The Greatest Showman #1167 - Down to Earth

Renly was asleep, his mind drifting between the borders of dreams and reality, as the plane soared across the Atlantic. His body felt the subtle up-and-down shifts of gravity, the kind that made the world's most thrilling roller coasters feel like child's play. At times, he struggled; other times, he simply let go. Half-awake, half-asleep, the plane continued its journey toward the city that never sleeps.

Outside the window, the sky was an endless sea of clouds, while towering skyscrapers pierced the horizon like stalwart sentinels in a fairytale landscape. But as the plane descended, the scenery grew dim, fading into the misty, drizzling rain. The streets below stretched out in sharp, precise angles, cutting through the city like the blade of a sword, dividing the land into geometric precision.

Renly smiled to himself—this was New York, not London.

Once back in New York, Renly had forty-eight hours to rest and adjust before diving into work. The Coen brothers had done everything they could to ensure this precious time, though they would have preferred to start shooting the moment Renly arrived.

New York in winter, without Batman to accompany its gloom, felt colder than usual. The rain and winds kept people huddled in their homes and offices, while the usual hum of the bar scene seemed to quiet. In London, dreary weather might prompt people to crowd into pubs for football games, but in New York, there was a more subdued atmosphere.

However, Renly didn't curl up in bed. Instead, he headed out into the city streets, the cold rain pelting his face as he jogged, feeling the sharpness of the air and the sting of the raindrops. Each stride gave him a sense of grounding, as if reconnecting with something deeper—something real.

Humanity had always longed to escape gravity, to fly, but over time, people came to understand the importance of feeling the earth beneath them. That grounding sensation—solid and firm—became essential. It was then that Renly truly grasped the meaning behind the term "Mother Earth." This land wasn't just where people lived; it was where they were rooted, where their essence was anchored.

Each step, toe and heel, grounded him further. The cold wind and the biting rain only made the experience more tangible. His lungs burned, the breath sharp as it entered and left, but it all felt like the reawakening of life, the sensation of vitality coursing through his veins.

Before long, the outline of Mount Sinai Hospital appeared in his sights. He had run nearly ten kilometers from his apartment, lost in the rhythm of his run. Time seemed to vanish, only registering through the effort of his body—the burning lungs and the quickened breath.

The rain-slicked walls of the hospital were darker now, their red brick deepened by the wetness, the gray mist swirling around them as if frozen in time. Renly's footsteps led him around to the staff entrance, where he greeted familiar faces, then made his way to the lounge shared by the volunteers. He quickly dried his hair with a towel, hung his waterproof jacket, and rested for a moment.

A voice from the nurse's station called out to him, "Wait, wait, young man." Renly turned, recognizing the voice of Anita Tunissa, her round face peering from behind the counter. "Who are you looking for? Are you sure you're not on the wrong floor? Not just anyone can come up here."

Renly smiled, adopting a playful tone. "I'm looking for Anita Tunissa. I've heard she's a kind, warm lady who's very helpful. I just need a little assistance."

Anita raised an eyebrow, trying not to smile. "Are you sure you're not talking about Snow White?"

"Snow White?" Renly raised his eyebrows, scrutinizing her. His intense gaze made Anita chuckle, but then she furrowed her brow in mock indignation. "What? Are you saying Snow White can't be Black?"

"Of course not," Renly laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But I didn't expect your favorite fairy tale character to be Snow White. I thought it might be Cinderella, or Little Red Riding Hood. But Snow White?"

Anita couldn't contain her laughter any longer, and Renly joined her in the joyful exchange. When she finally calmed down, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "I thought you'd retired. You've disappeared from the headlines, and I haven't heard anything about you lately."

"Retire?" Renly laughed. "How old do you think I am? I'm not retiring for at least another forty-five years!"

"Forty-five?" Anita slapped him on the back enthusiastically, then added with a grin, "You've got to be joking. At that age, you'd still be performing, huh?"

Renly's smile widened. "I'll keep performing until I'm ninety. When the crowd no longer wants to see me, that's when I'll retire."

"Ninety? That's a disaster," Anita joked, and they both burst into laughter. The nurses around them joined in, the lighthearted moment bringing some relief to their often difficult days.

It wasn't surprising—taking care of patients, especially the elderly and children, was no easy task. The hospital staff often experienced high turnover, with many moving into more profitable private care positions. Renly had not visited the hospital for over six months, and this was his first time returning since Heather's passing. It hadn't been intentional; it just happened that way.

Despite the time away, Anita greeted him as though no time had passed, and the familiarity between them was evident in the warmth of their conversation.

Anita looked at Renly with mock suspicion, then playfully glanced at the young nurses nearby. "Did you come here to look more handsome? Wet hair and all? Honestly, these girls would fall for you even if you came straight from a coal mine."

Renly smirked, unbothered. "Thanks for the compliment. It's good to know."

The nurses giggled excitedly, like schoolgirls caught in a celebrity encounter. Anita sighed, rolling her eyes. "Alright, you better go before they start jumping you."

She quickly changed the subject. "Annie's in the activity room. Since she got those donated books, she's been holed up there reading all day. Joss is getting worried—maybe you can convince her to get some fresh air."

Renly raised an eyebrow. "A bookworm? You know I'm the perfect person to help with that."

Anita scoffed. "Maybe you should buy a library and live in it instead."

Renly snapped his fingers, grinning. "That's a great idea!"

Anita's surprised look only made Renly laugh harder. He turned toward the activity room, but before he could take a step, he noticed a figure in the hallway—a young woman in a peach sweater and jeans, holding a camel-colored trench coat. Their eyes met for a moment, and then she quickly turned and disappeared into the stairwell.