I looked over at the alarm clock. I had gotten two hours of sleep. I got up with a groan. I stretched for a few minutes before crossing the hallway to get to my bathroom. I flipped the light switch on and immediately regretted it. My headache came back full blast, it felt like someone had driven an axe straight between my skull. I looked at myself in the mirror. My skin was pale, and I had dark circles under my eyes.
I looked myself right in the eyes and put on a big goofy grin.
Psychologists say… Oh whatever.
I turned on the sink then cupped my hands under it. I stuck my hands to my face and rubbed. I felt a little more awake. I brushed my teeth slowly, and by the time I was done changing my clothes I could hear my parents in the living room.
“Are you guys sure it’s a good idea to go to the city after what’s been happening?” I asked as I joined them in the living room.
“We have to go to your appointment, Jacob.” My dad said.
“I wouldn’t worry about that stuff anyway. The cops in the city all have that high tech gear. It’s probably safer there than here.” Mom said reassuringly.
I felt anything but reassured. I sat in the back of the car, and made sure to double check that my suit was in my bag. It was my anchor in an ever approaching storm. From this point on I’d never know when a new supervillain would appear to put my friends and family in danger. I put my headphones in and listened to music for the majority of the drive. Once we finally got across the bridge, I had a good look at what was going on in the city during the day time.
The army stuff was gone, for the most part. People were rebuilding all the damaged structures. They all worked for the same company too, they all wore the same white uniform with a clover on it that said ‘September Industries.’ A bank in the shape of a giant golden tower was being built surprisingly quickly near the heart of the city.
As we approached the hospital I caught a glimpse at one of the new cops that the company had supplied the city. I could hear my parents freaking out in the front seat so I looked out the window to see what they were talking about. I thought it was a helicopter at first as it flew by on a hoverbike. It was wearing all black armor that made it as large as a bear, the hover bike resembled a giant black jet ski. He held a gun bigger than me.
It took us an hour and a half to get to the hospital. Much slower without super speed. The hospital was still under construction. Several floors had been damaged in the attack by Cement Suit. Men in white suits were using machinery and tools I didn’t recognize to repair and upgrade entire floors. Someone had spent a lot of money on this place and it showed. The place was packed with people. As we ascended up the steps I saw a little girl with a bandage across her eye that oozed red, they were trying to teach her how to walk again. I made eye contact with her for a total of two seconds as she shambled by. I held my eyes on the floor for the rest of the way up.
…
“As expected the tumor is still malignant. I have no reason to believe the prognosis should be changed.” The doctor’s words were like a heavy weight.
I’ve grown to flinch whenever I see a doctor open their mouth. Something about them, it freaks me out. When I was a kid I used to have nightmares about doctors and lab coats and blood. Every time they tell me about how my death is inevitable, we just don’t know how inevitable. It just sends goosebumps down my spine like a ghostly chill.
Every recommendation from them is a stone on my shoulders weighing me down. Every surgery, operation, treatment, and appointment is another world tasked upon the back of Atlas. And as I grew up slowly all of this weight on my shoulders was beginning to break my strength to carry on. So it was odd that when that doctor said those words in a grave voice, I felt that weight leave my shoulders. I felt for a few moments lighter than air. I felt the shadow of death that had followed me all of these years flicker for just a second.
It’s almost over. I’m almost done.
…
Unlike the hospital the zoo was almost entirely empty. Occasionally one or two families passed by, but the city zoo was massive so one or two families were barely noticeable. It was a warm May first, and the sky was clear of clouds. I carried my backpack with one hand as we walked. We passed a flock of Flamingos that were lazing about in a pond.
I contemplated the comfort of life in a zoo. The simple, trapped life of living within confinement. Food, water, heat, and shelter all provided by some higher power that wants you alive only for the entertainment of others. In some ways it’s better than not having any of those things and being free to choose your own path.
Are any of us truly free? Some of us are just trapped on the other side of the glass.
We stopped to sit on a bench, and the cage across from us was full of capuchin monkeys.
When I was a little boy my mother always took me here on her days off. I demanded to watch the monkeys for hours and hours. I’d watch and imitate them because I loved them so much. Sometimes they’d even walk up and talk to me. In some ways they were my only friends during the first six years of my life. It’s what earned me my nickname ‘Little Monkey’ with mom. I spaced out watching them, and jumped when mom said my name. When I turned to look at her she continued.
“Your father and I have something to tell you.” She said with a smile.
“What is it?” I asked, annoyed.
Dad turned to face me and looked me right in the eye. I almost scooted back in shock. My father was a man of few words. He was stone faced and cold. That’s why he and my mother got along so well, she did the talking for him.
