The man sat in an armchair, twirling a cane innocently enough.
It wasn't his, but he had decided he quite liked it. Or, at least he liked flipping it around with his hand. It was black with a ring of silver around the top – simple yet elegant. His leg had been throbbing constantly for about a week, and he attempted to stretch it out as he sat.
Rolling his shoulders back with discomfort, he stared out the window in front of him. The view was familiar, and somewhat comforting. Couples went along hand in hand, arm in arm, stride for stride. Dogs pranced back and forth, left and right, up then down. Trees swayed swiftly and slowly, dramatically and subtly, bending then stiffening.
He rarely took time to appreciate the way the outside operated, the peaceful way everything often went about its average business. Among the chaos of the world the whole shebang was in working order, even the cars on the street fighting for parking. Out there was a puzzle trying to fit together. A giant number.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he let them flutter back open almost instantly. Suddenly the glass in front of him was shattering, letting in not air but water. It was rushing across his face first, then consuming the rest of his body. Soft bubbles and sharp shards mixed at once, sky and earth and water and wind all colliding in one horrible mess.
Blinking, he brought himself back to reality. Running one of his hands over an arm rest, he felt the tugs and pricks on his scabbing flesh. Holding his hand up to his face and studying it curiously, he traced the cuts that ran across it. Many more covered his arms, and even his face. Lowering the arm, he felt a tension in his shoulder.
There were fingers there, fingers that dug in. They were the type of fingers that grabbed with a purpose and refused to let go until they accomplished their mission – for that he was grateful. Bones sliding and popping rang through his ears as the memory of knocking the shoulder back into socket crossed his mind. A pang ran through the injury as if just knowing it happened was enough to make his nerves register pain.
He didn't succumb to pain, though. He never would. It was one of the reasons he always had the utmost confidence in his own ability to handle situations. Until his body quit on its own, he wouldn't go down. Wouldn't give up.
There were simply too many important aspects in life for him to give up. Once there hadn't been. He had been so far gone there wasn't much of anything. Now there was more. There were people, places, faces. That face that went with the fingers.
Even though he hadn't been in his right mind, he distinctly remembered the eyes. Dark and deep, caring and understanding, commanding and forceful. A lot could be learned just by looking into someone's eyes. He wondered what had been seen in his.
He knew that many questions were going to be asked soon. He would answer them, in good time. There were some things he couldn't answer himself, though. Like why those eyes had searched him out. Why that hand hadn't let go. Why he was so baffled by it all.
Hearing a door swing open behind him, followed by laughter, he let a small smile slip across his face. Running a hand across the stubble accumulating on his face, he took a deep breath. What would their eyes say?
Rising to his feet stiffly, he turned with the cane in his hand. As he tossed it to the man who had entered the room, their eyes met.
His were happy. Actually happy, for once. There was relief in them, but no surprise. It was more like they were asking what had taken him so long.
If his were happy, hers were elated. Tears even pooled in them a little when his piercing blue eyes met hers. Astonishment flowered in them, as well as gratitude. No eloquently worded thank you could have topped what he read there.
"Hello, Mr. Reese," Harold said with a shadow of a smile, propping his cane against a wall.
"Hello, Harold," John said as he folded his arms across his chest, and directed his gaze back at Grace, giving her a wry smile.
"Welcome to the afterlife."
Well, that's it folks! I would like to extend a thank you to all who have followed along, and any who may read in the future! I look forward to publishing more stories, and plan to do so as frequently as possible. Even though this story is ending, I really can't promise it's over. Actually, I'm almost sure it isn't. Many questions have gone unanswered…for now. Should I begin a sequel, I will happily notify all current followers in the form of an epilogue on this story. Until next time, stay safe Irrelevants!