Chapter 7 – The Discovery
As the sun climbed higher into the sky, the birds started to sing their morning songs. Alex and Susan awoke from a very peaceful sleep to the sound of Aimee’s voice ‘mummy, where are you?’ Susan and Alex both smiled at each other, kissed and then Susan said ‘I better go and see to the little monster!’ As Susan moved towards the door, she turned back to look at Alex and smiled saying ‘I’ll be back soon, why don’t you put the kettle on and we can have some breakfast?’ Alex smiled and nodded and then sat upright on the sofa. As he sat, he knew he felt different; the old morning grogginess that had been there his entire life was gone and he felt fantastic. Alex could hear Susan saying ‘sorry honey, mummy slept downstairs last night and I have a big surprise for you!’ Alex smiled as he got up from the sofa and walked into the kitchen and then looked around to find the kettle. After putting the kettle on, Alex briefly looked out through the patio doors before walking back through the kitchen into the living room. On entering the living room, he could not help but notice the large blood stain that had soaked deep into the wooden floor. Alex was fixated as his mind drifted off into a violent flashback showing him the last few minutes of his life as he lay dying on the floor. Alex broke through the images bringing him quickly back into reality and then started to look for cigarettes which he found on top of the fireplace. After taking a cigarette and lighter, he turned out of the room and walked to the patio doors where he unlocked them and then stepped outside into the cold morning air. Alex sat down on the garden bench and then put the cigarette into his mouth and then lit it. As he smoked the cigarette, he noticed that it tasted totally different from usual and he couldn’t understand what the attraction had been all these years. Alex looked up at the sky and for the first time ever, he could stare right into the heart of the sun without causing any damage to his eyes. Alex was confused; after putting out the cigarette he then walked back into the house again, moving back into the living room where he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror noticing that he was only wearing a fleece covering his delicate areas and then it dawned on him ‘I am pretty much naked!’ Susan shouted down the stairs ‘you ok Alex?’ Alex looked back into the mirror again and then said ‘Susan, would you have a bathrobe that I could borrow as I’m not exactly dressed for company and I don’t really have an abundance of clothes right now?’ Susan laughed and said ‘no problem, I’ll throw it down to you!’ Alex walked to the bottom of the stairs and said ‘please don’t make it pink!’ Susan then threw the bathrobe down which to Alex’s horror, turned out to be pink. ‘Thanks,’ said Alex in a slightly sarcastic tone, walking away from the stairs while slipping it on to help hide his flesh. Alex walked back into the kitchen and stood at the patio doors looking out onto the garden, the empty feeling that he once felt in his heart had subsided only to be replaced by a serenity which calmed his soul. As Alex thought back to the life that he once had; he fondly remembered the happier moments and he felt a flutter in his heart…..recalling the loving warmth of his parents and grandparents, the summers spent with his younger brother on the mountains near his family home and the overwhelming joy he felt when he remembered playing with his family pets. Alex stepped outside once more and stood on the cold ground; he closed his eyes and then instantly, he could feel the world around him; the birth of new born babies, the sorrow felt by the loss of a loved one and even the flow of the rivers as they ran downwards into the seas. Alex’s heart was more alive than anything he had ever experienced before and he then knew that a major change has occurred within him; something unexplainable, something powerful, its limitations, who knows? Susan walked into the kitchen with Aimee by her side and then stood in amazement as they watched how Alex was standing with his arms out in the shape of a cross, surrounded by hundreds of birds and insects flying in a circular motion around him. Susan knew then that the man whom she loved was far from ordinary and that he now possessed a power that no one could even begin to comprehend. Aimee’s eyes were bright with excitement as she watched all the little creatures in flight in her garden; swooping up and down and around in unison as if they were beautiful foaming waves crashing onto the rocks on a spanning coast line. Alex opened his eyes and then lowered his arms down by his sides as he turned and smiled at Susan and Aimee. As Alex walked towards the house, the insects and birds swooped down and then flew off high into the sky. Susan was speechless; her mind in wonderment. Alex walked inside and said ‘well you don’t see that everyday now do you?’ Aimee full of excitement said ‘Mummy how did the man do that?’ Alex shrugged his shoulders with an innocent look on his face. Susan said ‘do you fancy some breakfast?’ As Susan turned and started to prepare breakfast, Alex knew that he owed it to Susan to give some sort of explanation to her but was completely dumbfounded himself. Over breakfast, Alex, Susan and Aimee all laughed together as if they were a happy little family. Alex was great with voices and impersonations and was able to keep Aimee amused while Susan sat sipping her milky coffee, her eyes fixated on Alex as he and Aimee played. Susan felt content knowing that Alex was good with children even though he had none of his own; she thought to herself ‘Having Alex around will be good for Aimee as her own father is a fuck up and would serve no real purpose being part of her life.’ After breakfast, Alex insisted on washing the dishes and tidying up; something Susan was definitely not used to being a single mum and having a waste of space as a husband before that. Susan got up from the table and lifted Aimee down onto the floor ‘Go play with your wee toys honey while mummy helps her friend,’ she said. Alex finished cleaning up and then turned to face Susan, placing his back against the kitchen worktop; he smiled and then said ‘this is surreal isn’t it?’ Susan smiled back whilst nervously playing with her hair; Alex’s eyes were slightly unnerving but in a good way; ‘I know!’ She said. Susan laughed and then said ‘I don’t know if this is some sort of dream or whether to believe that having you here with me is real, it’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?’ Alex watched as a single tear fell from Susan’s face, running down her perfect cheek bone onto her cheek and then down to her jaw. Alex moved forward to Susan and then took her in her arms as he attempted to ease her insecurities ‘Listen, I know that this is one crazy situation and that me being here shouldn’t really be possible but I can tell you this, I’m real, I’m flesh and blood and I’m so in love with you, so much so that I will never let anything or anyone come between us ever again!’ Susan eased her head onto Alex’s chest as he held her close and as she listened to his heart and could feel his warmth…..she knew that he was real. Alex petted Susan’s hair with his right hand saying ‘Do you know what Susan; I really really want to kiss you right now!’ Susan smiled and then looked up at Alex saying ‘That would be really nice!’ Both Susan and Alex smiled happily at each other and then with time slowing to a dream like speed, moved their faces closer to each other embracing in a long passionate kiss, hearts racing, nerve endings super sensitive and then for Susan, a floating feeling again as Alex lifted her over a foot from the floor as he displayed his unending love for her. Susan felt safe as Alex held her in his strong arms and Alex didn’t even break a sweat. Alex always knew that he was strong but somehow through his unexplainable resurrection, had increased his strength and speed. Alex lowered Susan gently onto the floor again and then said ‘I’m gonna need some clothes I think, as much as your bathrobe is comfortable and warm, I just don’t think that the colour goes with my eyes!’ Susan giggled and then said ‘I’ll borrow something from my brother to allow us to go shopping, if that’s ok?’ Alex agreed and he watched as Susan went to the fireplace and lifted her cigarettes and lighter, speaking to Aimee along the way. Susan on her way back, leaned into Alex and gave him a cheeky smile and a small peck on the lips saying ‘I need a smoke Alex to help me keep my hands off you!’ Alex smiled and then said ‘Do you mind if I have an ice bath, it’s going to take something extreme to tame my beast!’ Susan and Alex went out to the back garden where Susan enjoyed a cigarette and as they sat together, the topic of the conversation was the future. The morning was cold outside but neither Susan nor Alex could notice as a warm conversation with the person they loved, kept them warm until they returned indoors.
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