Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Fox Tales ❯ Hindsight ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Fox Tales
 
Chapter 12
“Hindsight”
 
Todd got up at 7:30 in the morning in order to get ready for the return trip to his own home. His father decided to cook a French toast breakfast for the three of them. The meal included scrambled eggs, sausage links, and bacon strips on the side. Todd looked at the array with a feeling of satisfaction, knowing he wouldn't leave with his stomach lacking anything. But at the same time, he also felt some hesitation. It had nothing to do with his father's cooking. He was a good cook. But as much as he wanted to eat a hearty meal, he also wanted to live past the age of twenty-five. So he decided to skip the bacon, and go light on the butter.
 
So then, Todd and his mom packed up their things and placed them in her car. The plan was that all three of them would see Akane one last time, say goodbye, and then they would go their separate ways. Todd's dad led the way to the hospital, with he and his mom not far behind. The twenty-minute ride had an air of anticipation and apprehension. Everyone would find out for certain the extent of Akane's injuries, and everyone also hoped that there wouldn't be anything beyond what they expected. When they entered the hospital and picked up their visitor passes, there was a sense of nervousness that everyone had, though some were able to hide their emotions better than others.
 
Mom opened Akane's door slowly and quietly, only to find her daughter sound asleep. She walked over, tapped her on the arm, and whispered her name. Akane slowly opened her eyes and groaned after being awoken from such a deep sleep. Her eyes adjusted and as soon as she recognized her mother, she smiled. And the smile was reciprocated.
“Hi, Mom,” Akane said.
“Morning, sleepyhead. Todd and I just wanted to say goodbye before we head back home.”
Just then, they heard a knock on the open door. It was Dr. Williams, ready to give the news. “I'm glad you're up, Akane,” he said. “And I'm glad that you are all here for this.” Everyone got out of the way so he could see the patient, like Moses parting the Red Sea.
 
“Akane…you are one lucky girl,” he said. “I know that we put on the neck brace as a precaution, but the x-rays didn't show any fractures. It is a miracle considering how hard of a hit you took.” Everyone took a deep sigh of relief. “So, we'll have that brace taken off. It seems, though, that the worst of your injuries is a couple of cracked ribs. But that is something that can be taken care of at home. So I am going to make sure you get released by the end of the day.” Another collective sigh of relief came, though smaller than the first.
“I know it's uncomfortable, but it's important that you do not try to wrap your ribs with athletic tape. It may make your ribs feel better, but it also restricts the lung. We need you to take a deep breath or cough once every hour in order to avoid getting pneumonia. You are allowed to take some ibuprofen for the pain, get plenty of rest, put some ice on it, and it should heal up on its own.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Akane said.
“You're welcome. I'll see you again in about six weeks to check up on you. That's about when it should be good.”
 
As Dr. Williams left the room, everyone looked at Akane as the moment had finally come. “Well, Todd and I are going back home. It was good to see you again, Akane, though I wish it were under better circumstances.” She walked up to the edge of the bed, held Akane's hand for a moment, and then kissed her on the forehead. She then went to hug her ex-husband. Todd followed suit, also hugging his father. And as he walked away from him and turned to look at Akane, he smirked, raised his left hand, flicked his wrist at her, and said, “Take care.” No more words needed to be said. She smiled as he exited the room and turned the corner.
 
The two of them arrived at home at around 9:00 PM, and they unpacked their things, Mom wasn't up to fixing dinner, especially after spending so much time behind the wheel. So they'd ordered a medium pepperoni pizza­--delivered, of course--and then went immediately to sleep. After all, it was mid-week. She had work and he had school the next morning.
 
When Todd arrived at school the next morning, a couple of his classmates asked where he was the last few days. He answered their questions, giving them only the information he felt was relevant to them. Gary and Naomi knew about the situation, however. So when they both asked how he was feeling after school, he was more open with them, and went into more detail.
“I'm glad to hear that she's going to be okay,” Naomi said.
“Yeah, your family really dodged a bullet,” Gary added.
“I know,” Todd said, nodding his head. They continued to converse as they walked to the public bus stop, which was Naomi's exit.
“I'll see you two tomorrow,” she said.
“Okay then,” Todd replied as he waved his hand. He and Gary continued down the sidewalk, not saying anything until he was sure Naomi could no longer hear them.
 
“You know, uh, there was something else about what happened that I should tell you,” he said.
“What's that?”
“Well, I don't think you're going to believe this.”
“Believe what?”
“I…I actually got to have a conversation with her.”
“You're right. I don't believe it.”
“It gets better…we've cleared up the air.”
“Oh, my God. That's fantastic.”
“I know. I guess that me being there in a time of need showed her that I didn't hold any animosity, and that allowed her to get over the anger.”
“Hey. Does the ground feel cold? Because I think hell just froze over.”
Todd couldn't help but chuckle.
 
Night has fallen, and Todd has gone to bed. But he is struggling to fall asleep, for inside his head, things are not at rest. Every time he tries to close his eyes, he has a flashback to that fateful night, when he was down on the asphalt, on his stomach, looking over his shoulder at what was certain to be his demise. He remembers the panic that ravaged his mind, the tremors that went through the ground…and most importantly…how helpless he felt. When his memory turns next to his transformation, it becomes difficult because it was all an adrenaline-filled blur. He never really felt like he was in full control, that he was just a passenger along for the ride. But at the same time, the feeling of fear became disbelief. As he is witnessing everything that happens, he becomes more confident, culminating in victory.
 
The part causing him the most anguish, however, was when he looked up at the top of that building and saw the man responsible for all of this. This was a man he had never seen before, yet the stranger seemed to know a lot about him. And then he said they would meet again. That was the crux of the anxiety: the meaning of those words, and the implications they would have on his life.
 
-Having trouble sleeping, aren't you? Satoru said. Todd sat up in his bed and looked at him, at the foot of the bed.
“Yeah, I am,” he said. “I mean, what happened a few days ago was such a life-changing experience. I'm rattled. I mean…one day, I'm fighting through my life. Next thing I know, I'm fighting for my life.” He sighed and shook his head. “I don't get any of this. I'm getting dragged into a mess that I didn't create, and that I want no part in.” Todd's tone became a little bit sharp, but he had to make sure that he didn't end up waking his mother.
 
“I still don't believe how I got out of that ordeal to begin with. I tell you that I trust you, and then I find myself twenty feet in the air, running up walls, firing light beams from my hands and whatnot. It would be easy to say it was all a dream, and I wish it were. But I know it really happened because I have a mark where the tail was as a reminder. The pair of ruined jeans is another one.” Neither one of them said anything for a few seconds. “He said we'd meet again, which probably means that something similar to what happened is going to happen again. So does that mean that I'm supposed to become the `good guy' that comes in and saves the day? I mean…” Todd kept shaking his head as he sighed and collected himself.
 
All the while Satoru does nothing. And that put Todd in a sour mood. “What's wrong with you?” he said. “You come out and appear, acting concerned, but then you don't even do anything to help out. You are unbelievable.” Todd quickly and deliberately went back under the covers, and turned away, not in the mood to talk anymore.
-Are you sure that I haven't? Satoru replied wittily.
Todd popped right back up to rebut. “What do you m--?” But there was nobody there. It was then that Todd realized he indeed he got the help he wanted. He didn't need answers right now. He only needed a sympathetic ear, so he could vent. There were still plenty of questions he wanted to ask, but they would have to wait for another day. And now, he could finally get some rest. As he slowly lay back down onto the bed, he whispered an impressed, “Oh, he's good.”
 
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