Story: Salt and Light (Tentative Title) by Shienene (Eirene Joy S. Ignacio)

Beginning

·        Matthew Kai de Vera came into Hawkwell Town for three months’ worth of vacation as his father has agreed, to "cool off" his head when he almost impulsively decided to abandon their company and flee without notice, forcibly giving the position to his 'irresponsible' older brother. He was troubled because of the pressure and discipline that he went through that he almost came crashing down.

 

Inciting Incident

·        Matthew, in his desire to rekindle his purpose after spiraling into an existential crisis, finds himself staying in his grandmother's home, Davina. She tells her to find what made his life fulfilling before, and he remembered drawing in his younger times.

·        Matthew then decides to rediscover himself by going around Hawkwell.

 

Rising Action

·        Try-fail #1: He tries drawing, harsh memories of his past started flooding in. In an abrupt decision, he decides to go to the library to find inspirations but gets his glasses break accidentally. Nearsighted and unfamiliar with his hometown, he continues on to look for references, that's where he finds Lamplight's paintings about faith. He tries to analyze each and prayed for wisdom, which come forth to him finally understanding a better part of why he wanted to draw before (that is to express himself). Upon his closer observation, he bumped into Lucy, a lady who was somehow familiar with Lamplight's drawings. She gave a clear insight on what might be the artist's intention on the painting (it's about becoming the salt and light in this world), which gave him an even bigger inspiration. Matthew, in that moment, wanted to make friends in Hawkwell so he decided to ask Lucy. He went home in an eventful mood, then he shared it to Davina, who seemed to find his grandson smiling.

 

·        Try-fail #2: Applying what he had discovered, he tried drawing to express himself. Over the past few days, he was seeing that his drawings were going in a direction where art becomes a way to rant with what he feels with his life, which he feels is pulling him in a darker path. He wanted to help himself by showing it in a healthy way, just as Lamplight was able to. That's when he decided to go with his grandmother Davina to the ministry where he meets Hugh, an elder in the ministry who immediately notices his troubles and gives him an advice ("be transformed by renewing your mind"). After the service, he decides to stick around and he also found Lucy along with Vivian (Lucy's best friend) and Gabriel (her father). He gets into a quick conversation with the three, only to find out that they're going for a trip on the beach close to their hometown. Matthew decides to ask them if him and his grandmother can come along, and they all agreed.

 

·        Try fail #3: He comes to the beach with his small sketchpad in case he finds an inspiration, as they all relaxed, he finds Lucy drawing in the sand as well. That's when they both started bonding a little, learning about a bit of Lucy's life. He also managed to share a bit of his past, particularly his reason for coming in Hawkwell. Lucy, seeing his predicament, encourages him to join her for an upcoming book signing. After her invitation, he also took her advice of using the Bible to learn more of his purpose and why it is important to live his life in constant to God's hope for him.

 

·        Try fail #4: Using the Bible as his guide, not only during Davina's morning devotions but also in his alone time, he prays one time for courage, patience, and a clear purpose. That's when his father suddenly calls him that he only has a month left before he goes back to Veridian, he almost slips back to his old self \[being emotionally restrained and self-loathing\] but he remembers that God may be using this opportunity to ask for wisdom to Davina regarding his current dilemma with his family and how he can deal it in a way that God wants him to. Davina tells him to make peace with the fact that God may have a purpose for him in owning the company, but he must keep in mind to use it not for selfish purposes but for God and his people. At the same time, she didn't want her grandson to lose himself completely to his work, that's why it is important to use what he has to balance himself, not to prioritize it over God. Matthew made use of the advice and started using the rest of his days before Lucy's book signing to finally look at the problems that their family and their company was facing, how to fix it without compromising anyone's welfare, and learn to balance it with doing art and other things, all within the help of God. At this point in time, he also tried learning how to do Braille and textured art.

 

·        Try-fail #5: A week before Lucy's book signing, Matthew decides to draw and finds himself with ease in his heart. He wanted to share it to Lucy but he remembers that he still doesn't know much about her, despite it however, he wanted to say his thanks for giving him courage, that's why he wanted to go back to the library in case he finds her. The librarian told him that Lucy works in Hawkwell College and that he can find her by looking for Professor Dara. When he met Professor Dara, Lucy was nowhere to be found as she filed for a solo trip somewhere, that's when he discovered more of Lucy's backstory (her past and how did she came to be as such, but she never said anything about Lucy's identity as Lamplight just yet). Learning this, Matthew became even more determined to share his gratitude to her, and that she inspired him to seek God and finally came to a decision: To go back to Veridian to finally express himself, that in hoping that his father looks at him and Magnus not as irresponsible sons, but as his children who hopes to reconcile and find a second chance with leading the company properly.

 

Climax

·        Matthew decides to draw one more time (about courage, this time with Braille markings and textures) to give to Lucy. Abruptly being called in by his father three days earlier than his expected departure however, he wanted to make good of his promise to come to Lucy's book signing but also fulfilling his purpose to honor his father, so he first went back to Veridian to confront his father in a firm but calm manner (even though he's showing signs of fear in between). Maverick, seeing the change in his son's decision, relents his decision of pushing Matthew and decided to have a talk with Magnus. Maverick opens a little about his past with his older brother, but Matthew said that he had already forgiven him and that he knows Magnus wants his father to believe in him as well (Magnus at this time was abroad, but he was called by his father so he is definitely coming back home).

 

Denouement (Resolution)

·        Matthew came back just in time before Lucy's book signing comes to a close, he made sure to bring his painting along with him and he says that he won't be staying much long except on Sundays to continue going to the ministry. That is when he also discovered that Lucy was Lamplight, therefore making him smile and even more thankful that God gave him Lucy to finally find his direction in life. (This becomes an open end where Lucy also thanks Matthew for his effort and that inspiring him was her fulfilling one of her goals, to win people back to God.)

 

·        Extra scene: Davina helps Matthew with packing his luggage, then Lucy, Vivian, and Gabriel came along, that's when Matthew discovers that they have been neighbors all along as well. Matthew promises to come back, while he doesn't know when, Lucy will know it and that he'll make do of his intentions to court her properly. Lucy then gave him a smile, hoping to see him in the near future.