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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6Kjhbk95Y
"Ugh," I muttered to myself, tossing and turning in bed, feeling drained yet unable to shut off my mind.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkQKUgtKyw
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.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvXLVcpFI4
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq65qeoJ3n
"Guess the scars weren't that deep," I mumbled, inspecting my hand for any trace of the injury.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp55RbeLavm
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN5DIycEKS
None of it made any sense.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrg6eQUgrv
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN4NvMcbfH
"Wow..."
***
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycglvs9k3z
I struggled to stand as the morning sun streamed into my room.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRX26B5K78
"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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB0ETsoSVO
"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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfwHVsjOyL
"Good morning," my mom greeted as I made my way downstairs.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ17yJsXkZg
"Morning," I mumbled, rubbing my tired eyes as I sat at the table.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVU6pZ1Aid
Mom, holding a steaming cup of coffee, joined me, concern evident in her eyes. "You look exhausted. Are you sleeping okay?"
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbmIfzt2cv
"Um, yeah," I replied, forcing a small smile that my mom clearly saw through.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1rQDNGbjm
"I'll be fine," I assured her, unable to ignore her piercing gaze.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP2pfIkqyd
"Make sure you're taking care of yourself," she advised, taking another sip of her coffee.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7dZpfiL0T
"Is Dad around?" I inquired.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZllJ2N9AAG
"No, he left early," Mom confirmed. "He's been working hard at that Lunar Innovations company."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVqJa4P43E
"Yeah," I murmured quietly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0MHOzinwZ
Lunar Innovations, one of those companies promising a brighter future, seemed to be all my dad cared about lately.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3v3Yx82iP
"Great," I muttered, crossing my arms.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvqByrm0eC
"I know that look," Mom said, her attention fully on me, sensing my frustration.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHbj7sIOi2
"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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PqaVQAvFj
Mom set down her coffee mug, her expression turning serious and sad. "You know your father is a busy man," she replied.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6uXsYJvrs
"Same old excuse," I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RNwKy9RC0
"Hey now!" Mom snapped, her voice firm. "You show some respect," she added, her tone softening.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAB1OWUXRq
I swallowed my anger, not wanting to escalate things with the one parent I wasn't angry at.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vDDXUkHb3
"Your father isn't perfect, but he's trying," Mom defended.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR9S7DhxBQ
"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."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR33KTlQf1
"He's trying," Mom insisted, her words slicing through the tension, "to give his one and only son a better life than he had."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AtoYoIRKp
"Don't look down on such things," Mom advised.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu2BtyYMgx
"What things?" I questioned.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8995gojCW
"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."
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzokm71y79g
I stood up from the table and headed towards the door. "I'm off to school," I announced, avoiding eye contact with Mom.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Un0Smnt2S
She was right. I didn't understand any of it, and I didn't want to. Not one bit.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW1WpOxF3G
"Here, catch," Mom called out suddenly.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvQNYR9ZUP
I turned my head just in time to catch a small banana she tossed my way.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPoLONCMh7
"Make sure to keep up your strength," she said, offering me a smile.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7O7gFVDgr
"Thanks," I replied, returning the smile, feeling some of my anger dissipate.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9wqoOLuZ2
Without thinking, I grabbed the door handle with my free hand and pulled.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JXn9SUcXV
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyGw7GNfvF
There it was, a door hanging off its hinges, supported only by my grip on the handle.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXi6doUbQT
"What the..." I muttered, staring at the door, its weight feeling strangely light in my hand.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlaWxPiEOp
Releasing my hold on the doorknob, I watched as the door crashed to the floor, leaning against my right leg.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBHraGlCn8
Despite the damage, the door was still somewhat intact, aside from the broken hinges, splintered wood, and a bent doorknob.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREeFgbEXch
I looked up at my mother, mustering an awkward smile. "I'll fix that," I promised.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H4xpXHpcR
Yeah, right, like I had any clue how to fix a door.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHfQ9F5xEN
"Um, I'm gonna be late for school, so see ya later!" I shouted, darting away from the awkward scene.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq0X8ppdWX
The whole situation was just too bizarre, and I couldn't handle the uncomfortable silence.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbnM35G9X6
I sprinted onto the sidewalk, but things quickly went from weird to downright freakish.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBl8KfcLJ8
"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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT5Y9P6YBm
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rDyfVFtWI
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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hnxw2Gn8C
"What's happening to me?" I asked, confusion and fear creeping in.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfiIi63IRX
I drew the attention of a few passersby, but I couldn't care less. I just wanted the cacophony to stop.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0oj8ooCWu
Suddenly, and thankfully, the overwhelming noise ceased, leaving behind a serene quietness.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaPlrBrM2l
"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.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxMrzBc3VI
"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
ns216.73.216.221da2
