As the long and tiring day came to an end, I eagerly looked forward to slipping into bed for some much-needed sleep. But, to my frustration, sleep eluded me entirely.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSPZw0zYZ7
"Ugh," I muttered to myself, tossing and turning in bed, feeling drained yet unable to shut off my mind.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUE9Fa9GqX
Finally, I gave up and sat at the edge of my bed, trying to make sense of the day's events. Apart from the bizarre dream I had about running naked in foggy woods (which I quickly dismissed), I noticed something strange – a wound on my hand had completely healed.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFyuDJ8QSU
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDlEPsk6tV
"Guess the scars weren't that deep," I mumbled, inspecting my hand for any trace of the injury.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqbkfWkTzx
No matter how hard I looked, there was no sign of the wound. Plus, I couldn't ignore the fact that I seemed more muscular than usual, which left me staring in disbelief at my reflection in the mirror.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgp0mr0B36
None of it made any sense.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLrrbU90iD
Standing up, I approached the window and was greeted by a serene silver light illuminating the night sky. The moon hung large and bright, casting a spellbinding glow.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXNCHfku6G
"Wow..."
***
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb16ZxHGnO
I struggled to stand as the morning sun streamed into my room.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwjZaQfBT9
"Ah, darn it," I muttered, noticing the bags under my eyes. "Didn't get any sleep at all." Tears threatened to spill as I let out a big yawn.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFB7HeaaZS
"This is gonna be a rough day," I sighed, slowly getting dressed. Who cared if I was a bit late for school? That teacher could wait.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMufhirZFhf
"Good morning," my mom greeted as I made my way downstairs.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRoO1nzM8C
"Morning," I mumbled, rubbing my tired eyes as I sat at the table.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMp5Igl2Hv
Mom, holding a steaming cup of coffee, joined me, concern evident in her eyes. "You look exhausted. Are you sleeping okay?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRPs2npC0V
"Um, yeah," I replied, forcing a small smile that my mom clearly saw through.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2exev1Yhp
"I'll be fine," I assured her, unable to ignore her piercing gaze.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMbxZutUIy
"Make sure you're taking care of yourself," she advised, taking another sip of her coffee.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55GnjiPR5H
"Is Dad around?" I inquired.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZBJ8G0QZQ
"No, he left early," Mom confirmed. "He's been working hard at that Lunar Innovations company."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP6qI89nxK
"Yeah," I murmured quietly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCHuPmZkje
Lunar Innovations, one of those companies promising a brighter future, seemed to be all my dad cared about lately.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5H9CaBXOn
"Great," I muttered, crossing my arms.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOckDurEAi2
"I know that look," Mom said, her attention fully on me, sensing my frustration.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOTEGjFfLw
"I can't help but wonder, did Dad even bother to visit me when I was in the hospital?" I asked, genuinely curious about whether my father had taken the time to see his own son when he was sick.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPyh6Rbgyl
Mom set down her coffee mug, her expression turning serious and sad. "You know your father is a busy man," she replied.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GkzYB3Pp6
"Same old excuse," I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyHJR0MIAG
"Hey now!" Mom snapped, her voice firm. "You show some respect," she added, her tone softening.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6GBRYvo5l
I swallowed my anger, not wanting to escalate things with the one parent I wasn't angry at.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwEt1G6EhB
"Your father isn't perfect, but he's trying," Mom defended.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLyb9kylbX
"Trying what?" I snapped, already tired of her defending that deadbeat. "To be a lousy father? Because if so, he doesn't have to try that hard."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzPFoNh6e3
"He's trying," Mom insisted, her words slicing through the tension, "to give his one and only son a better life than he had."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o4L5pbMOF
"Don't look down on such things," Mom advised.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ucx0lKLWD
"What things?" I questioned.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ewXrrWTp
"On a man, on a person doing what he believes is right, following his heart, and the sacrifices made along the way," Mom explained. "You may not understand now, but one day you will."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h8q2R76Lm
I stood up from the table and headed towards the door. "I'm off to school," I announced, avoiding eye contact with Mom.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevQ5BLWI70
She was right. I didn't understand any of it, and I didn't want to. Not one bit.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1ZoB3pH3p
"Here, catch," Mom called out suddenly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24SfpTSHzt
I turned my head just in time to catch a small banana she tossed my way.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPVXFYtLsf
"Make sure to keep up your strength," she said, offering me a smile.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbA2eJMHkw7
"Thanks," I replied, returning the smile, feeling some of my anger dissipate.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNbBi9rgrn
Without thinking, I grabbed the door handle with my free hand and pulled.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWDRvQj6pK
The sound of splintering wood and bending steel filled the house. I glanced at my mother, her expression one of surprise as she gazed at something behind me. Slowly, I turned to see what had caused her shock.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXMG34s2uB
There it was, a door hanging off its hinges, supported only by my grip on the handle.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaEiKivylm
"What the..." I muttered, staring at the door, its weight feeling strangely light in my hand.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfG3GSo9Jgo
Releasing my hold on the doorknob, I watched as the door crashed to the floor, leaning against my right leg.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYa1yMUljQ
Despite the damage, the door was still somewhat intact, aside from the broken hinges, splintered wood, and a bent doorknob.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbSCE4SUgm
I looked up at my mother, mustering an awkward smile. "I'll fix that," I promised.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaELLXRnTN
Yeah, right, like I had any clue how to fix a door.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTNHNJj8J1
"Um, I'm gonna be late for school, so see ya later!" I shouted, darting away from the awkward scene.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtvRNq7CVH
The whole situation was just too bizarre, and I couldn't handle the uncomfortable silence.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9zbXfjK8K
I sprinted onto the sidewalk, but things quickly went from weird to downright freakish.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzRV3J3oNs
"Everything's so loud," I groaned, wincing as I covered my ears. It felt like I could hear every single sound – car horns, chatter, barking dogs, even doors creaking open and slamming shut.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeYvN6pfU5
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K1rJTIPpy
But what made it even weirder was that there weren't many people around, and those who were didn't seem to be making much noise.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxanhXBpRmQ
"What's happening to me?" I asked, confusion and fear creeping in.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBDdk0cKj3
I drew the attention of a few passersby, but I couldn't care less. I just wanted the cacophony to stop.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz7aqZNvpA
Suddenly, and thankfully, the overwhelming noise ceased, leaving behind a serene quietness.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTLgiSiOl1
"Thank goodness," I sighed in relief, lowering my hands from my ears. "What the heck is going on?" I muttered, wiping the sweat from my forehead with both hands.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MsWPpv8kp
"Damn, this day is going to be a mess," I muttered to myself, feeling overwhelmed by the strange occurrences.
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns216.73.216.6da2
