Legacy
John
I groaned as ‘Game Over’ flashed across the screen.
"Oh, man! You made us lose again!" My best friend, Mike, punched me lightly in the shoulder.
I shoved him back. "Ah, shaddup."
He grinned. "I’ve got no more muh-la, Johnny boy." He showed me his empty pockets.
I shrugged. "Me neither. Let’s go home."
"Hey, John!" I turned at the sound of the voice to see Tim waving. He fought through the crowds over to us.
"Hi, Tim." I smiled. Tim’s a nice guy, but he gets picked on a lot ‘cause he’s real skinny and shy. I once saved him from a swim in the toilet, and ever since then, he’s sorta been my friend.
"So," He began, "I was thinking maybe we’d walk home together?"
I looked to Mike for his consent, and he nodded his ‘okay’.
"Sure." I said to Tim.
On the way out, we met up with my second cousin once removed, (or something like that. I never figured out what it meant) Robyn, and her friend Christine.
Robyn was carrying about five shopping bags. Christine was carrying none. Really, they’re total opposites. I don’t see how they could be best friends, but they are. Truthfully, I’ve never figured girls out.
Robyn’s model-like on the outside, but she’s got a short temper and can be real nasty if you get her mad. Christine’s way more laid back. She looks average, but is the nicest person you’ll ever know. And she’s pretty in her own way. I guess you could say I liked her, but I won’t get into that.
"You guys cutting through the construction site?" I asked.
Robyn nodded. "Yeah."
"By yourselves?" I asked skeptically.
Robyn glared at me. "Yeah, do you have a problem with that? I don’t need your protection, John. Just because I’m a girl doesn’t mean—"
"Hey!" Christine interrupted. "It’d be safer for all of us to walk together."
Robyn shut up at the inference that she might be protecting us guys.
The construction site was deserted, as it had been for the past year. They were going to build some office building there, but had changed their minds. The half-built structure was like a ghost town. A not-quite-there reminder of an instant that would never exist.
As we walked through it, I got the distinct feeling that something was off. I looked up at the sky.
There was nothing there.
I shook the feeling off. We were halfway through the site by now.
We should have stopped. We didn’t.
I hesitated and let the others pass by ahead of me. They were oblivious to the significance of the moment.
I looked back at the empty space we had just walked through.
He should have been there. Elfangor.
But he wasn’t. He never would be. Everything had been changed.
I smiled. It was as if suddenly a great weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I knew things would be alright. Earth was free. Earth would always be free.
We were free too. Free from the gift and curse that had enchained us all.
I didn’t really understand it. I never would. But none of that really mattered. I knew in my soul things would be okay. That was enough.
"Hey, John! You coming?" Robyn yelled back to me.
I glanced at her. "Yeah. Coming."
I looked back at that place where, in another time, another world, something had happened.
"Hey, wait up!" I jogged to catch up with the others. And all the while, at the back of my mind, there was only one thing I knew.
We are free.
Legacy: Part Three -Michael
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