A Happy Place

      *LOGAN*-*

      "Life, sometimes can be hell, sometimes, can be heaven. But why? I believe even though we do not have control over some certain things in life, we can decide for ourselves whether we want to be happy or not, so to say, hell or heaven, is a choice we all can make.

And on the other hand, redemption can be found by anyone who seeked it, the question is, are you ready to be redeemed? Because a lot of people are so cornered in their dark place that they are too blinded to see that they could get out of their darkness, sadly.

Those people need someone, someone who can see beyond everyone else, someone who can come into their lives, take their hands, and guide them into the light…"

     "So, do you think you are redeemed?" 

     "Hmm. I might not be, but I'm in a happy place…" I smiled "And that's all that matters"

     "I love it when you smile."

     "Thank you Mrs lopez…" 

     She opened the door to walk away, then halted at once when her hands abuted on the door knob "Logan?" 

      "Yes?"

       She pinpointed her eyebrows, lacing her face with a dart of amazement "Why do you prefer the boys quarter?" 

     I stood up from my rickety chair, and opened the curtains before the big window; the landscape was beautiful, colorful plants, trees, animals, you could see squirrels chip about, birds tweet and the wind always pierce through the soul. 

     "Mrs Lopez, peace…" I turned back to her with a grin. "Here gives me peace more than any other place in this mansion. And I'm never alone, my ears are always blessed with the tunes of the birds, and the waves of the stream down the valley."

       "You're a fine man, Logan. I wonder when you will get married mmm? Or you want me to find one for you?" She smirked. 

     I immediately objected, throwing my hands in the air, in a joking manner. "No ma'am , thanks haha" 

     "Well, I'm always around. I doubt you will need a wife, as long as I'm around" she seemed pleased to hear those words from her mouth, and she was right. 

     I chuckled "Me too" 

      "Your bath is ready and the servants will serve you food there, whatever you want, please call me if you need anything at all" 

      I shook my head, shying away " oh my oh my! I can do those things by myself…" I damp on the chair "You're not my mom…" I stressed the last word. 

      "I haven't even done anything for you, compared to what you have done for me 

, Logan." 

     I stood up from the chair and walked close to her, and with my arms extensively "Come here mrs Lopez" and with a broad smile, she invaded the little space between us and walked into my arms 

     "Your body is so warm, ohh I feel like staying like this forever"

     "I will always be here, Mrs lopez." 

     "I know…" she patted my back, and opened the door. 

      "I wonder what I would do without you" 

      "I hope we will never find out" a laughter, shared by the both of us issued in and she exited through the door. 

     I had more than five servants, and honestly, I didn't know if they were really servants, everyone lived well, even better than most people. 

     Mrs Lopez had been my best friend, and a mother to me. I saved her twenty years ago from her husband who was a gangster, he beat her like an animal, and was going to kill her.

She was just a small restaurant owner, the restaurant became my favorite spot because of her, because I felt her pain, and needed to take it away from her. 

     I saved her, but she didn't know I killed her husband after, he didn't deserve to live, if he lived, he would only trouble them more. 

     And since then,I have been taking care of her and her three kids, who are all grown ups, in their mid 20's. 

      Sometimes they say I never age, so I left my hairs, both my facial hairs and my head, so that I could look older. I also tried to use the foods, and herbs as an excuse for always looking young, additionally, I hadn't no worries. But some nights were brutish, when memories of the past hunted me. 

      When I looked at them, I see peace. They were the reason I was still sane. I smile everyday knowing that I had them, that I had such a lovely family, and I would do anything to keep them safe. 

     But again, somehow, I didn't see them in my story, and the fact remained, I was very different from them, and it sent the willies to my bones knowing that one day I will watch them grow old and die, and I would be left alone.

     I had been living like a morsel even among them, just to keep them safe, because if I was ever sought after, they could be affected. 

      I left the boys quarter and found myself walking through the big broad hallway decorated with different styles of wallpapers, sculptures, exotic items and framed pictures of heros, some which depicted peace, and some which proved that redemption can be snared by the darkest hearts. 

     I stood in front of Abraham Lincoln's portrait and at both sides were portraits of John Wikes Booth, and Mary Suratt, the conspirator. 

      I could have saved him on the 15th of April 1865, I was hired to terminate him, but I wasn't an assassin, not one who killed great men. So I defied. 

I had learned of a new assassin, but I didn't know it would be Wikes. Even so, Lincoln was a good man, and a good friend of mine. I hope I don't make mistakes I made with many other people before Mrs Lopez and her children. 

       Next was Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. 

        I walked past them a little and nodded my head to the portrait of Emperor Yaizong of Tang, the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. At least, he ruled from 626 to 649. That was like two decades. 

     And beside was China's most famous teacher, our dear Confucius. Confucius believed that human nature has a spontaneous inclination towards goodness; which was the origin of the concept of universal love. 

     Drawn on a broader frame was Sun Yat-sen, the former Chinese statesman, who served as the first provisional president of China, and the first leader of the Kuomintang. 

     Known as the father of the nation, he played an indispensable role in bringing about the downfall of the Qing Dynasty and ended the feudal monarchy in China. 

     Their pictures might not have been, but they were drawn specially for me by a Parisian, one of the prominent French painters, Louise Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun. 

     Aha! Down below was the portrait of General Butt Naked, such a spiritual bastard. Funny name he had, actually that was because he fought naked.

His real name was Joshua Milton Blahyi. And he found redemption in christianity after being a human beast, you could say. He was a mad man who sacrificed children and would eat their hearts and drink their blood for fortification.

In case you didn't know, he is one of the most evil men that have ever lived, and he converted after claiming to see Jesus in person– he might be a nutcase, but he found redemption. 

      "Logan?" A voice interfered with my hypnosis in the history lane. 

      I turned to see Jude, Mrs Lopez' first son. "Ahhh Jude…" I walked close to him, and pulled him into my arms. "How are you doing mate?" 

      "I'm fine" he smiled, patting my back "You look like you could do with some food" he walked down the staircase, and I followed behind, knitting the lace of my piped cashmere robe. 

     Laughter, wine, food, fruits, meat and family were what I met as I dropped down from the stairs into the majestic living room. Their smiles lit up my heart, and the aromas enthralled my appetite. 

     I took my place at the head of the table, and dug into the series of food, fruits, wine, and meat set before me. 

      It was a complete table, with Mrs lopez' and her three children. But I didn't talk when I ate, so no one talked to me while food was in my mouth. 

     A few moments had passed when a servant rushed inside, requesting my attention. My plate was still parted with food, so he had to wait till I was done. 

     I clicked my finger. 

     "Someone wants to see you, Sir"

     "Who?" 

     " Haven't seen 'em before. Actually they are looking for the owner of the house." 

     With the serviette I wiped my lips for oil, and brought my face up to him "Tell them that the owner of the house isn't around. He died some years ago" they all turned their gaze at me, and on Mrs Lopez's face I read a bit of uncertainty and fear. 

      He nodded to me and turned away and disappeared from our sight. 

     He came in again "Sir, they call for the caretaker"

    "There is no caretaker, my friend. Tell them there's nothing like that here. This mansion is just occupied by the people who have been put here by the government. Government property my friend, government property, tell them that" and I dismissed him immediately.