Chapter Three
A Long Awaited Reunion
It was a long walk. At first I didn't know where I was at, I was in a different part of Sanction. Glancing around at these gigantic buildings made me think of how long it took, thankfully it made my walk shorter! I started recognizing the city again. I saw the same things I did when normally coming home. This was it! It's been two years since I've seen Meri and I wasn't about to let this pass me by. I came from a walk to a jog and then to a sprint. I don't think I've ever ran so fast in my life, even if I've only been here for twenty-seven years. I was getting greeted by the folks who lived close by. Everyone asking how I've been but that didn't matter I was coming up to my, I mean our, house. "Meri! Meri?!" I shouted as I came closer and closer to seeing the house. My surroundings were blurred as I heard the door open and shut. I heard a flower pot break as it hit the ground as I turned to see what it was and there she was.
The wind was making her summer dress move slightly, making her hair blow in the wind with her glasses barely holding back the tears from her eyes. I couldn't even move, to see her again after so long, it was amazing. I couldn't control it, I felt myself running towards her as she came to me. It was the perfect embrace. She jumped into my arms and I spun her around. There were cheers from the people around us. They must have been waiting for me too. I don't know what it was but that day was perfect. We stood embraced for at least a couple of minutes and it felt like eternity. We were both fine with that. We both connected with a small kiss. It had to have been comedic to hear the small group around us sigh and exchange awe's. "I told you I would wait for you." She said holding back tears as we walked into the house.
I couldn't say a word but I could tell she knew that I agreed. She sat down in a large room, it was our entertainment room. A large television, bookcases and posters of famous singers and pop stars. Our house wasn't an extremely large house but it had good size. Three main rooms; one for entertainment, a kitchen and a sun room. It also has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. I consider it to be fine but Meri loves it. I went to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and I heard her in the other room quietly crying. I made sure to be quiet as I walked into the room. She was holding a picture of my that was taken at the park before the celestinite hit me. "Meri, I'm still here. All of me." I said, hoping to ease her mind. I don't know what she is thinking. That I'm not myself anymore? I changed? Am I still Human? I don't even know how to break the news to her! "James" she said with a long pause after it. "What happened in those two years? When you were gone?" she said letting a sob out. She was about to break down. I've been gone for two years and I just show up? I'll just have to answer her questions the best I can. "Meri, so much has happened. There are two ways we can talk about this. I can just come out with everything or I can take it slow and you tell me what you want to hear." I said, ready for any response. I knew I was going to have to explain a lot but if I have to show her...I don't know what I will do.
"Just tell me everything James, tell me what happened. What did those people do? How do you not have that thing in your arm anymore?! How are you alive?" I was shocked to hear her last question, how are you alive, I couldn't even think after hearing that. Was she serious? Did she think I was dead or going to die? I guess being hit with a rock falling from the sky could cause fatal injuries. "You want to know everything? Okay, I'll start from where you last saw what happened. After I was rushed to the hospital, a man named Lucien Guile came to me and told the doctors that he'll take control of me. I was moved to a facility. I can't remember the name right now but at first I thought I was safe. Everything was okay, comfortable rooms, people to talk to, and the food was okay. Imagine a hospital but with good things. At this point, I'm starting to get moved around and things are getting interesting. Lucien is interacting with me more, the scientists are paying more attention to me and I felt like something big was about to happen. I remember talking to Lucien and he gave me two choices. One was to donate my body to science and the other was to leave this facility with this rock, which I learned was called Celestinite, in my arm. I would;ve been a freak and I didn't want you to see me with this still in me. I told him that I would donate my body if it would help people and he said it would. I trusted him in the beginning but as we progressed with my health getting better, Lucien was starting to become a lot more serious, more...dark. I was told that by making this decision would change a lot of lives and that preparations would have to made and it took a good while for them to be complete." I stopped a second to look at her and then out of the window as I started to remember that horrible night. When I became this thing that I am now. Maybe she'll know if I tell her. Meri is in love with mythology and fantasy.
I took a deep breath and made sure that I wasn't going to choke from the pressure of telling her this. Here we go, I thought. "Something happened a couple of nights ago. This is what I am worried about telling you." I looked up to see her face grow concerned and worried. "They, Lucien, did something to me. The celestinite in my arm? It is apparently an object that contains something like a core. I saw the main piece of it moving when they had finished prepping for my operation." I looked back up at her, she was getting into my story. I don't know why she would be this interested in it. But, nonetheless, I had to continue. I let out a sigh of air afraid of her reaction to the next part. I looked her in the eyes as I began again. "They laid me on a operating table with my body lined up to a machine with other pieces of celestinite in it. It had five smaller pieces of celestinite in the robotic bosom. There was a main arm, larger than the rest. It was lined up right here." I pointed to the middle of my torso where that large piece of celestinite was injected. "I was lifted into this machine where they injected these other pieces of celestinite into me. It was extremely painful but I'll skip the details. After all of the smaller pieces were inserted into my arms, the larger piece that was right at my chest began spinning and glowing red then orange with heat." Meri raised an eyebrow as I continued on with what was happening. "I could hear the wind around it because it was going so fast. In the blink of an eye, it was shot into me. The extreme heat stopped the bleeding and allowed it to be lodged into me without major lacerations. I felt it touching my ribs and barely my spine." I held a clenched fist to the spot where the larger piece hit me. It was as if I was remembering the pain all over again. "At this point, there was a young female scientist who couldn't take the thought of this happening to a person. She is actually the one that helped me get out of there." She looked relieved about this whole situation to know that she only helped.
Meri stopped me from continuing by placing her hand on my back. It was reassuring to feel her care and warmth again. "James, you don't have to say anymore. I believe you. You're here, in one piece, and safe. That's all that matters to me. I'm here for you. I've been here, love. We're going to get through this. You don't have to tell me at all but at some point, I wouldn't mind knowing how there aren't any wounds where the celestinite was. Either wasy, let's have a good day tomorrow and from now own. You need some rest." She leaned in and gave me a small peck on the forehead and led me to the bedroom. She made sure to have cleaned it everyday waiting for my return, if I would come back. She gave me a final kiss and a long hug before she made me go lay down. Meri wouldn't have it any other way. She made sure I was feeling my best before she would celebrate. It's hard to believe that I would've gotten so lucky to have someone like her. I feel into a deep slumber which was the best one I have had in a long time. It was good to be home.