Where had this much time gone? Why hadn't I chosen a power like... like... a car!
I blasted through the empty streets of Saddlebrook. Finally, I had a purpose in my otherwise mundane teenage life. I flew past houses, ponds, the park. This was the place where I had first liked Molly. It all started in that small playground, when she changed me. And today, I was going to find out just how deep that change had gone.
I flew on in a straight line. If I turned, it would be one more obstacle to dodge. One more impediment between me and my goal. When I met my mate, I'd catch her. I'd win the power of invisibility and we'd be together forever.
The rainy morning clouds made my life miserable. But there was plenty of sun and sky out here. I could see it all. She needed to see that all too, but if I had a power, I wouldn't have to wait around for her. She could see for herself. If she loved me, I knew she'd give me my powers back. If she truly loved me. I stopped and just thought about that, of my love for her. I wondered if this would last the rest of my lifetime.
Molly raised up in the middle of my thoughts. "Hello, Peter," she said. "Molly," I replied. Desperately, I tried to find where she was. I was so close. We were in the middle of talk. She couldn't vanish. I couldn't miss her if I could see her.
"What's wrong, Peter? I feel like you're going to hurt me." She didn't know how right she was. Those words just changed my life forever.
"Peter?"
"I'm here. I'm not going to hurt you. Where are you?" I strained to find that elusive voice.
"I'm under the bleachers in the park, where we went the summer we met."
"Wh... wh... when?" I stuttered.
"That one memory that played over and over after I chose the x-ray vision. My doctor says it's all in my head but are you ever really in your head? Do you know where you are?"
"I... I... I love you, Molly. Where are you?"
"Seeking counseling is your first step to finding your place in the world. You can't go back to the world of before you went blind. Trust me, I know. I don't know anything about before and I try not to remember anything from the day I lost my sight, but I do remember the day before."
My vision was darkening. I could barely see. "Do you really?" I asked.
"I remember how happy we were." Her voice twinkled in my ears.
All of a sudden, I was remembering what that happiness was like. "Do you remember what we do in this memory? Do you remember what we do in the memory after that? After hours of blindness, I see you again. Do you remember that scene? Do you remember how I-- "
"I remember, Peter. I remember the next day."
"I'm kissing you. It feels good. Your hair smells like honey. It smells good, Molly." My vision faded away. "I know that look."
"Molly?"
"I'm in the park, where you met me the first time."
"I love you, Molly."
"I love you, too, Peter. That's why I have to speak to you in the only way I know how. You can't find me."
As my vision dimmed, I said, "Molly?" My last word came out like a muffled, airy whisper.
Then I was gone. I had no idea how much time passed before I came to. I was cuddled in my bed in the next room. I threw the blankets off, but it had been a long while since I woke up.
Whatever she was doing to me, I didn't know. But the house was silent. I walked down the hall to her room. The door was shut. I broke the door down and saw a blue shirt I tried on her. It was for one of her friends.
"Hey, Peter, you back yet? I'm fixing some breakfast."
"Hey, Molly. I'm here."
"That teddy is for a friend. It's way too small for me. Did you like it? We may have to get a second one like that."
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
"I'm well. Thanks for asking."
"I'm sorry about what I said."
"It's okay, Peter."
I walked to the kitchen and saw her sat down at the kitchen table. "They all thought you might never wake up. I told them you would. You're always silly in the morning."
"What?" I said. "I guess so."
"I knew you'd be back."
"I guess I was tired anyway."
"Why don't you get me some orange juice, Peter. Thanks. I don't know how you do it. I'm a scrawny thing compared to you."
"Well, sir, I am quite muscular, as I just got to show you, uh... "
"You mean that had nothing to do with your vision either."
"I'm going to go check on the coffee if you don't mind."
Then I went into the living room and sat down. She was right. It was too early in the morning to be thinking about that.
"Hey, Peter. You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, Molly."
"You don't sound like it."
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said again.
"Something's wrong. I'm getting up."
"I'm fine, hon," I said, a little louder.
"Well, what's the matter? I just thought something was wrong."
"I'm sorry, hon."
"What is it?"
"I don't know, hon. I just..."
"You just what?"
"Nothing, hon. Don't worry about it."
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm not thinking about anything," I said, getting more frustrated now.
"You're way too quiet this morning. Is something wrong?"
"What do you care, hon?" I snapped at her, then turned away. I felt her eyes on me.
"I'm going to check on breakfast anyways."
"I'm fine, hon."
"Alright. But if you change your mind, just let me know."
"Will do, hon."
I heard a clapping sound in the kitchen. I looked over at her. She was standing there with her mouth wide open.
"Well, are you going to stand there all day or are you going to fix me some breakfast?"
"Sorry, hon. Yes, of course."
And she sat down on the couch and just stared at me. I kept going on with normal activities, even though she was looking at me.
"Hon, maybe we should see a counselor or someone like that. I don't know what's wrong with you."
"Why would we see someone like that? And what makes you think something's wrong? And why do you care so much? You don't know anything about anything."
"Don't be like that."
"What?"
"Well, I feel like you don't even love me anymore."
"Are you crazy? You're the only thing I love now. You're the only one I care about."
"You just don't act like it."
"You want to know something? I just don't care about you at all."
"Okay, fine. I'm going."
"Peter!" she said, sitting on the couch with her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, Molly, I just meant... it doesn't matter what I mean. There's so much wrong. I don't know what to do."
I ran up and put my arms around her. "I'm sorry, hon. I just can't right now. I wish I could. I wish I wouldn't have to."