The Gift(6)

Thankfully I didn't need to say anything because she started the conversation.

"Ethan we've known each other for a long time and I had feelings for you for most of that time. I thought you would notice because you always were so smart, but I guess you didn't, I started to lose hope, I started to think that you didn't really care about us, about me, but today you came and said those things to us. It made me realize that it was my fault for not noticing that you were too occupied by the things you were doing at the time, learning martial arts, engineering, helping your grandmother. It made me realize that I was only thinking from my perspective, and it made me feel selfish. How could you know that I like you when I didn't even tell you. How could you possibly have time to spare when you practically raised us and yourself and at the same time helping your grandma run the shop. What I'm trying to say is that I like you do you feel the same."

I don't answer for a few seconds, trying to find the best replay and then it hit me. I remembered a song from my original world. I started to sing.

"If I could save time in a bottle

The first thing that I'd like to do

Is to save every day 'til eternity passes away

Just to spend it with you..."

I continued to sing till the end of the song and then I stopped. I held my breath waiting for an answer. and an answer I got. With tears in her eyes, she came and kissed me wildly. I don't know how I held my breath for so long but after our lips parted ways I gasped for air. I took a few breaths and asked Nya.

"Did you like my song?"

"Words can't describe how I feel right now because of the song."

She kisses me again, this time a lite fast one.

"I'll take that as a yes."

She lightly chuckles

"Let's go downstairs now, the others are probably worried."

I take her hand and we head down. When the others see us holding hands they start to tease.

"Finally sis' you confessed to him."

"You took your time with this one."

We got on the couch in the living room and started to laugh again. So the night passed full joy and cheerfulness. The others didn't go home they stayed with me.

I was woken up in the morning by a knock on the front door of the shop. I open my eyes and see my friends. I quietly move out of the room and went to look for grandma. I didn't see her in the house.

'I wonder where she went yesterday.'

Since Naomi isn't home the shop is in my hands so I go to open the door. When I open it I see two police officers outside. I get a bad feeling about this. Thoughts flash in my head.

'Are they investigating the Equalists and found a trace leading to me? How? When? What do I do?'

"Are you Ethan?"

"Yes sir that's me. Is there a problem?"

"Son, this is going to be hard for you to take can we please come inside?"

"No I'm sorry, you see it was my birthday yesterday and I had a party. It was pretty wild and so they decided to sleep here and currently they are still sleeping and I don't want to wake them up."

"Ok kid. This is going to be hard so you better sit down for this one."

"Can't you just tell?"

"Ok, ok, just sit down. Yesterday your grandmother was attacked by a fire bender and she fought with him, but in the end, he was more powerful than her and used his fire bending on her. We couldn't get her to a water bender that knows healing arts in time and... she died. We found this in her hand we think it was meant for you."

My hand were shaking, I could feel losing my voice, my knees started to shake. I take the half-burned paper and read.

"FOR MY LITTLE ANGEL"

In this world, there are no legends about angels so every now and then I would tell grandmother stories about the angels in my world to pass the time when I helped around in the shop, beings of unimaginable benevolence, protectors that keep mankind safe from monsters, perfect beings that are worshiped because of the light they bring. I am no such creature.

Inside the paper was a necklace. It was a pair of feathered angel wings. My knees finally gave in and I fell to the ground. I take a better look at the necklace and I see it's made of platinum and the craftsmanship on it is amazing it probably costed a fortune. But I would give it all back, I would give anything just to have her back. Finally, tears start to flow down my cheeks.

It hurt like it never hurt before. Something inside me shattered and as much as I tried to put it back together it couldn't be assembled again. Every time I tried it hurt more. But then it hit me if I can't repair the damage I can feel it with darkness so I entered 'limbo state'. I calmed down almost immediately. I couldn't feel emotion anymore, I could think clearly, well more or less. Although the pain was gone I still wanted revenge. Revenge burned now inside the darkness, inside the void, like a cold flame. I ask the policemen.

"Did you catch the one responsible?"

"Not yet but we know who he is and it's just a matter of time before we catch him so don't worry kid will bring him to justice."

"What's his name?"

"It's Chen, Chen Crazy Knees"

"Thank you for coming to tell me, officers."

"No problem kid."