Parallel Feelings

Dark clouds were overcast. The streets were mostly barren, with the exception of one man walking down the sidewalk.

He wore a trench coat over his lab one, as well as a fedora to hide his face. His hands were deep in his pockets as he walked against the powerful gusts of wind pushing him backwards. 

It really was terrible weather, only a couple of minutes away from heavy rain, which would have made his walk even more uncomfortable and unbearable than it already was.

So abruptly that it took a while for the man to notice anything was wrong though, the world became completely silent. The clouds in the sky changed form and morphed in every way possible until it left a circular shape in their wake. A large gap in the sky, which somehow gave off the impression of having great depth. 

From the inside, what looked like a giant hand made its way to the mouth of the newly formed ring residing amongst the clouds. It was clenched into a fist as it extended out from its portal.

The man could hardly believe what he was seeing, but his shock was soon replaced with curiosity as the ginormous hand opened up its fist and flipped itself upside down. Something seemed to fall from the palm of the giant’s hand. It shimmered through the air as the hand retreated back into the opening from which it came. 

The gleaming object fell rapidly, descending faster and faster until finally hitting the ground and making a loud thud as it did. And with that, the sound of the fierce wind returned along with the rest of the world. 

*Ring ring*
The phone at the reception desk rang. Blake and Lena had once again returned to the hospital. One was restless and shaking his leg while awaiting the inevitable as the other sat calmly next to him, reading a magazine.

Eventually a nurse came up to them.

"He should be good to visit now."

And immediately, the two got up and followed her to a certain room.

Ethan was waiting inside for them. The bruises on his face had mostly healed, leaving only some faint scars in their wake, but his leg was still definitively broken as it was in a full cast and being held in a sling.

"Make it quick. I'm trying to get some sleep.", he stated.

Blake couldn't bring himself to say anything at first, so the room fell into silence instantly. A full minute passed. 

"...Blake? You need to tell him.", Lena murmured.

"I know... I was getting to it."

"Spit it out already.", Ethan growled.

After a couple more seconds, Blake responded.

"I'm giving it back."

"What?"

It was then Lena stepped forward with a paper bag in hand. Ethan looked inside the second he got his hands on it.

"...So, you did have it. Why'd you take it?"

I'm really sorry for what he did. He didn't know any better. It was just a misunderstanding. He wasn't thinking. Blake just silently watched as Lena stumbled through excuse after excuse for him. 

Ethan didn't look convinced at all. He turned to look at Blake directly.

"And what about you? Anything to say for yourself? You sure you don't want this for something? I find it hard to believe you're just okay with handing this over."

Blake couldn't bring himself to say anything to his onslaught of questions. He simply opened and closed his hand over and over again in response. 

*Shing*
The hospital's automatic doors opened and a man in a trench coat stepped inside, taking off his fedora as he did. The lobby had this bluish grey tinge to it and aside from the man and the receptionist, it was completely empty.

"Did you have an appointment?", the receptionist asked.

"...No.", the man responded.

"Reason for visit?"

The man paused before answering. He looked as though he was in a daze. His face was pale and expressionless throughout the entire interaction.

"...Delusion.", he muttered.

The receptionist clicked away at her keyboard for a couple of seconds before realizing what he said. Confused, she raised an eyebrow when looking back at him.

"...Excuse me sir, but what did you say?"

"Do you think it was real?"

"Sir?"

He looked back at her and flinched slightly at the look on her face. His hand instinctively retreated into his pocket, but for some reason his eyes widened when he felt what was inside. 

"...I'm sorry. I'll be going now."

The man walked back towards the entrance, leaving an unsettled receptionist behind at the counter.

*Shing*
The automatic hospital doors opened again. This time, Blake and Lena were the ones to step through it and out of the building. 

In the end, Blake never answered any of Ethan's questions. And it was difficult for him to pinpoint how he felt right now. On one hand, it was like a slight burden had been lifted from his shoulders, but on the other, it was like he was simultaneously getting rid of a part of himself.

"What should we get for lunch?", Lena wondered.

No response.

"Anything you want in particular?"

No response.

"Blake?"

He finally remembered where he was again and looked directly at Lena to demonstrate his newfound attention.

"I really think you're doing the right thing here.", she smiled.

Blake's hand closed again.

"...Yeah, I know."

The next couple of days were uneventful as Blake spent most of his time lazing around the house.

"Could you take out the trash today?", she asked.

"Sure."

He lifted the trash out of the can.

"By the way, have you considered going back to school?", she asked.

"I don't want to."

He cleaned the floors.

"How about applying for college still? I can help you with that.", she said.

"Maybe some other time."

He washed the dishes.

His only duties consisted of chores and upkeep of the house. It may not have been as stimulating as before, but it was definitely a lot less stressful. 

He sank into the couch, soaking in the atmosphere. The chatter from the TV and the wind blowing through the open window left him feeling sleepy in their wake. But before he could indulge in that fully, he heard a guttural shriek of Lena's come from the kitchen. 

He shot up immediately. What could she be so horrified by, he wondered. Could it be something related to the stasis bomb? What if those terrorists from the mall found out where he lived and snuck in? These questions raced through his mind as he ran to see what was happening.

"...B-Blake...", she whimpered.

She was just as terrified as he imagined. Now to find out what had caused this.

"There's a roach!"

"...A... what?"

Blake looked in the direction she was pointing in and saw it. A pretty sizable cockroach just sitting there on the floor, next to the trash can. 

His eyebrow twitched.

"Is THAT... what you were screaming about?", he asked in disbelief. 

She quickly made her way over and hid behind the wall next to him. She peeked the corner just enough to see the thing and then urged her cousin to do something about this.

"What do you mean!? It's disgusting! Get it out of here!"

He looked at her briefly in order to emphasize his disappointment. But when it was clear she couldn't care less, he finally got to work. 

Only a couple of minutes later, he was outside with the lid of a box and paper underneath it in his hands. He walked a few meters away from Lena's house before squatting down and releasing the bug he'd captured. 

He couldn't help but stare at the ground for a while and sigh as it scurried away. 

Before long though, he let out a tiny snort, which then evolved into a good chuckle, which in turn evolved into a full-on laughing fit. 

He laughed so much that it started to hurt, so he grabbed his sides and tried his hardest to restrain himself. It was to no avail though as he got too swept up in the act and couldn't stop for the life of him. It was only a good two minutes later that he finally managed to calm down.

"...What the hell? That was it?", he gasped for air.

When was the last time he'd done this? He couldn't even think of any memories like this, though to be fair, he didn't remember much of his childhood nor the people he spent it with. 

Maybe this is how families are supposed to be, he thought to himself.

*Beep, beep*
The sudden noise made Blake jump a little. Looking around revealed it was a car honking its horn at him. Its window rolled down revealing Ethan sitting in the driver's seat.

"I heard you wanted to see your father's workplace?", Ethan said.

A brief pause.

"So what?", he responded.

"...Get in. I'll take you there."

Blake's eyes widened in response.