Chapter 88

From Owen's point of view From Owen's point of view After my outburst, Lucas abruptly ceased crying. It appeared that my sudden anger had frightened him.  As I approached him, he instinctively recoiled and his eyes, too, burned with a mix of fear and anger.  At that moment, I realized that all my previous efforts had gone to waste.  Nevertheless, I knew that I had to try to coax him into overcoming his fear.  But I knew that even if I were to speak to him gently now, it would be a difficult task to regain his trust.  Anyway, ultimately, Lucas had to muster the courage this time.  As I approached Lucas again, I spoke, "Lucas, do you realize that you've conquered three checkpoints? They were challenging, yet you ran with remarkable speed and made it through. You're truly exceptional, and it's hard to believe that you're just five years old with such talent for running." I added in a gentle yet persuasive tone. "Your mother wa