Franklin, 103
Franklin Hayes, an enigmatic centenarian teacher, profoundly transforms the lives of his students despite harboring a mysterious secret that sets him apart from others.
4 min read
The untold secret:
In the sleepy town of Willowbrook, where time seemed to move at its own leisurely pace, there lived a man whose existence defied the very essence of human nature. Franklin Hayes, an unassuming centenarian, was a puzzle that had yet to be solved. With a countenance as calm as the placid lake nearby, he appeared to be a serene soul untouched by the storms of life. But beneath the veneer of tranquility lay a secret that even Franklin himself struggled to comprehend.
As a child, Franklin would watch his peers frolic and laugh, their faces lighting up with joy, their eyes brimming with tears at the slightest provocation. He would study them with curiosity, trying to decipher the strange language of emotions that seemed to govern their lives. He longed to feel the passion that fueled their laughter and the sorrow that brought forth their tears. But try as he might, his heart remained an impenetrable fortress, devoid of any feeling.
It was a quiet evening when young Franklin, hidden behind the heavy curtains of his family's drawing-room, first began to mimic the emotions he saw painted on the faces of his loved ones. He practiced the curve of a smile, the crease of a frown, and the arch of an eyebrow raised in surprise. He would spend hours in front of the mirror, mastering the art of emotional deception, his face a canvas for his newfound talent.
As Franklin grew older, his mastery of emotional mimicry improved, and with it, so did his ability to blend seamlessly into society. His secret, however, remained locked away, a silent burden he carried with him through the years. The world saw a man who appeared to be just like everyone else, but inside, Franklin was still searching for the elusive key to unlock the emotions that evaded him.
It wasn't until his twilight years that Franklin stumbled upon a word for his condition: alexithymia. A term that described his lifelong inability to feel, recognize, or express emotions. It was both a revelation and a confirmation of his alienation from the vibrant tapestry of human experience.
Now, at the age of 103, Franklin Hayes looked back at his life with a sense of detached curiosity. His days were spent in quiet contemplation, his nights haunted by the secret that had shaped his existence. In the stillness of his secluded home, he continued to practice his emotional charade, the intricate dance of deception that had carried him through a lifetime of silent emotional isolation.
About Franklin:
The sun-drenched streets of Willowbrook were abuzz with excitement as aspiring actors and actresses flocked to the legendary Franklin Hayes' acting studio. His reputation as an exceptional acting teacher had spread far and wide, drawing students from all corners of the world. They sought to learn the secrets of his craft, not knowing that the man who stood before them was, in fact, a living enigma.
As Franklin guided his students through the labyrinth of emotions, helping them master the art of expression, he found solace in the knowledge that his lifelong struggle with alexithymia had not been in vain. Instead, it had forged in him a unique talent for understanding the intricacies of human expression, a talent he now shared with those eager to learn.
The students marveled at the uncanny ability of their elderly teacher to draw forth the rawest emotions from deep within their souls. He showed them how to harness their feelings and channel them into their performances, creating authentic and moving portrayals that left audiences spellbound. Little did they know that the man who taught them to navigate the stormy seas of emotion had spent his entire life adrift, unable to experience the very feelings he so expertly evoked in others.
As word of Franklin's extraordinary teaching methods spread, so too did the curiosity surrounding his longevity. The serene centenarian appeared untouched by the ravages of time, his calm demeanor and unwavering tranquility seeming to defy the very nature of human existence. This paradox intrigued both his students and the medical community alike.
His physician theorized that Franklin's emotional detachment, a result of his rare and extreme case of alexithymia, might have contributed to his long and healthy life. By being spared the stress and turmoil of emotional upheaval, it was believed that his body had been better equipped to resist the toll that time took on others. Yet, the true extent of this connection remained shrouded in mystery, much like the man himself.
In the quiet moments between classes, Franklin reflected on the legacy he had created. His life's work had touched the lives of countless students, helping them unlock their full potential as actors and actresses. Though he was unable to experience the emotions that so richly colored the human experience, he had found a way to leave an indelible mark on the world.
And so, in the end, if he could have felt joy, it was the very absence of his emotions that enabled him to live such a long and healthy life, to experience those moments with his students, and to watch them excel in their careers. He often wondered how his life would have been had he been able to feel the emotions evoked by his surroundings, but since he could not experience them, nostalgia was a sentiment based solely on semantics.