Page 13 of Sypher

I had seen it happen once, and it wasn’t pretty.

Provided that Sypher had access to a computer, he was able to participate in society and live a normal life, just like everyone else. His preferred method of communication was the binary code of ones and zeros—a language he spoke with great fluency. No one on Earth possessed Sypher’s unique capabilities, yet instead of harnessing his extraordinary talents, Montana madethe incredibly shortsighted decision to imprison him, treating him like a misbehaving child by confining him to a time-out, all because of Montana’s personal dislike for him.

I first encountered Sypher during his freshman year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, when he was just beginning his studies there. I was in my third year of college and actively weighing the option of transferring institutions when I caught sight of him walking by. From the moment I laid eyes on him, his striking appearance captivated me—his dark, unruly hair, his goth attire, and the numerous tattoos that adorned his body—but the intense gaze from his incredibly light blue eyes, like nothing I’d ever seen before, truly stole my heart and made me fall completely for him.

Hook, line and sinker. Before I even had a chance to greet him and learn his name, he had already completely entranced me. From that day forward, he’d been all I could think about.

It didn’t take me long to figure out what his name was, but when I learned the truth about who he truly was, well, that was a revelation I wasn’t ready for. It seemed that word got around fast on campus, and before I knew, all everyone was talking about wastheSypher was attending MIT.

At first, I chose to remain somewhat removed, finding satisfaction in simply watching and observing him from a distance, rather than engaging directly. However, it was during my advanced algorithmic coding class, when I unexpectedly discovered him seated at my usual table, that our friendship truly began.

I learned that we had much in common, but our interests diverged in the field of technology. I found myself drawn to the hands-on technical engineering and development of electronic devices, whereas Danny was more captivated by the theoretical underpinnings and logistical challenges of computer applications. His primary enjoyment stemmed from the processof designing and writing innovative computer programs that were impossible to track or identify.

His professors couldn’t teach him anything new, thus, the department heads and dean gave him his own lab to conduct independent research, provided he still completed the standard coursework. That was a blessing and a curse. When left to his own devices, Sypher would invariably lose himself in the dark web’s depths, a digital abyss of unsettling imagery and discordant sounds that warped his perception of reality.

Sypher, despite his age, possessed a childlike wonder, his eyes sparkling with innocent curiosity. With no one to oversee him, his actions grew erratic and unaccountable. He became untouchable, unintelligible, and a source of constant problems. Provided that a person was present to offer emotional grounding and remind him that life encompassed more than just the binary world of ones and zeros, he flourished and prospered.

And for a short time, that was my job.

Until it wasn’t.

Chapter Six

Sypher

July 4, 2023, Soulless Sinners’ mailroom,

With a groan, I sat up and grabbed my head, my fingers tightening in my hair while I rocked back and forth, the room spinning slightly. Images of his face, fragmented and indistinct, swirled in my thoughts. Disappointment and hurt etched into his features. His eyes reflected a dull ache and an immoral sense of betrayal.

I didn’t need to see his face to know disgust radiated from him as a palpable wave of revulsion washed over me. After all these years, his presence still lingered around me, suffocating me.

No matter how hard I tried, his grasp was unrelenting.

I was trapped. Exhaustion weighed me down. My muscles screamed in protest when I realized I couldn’t fight him anymore. I yearned for his approval, that look of pride that would make all my efforts worthwhile.

He was my hero. Everything I admired and strived to become.

I understood I fell short of his expectations and desires. I wasn’t like the others. However, he was, in my eyes, irreplaceable and the most important person in my life. During a period in my life when everything felt chaotic and meaningless and when I desperately needed his support and guidance, he was inexplicably gone, and I was left alone in this vast world to figure everything out on my own.

I buried my pain deep, immersing myself in routine, but the dam eventually broke, sending everything into chaos. The world, once so clear, now seemed chaotic and incomprehensible. Every aspect of it had been fundamentally altered and nothing made sense any longer.

I didn’t recognize myself anymore.

In the aftermath of his departure, a single, illuminating moment of understanding dawned on me and it came through the one individual I had wounded most deeply.

I never meant to hurt him.

My actions were purely defensive. A deep-seated fear, born from experiences of loss and abandonment, compelled me to protect myself from the inevitable pain of losing those I cared about.

“Ignoring what you are won’t bring him back.”

“You know nothing about me.”

With a heavy sigh, he emerged from the shadows, the scraping of a chair against the unforgiving concrete floor announcing his approach as he dragged it closer to the bars that confined me. He settled into his seat and leaned forward intently. His gaze fixed on me.

“I knew your dad. He was as genuine as they came. Honest to a fault and so full of life. He owned who he was and made no excuses. I don’t claim to know what you are going through, Danny, but you have three brothers and a huge family that love you and only want the best for you. No, your brothers are not your dad, but he continues to live on in each of them. Don’t let the pain you are feeling swallow you whole and turn you into us. Your dad wouldn’t want that. He wanted better for you.”

“I miss him,” I whispered as tears rolled down my face.

---