“Your mother is pregnant.” He said in a very serious voice.
The words hung in the air for a minute. He turned away and watched the monkeys. Mom stared at me, expecting me to congratulate her or say that I was excited or something. But I didn’t know what to say or if I should say anything at all.
“Congrats?” I said with a fake smile. “How long have you known?” I asked.
“Just a few weeks now. We were going to tell you sooner… But with everything that’s been happening….” She drifted mid sentence.
“I get it. So, the due date would be Decemberish?” I asked.
“Around January first.” Mom said with a kind of nervousness.
“Oh.” I sighed.
My birthday.
I put on my best fake smile as we all walked away as a family.
…
Church had been canceled because of recent events. So Danny and I had spent the remainder of this lovely Wednesday in my lab.
“Mar just texted me and said she’d be here in an hour. Emily too.” Danny said while doodling on my white board.
“Tell them I said to bring cookies.” I replied from the couch, watching tv.
“Alright.” Danny chuckled.
“With frosting!” I added as I flipped around to look at him with a serious face.
“Okay, okay.” Danny said. I didn’t stop looking as he finished sending the message and put the phone down.
“You’re coming with me Saturday, right?” I pleaded.
“What do you need me for?” He asked, incredulous.
“Every superhero needs a sidekick.” I said with a smile.
“I am not, nor will ever be, anyone’s sidekick.” He said with humor in his voice. “Besides, what could I do for you that you can’t do with that fancy suit?” He asked.
“I think I’m gonna need someone to clear out the building. If everything goes south.” I explained.
“Why don’t you tell the girls about all of this? They could help too. They’re trustworthy.” He asked.
“Absolutely not. No way.” I refused.
“Why not?” He was genuinely confused.
“I only told you because I was in a life or death situation and I can’t run that fast.” I pointed at him for emphasis as I said ‘you.’ “The less people know about this, the better. I don’t want cops arresting me in the middle of the night, the military stealing my gear, or reporters putting my face on every magazine in America.” I ranted.
“You’re insane. They’re not going to tell anybody.” He assured me.
“You’re my best friend and you just tried to convince me to tell two people!” I retorted.
“Those two people are your other best friends, moron.” He said calmly.
“That’s… Fair enough, okay. But still. Don’t tell them anything.” I warned.
He seemed to accept that. He put his hand to his chin for a second as he looked over at the haphazardly placed contents of my lab.
“You should put clothes on it.” He said.
“Clothes on what?” I asked as I turned back around to continue watching tv. It was some low quality soap opera. Some thirty year old muscular guy pretending to be a teenager was talking to a thirty year old girl about how much he loved her. Nothing else was on.
“The suit. Put clothes on the suit.” He elaborated, still looking over my stuff.
“The suit is clothes you nitwit.” I grumbled.
“Yeah, but it looks like you’re naked. Like the character is naked. The monkey.” He fumbled awkwardly.
“That’s stupid.” Was my only reply.
“Yeah, probably.” He admitted. Then he turned around and threw himself against the couch to the left of me. It made a weird squishing sound as the air in it moved.
The girls walked in the doors by the time the soap opera was over. Emily sat down next to me and immediately started reading a book. She tossed a bag of cookies with frosting down on the table. I quickly grabbed it and started chomping down on them. Mar grabbed a soda from a mini fridge someone had set up. She sat down on the couch to the right of me and opened the soda at the same time.
“We’re going to a party this Saturday.” Danny told Mar.
“So I’ve heard. Tell me, Jacob. Why do you think that a pretty girl like Amy would suddenly invite you to her birthday party?” Mar asked me with a smile.
“Don’t know. Brain damage?” I said. Mar rolled her eyes. I looked over at Danny for a second. He looked like he was holding back on saying something.
“So are you coming with?” I asked Mar.
“Oh hell yeah.” She exclaimed, then immediately looked over at Danny and stuck out her tongue, before returning her attention to me. “It’ll be fun.” She had a spark in her eyes.
“You keep thinking that. I’ll be busy trying not to jump off the roof.” I grumbled.
“So cynical.” Emily said, not taking her eyes off the book she was reading.
“Why do you keep saying that? I am not cynical at all.” I asked.
“You’re a pretty negative person.” Danny said while staring up at the ceiling.
“I am not. You’re just all overly optimistic.” I said with a hint of superiority.
“Whatever you say, buddy.” Emily said as she reached over and patted my hair.
This was nice. Being with them was nice. Even after today’s bad news. Even knowing I was going to be replaced.
I hope you’re better than I am, kid.
