eyes. His father was absent again. When Xavier walked through the door, he saw a sealed envelope on the kitchen table. His name was on it.

He stopped for a moment. He felt his heart beat faster.

He picked it up, felt the texture of the paper. He looked at the return address: Cambridge University.

His fingers brushed the edges of the paper and opened the letter. His eyes scanned the lines quickly.

'Congratulations, Xavier Candlelight...'

He didn't read the rest. Something stirred inside him - relief, excitement and a little fear. Here it was, the words that opened the door to freedom were right in front of him. But he couldn't quite feel what it meant at that moment.

Xavier folded the letter and let out a quiet breath. His future, trapped between the sheets of paper, was finally in his hands. English Literature and Creative Writing. The chance to write his own story.

In the kitchen, his mother was still at the window. She looked out, but wasn't sure what she saw. Her hands were folded on the table, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Xavier got a chair and sat down. His mother looked away.

"I've been accepted to Cambridge," Xavier said, his voice calm but cautious.

His mother didn't move for a moment, just blinked, as if she needed time to process what she had just heard. Then she tilted her head slightly to one side. "Is that so?" she said, but her voice was faint, like an empty echo.

"English literature and creative writing."

This time his mother was looking straight at him. Something flashed across her face, but it was hard to tell what it was. Was it mild surprise? Or just tiredness?

"What good will it do you?" she asked, her voice still expressionless.

Xavier gritted his teeth. He wasn't surprised, but the faint glimmer of hope was still crushed.

"I write,' he said, his voice a straight line. "And it will get me out of here."

His mother lowered her head, interlocking her fingers. Her eyes swept across the table as she spoke. "Your father..." She paused for a moment. Xavier guessed what she was going to say.

But she didn't finish the sentence. Instead, she shook her head from side to side and turned her eyes back to the window.

What would your father say if he heard this?

Xavier sighed and got up from his chair. What would your father say? meant nothing to him. When had his father ever really existed in his life?

His mother didn't stop him when he left the table. On his way to his room, Xavier felt the letter clutched tightly in his pocket.

It didn't matter what they thought anymore. Neither his father's silence nor his mother's blank look.

He would write his own story.

He heard footsteps behind him. Elliot stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"What's that?" his brother asked, looking at the paper in Xavier's hand.

Xavier looked at him. His brother's hair was dishevelled, his face had a sleepy expression, but the curiosity in his voice was obvious.

"I've been accepted to the university."

Elliot's expression changed. First he stared blankly for a moment, then his brow furrowed.

"You're not going, are you?"

Xavier put the letter down on the table with a sigh. He leaned over to his brother. "Elliot, I have to get out of here."

"But you're leaving me here." Elliot's voice trembled. Fear of getting lost was in his eyes.

Xavier shook his head from side to side. "I won't leave you here. First I'll go and settle down, then I'll take you with me. We'll live together."

A glimmer of hope spread across his brother's face, but he still couldn't believe it. "Really?"

Xavier nodded. "I promise."

Elliot hugged him. As Xavier cradled his brother's little body in his arms, his resolve grew stronger. He was not going to leave his brother in this house. Not ever.

As Xavier lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, he felt a sense of relief. Now he had a way out. A real chance to escape. But as much as it was a beginning, it was also a challenge. He had to plan, be patient and wait for the right time to take his brother with him.

Leaving Winchester would be easy. But truly leaving his past behind would be much harder than he realised.

Stepping into a new life scared Xavier a little because he was stepping into the unknown.