Ch.5: The Last 3 Years.

'Wow...'

Clay looked around in astonishment at the tall, dirty silver colored buildings in the distance.

Dressed in black pants, black crocks, and a white T-shirt, he was out of the hospital and in modern-day clothes. Also, around his neck was a macaroni necklace that Eve made for him. It was something he swore to never take off.

'After 3 long years...'

Though everything in 'Heaven' happened in a matter of a few minutes, 3 years had actually passed. Clay still couldn't fully wrap his head around this and the society he was starring at only enforced this.

'Yep, after 3 long years, nothing...has changed...'

He sighed dramatically, his parents awkwardly laughing at that. They could read his face like a book and what was written on it was,

'Wow, what a let down...'

"Well, uhm, you didn't expect it to change that much, did you?" His father forcefully laughed while rubbing the back of his own head. Clay didn't respond and only kept looking around.

He wasn't in the streets of Silver City, but in a park just behind the hospital. He just woke up a few hours ago from a 3 year long nap. The doctors couldn't let him leave just like that and so they recommended exploring the 'Recovery Park.'

The basics, 'Recovery Park' was a park for...well, Recovery. Patients come out here to learn to walk again, to exercise or to just relax. To recuperate essentially.

"Honey, this is just a park. There are many more amazing things out there that wasn't there before!"

Heather, his mom, said aloud with a cheerful attitude. Sure, she was an outgoing even person before the accident, but now, Clay felt as though she was even more cheerful than ever.

"Many more amazing things out there, huh..?"

He said as he steadily tapped Eve's back. She was asleep, not getting her mandatory nap in becuase of Clay's awakening. "Well, I guess you guys will have to show me all of it then.."

His parents nodded with determined looks, holding their hands and saying in unison,..""We'll show you everything that you've missed in these last few years!!""

Clay didn't know if he should cringe or be impressed by the fact that they said that in perfect unison. Like at the same volume, pitch and everything.

"Uh, okay. But you guys should quite down a little. Don't wanna wake Eve, right?"

They immediately quieted down and motioned Clay to follow them. He did and they all set off together.

Walking throughout the park, Clay did indeed encounter a lot of things he's never seen before. Like a mix between a treadmill and a scooter that someone could exercise on while on the go.

Or even robots that help the elderly. All in all, it was indeed the future. There was no doubt about it. 'As I thought, I'll just have to use the internet and search up things. Experiencing them in person is very underwhelming...'

Telling his parents that he was going to go get some water from the public water fountain all while handing them Eve, he strolled off. 'Speaking of the internet, I wonder how my old 'friends' are doing. Kai..'

He had this whole montage of people flash through his mind. 'Duke, London, Isaiah,..' He reached the water fountain, leaned forward while pressing a button on the side and started taking a sip from the stream of cold, refreshing water.

'And also, Jasmine...'

Jasmine was....well, a girl that every boy fawned over. She was beautiful, kind, graceful and above all else, cool.

'Yes, cool. Calm and collected, she could get along with anyone, no matter who it was. For that, even if no one has ever actually interacted with her, people automatically consider Jasmine to be their best friend. Sorta kinda weird, but if you actually met her, it's understandable..'

His smile kept widening as he thought of her. 'Although I hung out with the 'popular' kids, we've never actually spoken. Exchanged a few glances, but that's pretty much where our relationship starts and ends..'

Those few glances were edged into his mind however.

'You...can't get her out of your head once you've seen her. You really can't..' He suddenly felt this sensation in his pants, jolting and swiftly turning around.

'Huh?'

He thought to himself as he looked around, wind blowing softly and swiftly throughout the air.

'Who the hell...?' He reached into his pocket and found that there was something smooth-like in it. Feeling whatever it was surprised him for a moment as he didn't have anything in his pants pocket before.

'Someone just...' He began taking it out, revealing it to he a small piece of paper. 'Instead of pickpocketing me, someone actually put something into my pocket? And actually got away...?'

It's the fact that they seemingly dissapeared as soon as they did it which is really what surprised him.

'A location?'

From the words on the paper, he figured it was some sort of location. Once again, he looked around to see if anyone was there, but like before, there was no one.

'No one's here, not even a single hospital patient, and yet,...'

Eyes.

You ever get the feeling that your being watched by someone or something that's not actually there?

That's what Clay was feeling in this exact moment.

'7, 8, pairs of eyes? Wait, how do I know...the exact number..? Must be because of my power, but still, how does it enhance my senses? Better question, why didn't I know someone was approaching me before in the first place if that's the case?'

Clay stared out into space for a while, the eyes staying glued onto him. After a few minutes of staring, he remembered something, hurriedly putting the small piece of paper into his pocket and rushing off.

It was then that he started seeing people again, but he didn't pay too much attention to this as he was a little late to an important event. Arriving at a fountain in the middle of the park, he saw the scolding looks of his parents starring daggers at him.

"Clay, you yourself said you were gonna hurry back. And yet, you couldn't be more late.." His dad crossed his arms and sighed while shaking his head.

His mom just stared at him, not actually saying any words, but he knew. Clay understood that moms had this power to simply glance at you and instanly cause fear inside of you.

An ability that he couldn't yet and probably will never be able to refute.

Forcefully coming over to their side, Eve grabbed the air at him, meaning she wanted to be carried by him. Heather handing her over, then into Clay's grasp, he finally spoke.

"Sorry. Just lost track of time is all..."

"It was a 'be right back' moment though, son. Geez.."

His father retaliated, Clay awkwardly laughing then coughing. "But I'm here now and that's all that matters!" The two adults stared down at him then at each other.

They nodded then looked at the cameraman a few feet away who also nodded. 'A family photo..'

Clay had put Eve into a comfortable position which was seemingly the chair holding position where his right forearm would act like a flat surface she'd 'sit on'.

Clay then put up a peace sign with his free hand and waited. His father, standing to Clay's left, placed his right hand on Clay's left shoulder. His mom, standing to Clay's right, wrapped her arm around Clay's back and smiled.

'Our first actual family photo..'

Their son was in a coma for 3 long years. They went through many hardships and regrets, wishing they could've done more as parents.

They felt as though their lack of parenting and love caused the accident and for that, they'll never truly forgive themself.

They didn't know that up until now, their son was their pride, their joy, their everything.

"Clay, We Love You. Never Forget That."

His father proclaimed aloud as both his and Heather's grip tightened.

"We know we haven't been there for you and we can never forgive ourselves for that, but please, please know that now, we'll always be by your side. To support and love you with all our heart..."

Hearing their words,

The passion,

The Affection,

The Warmth,

The love,

The Genuine Truth...

"I Love You Guys."

He's heard them say it many times before.

They've only heard it once.

"More...Than You Even Know.."

And then,

*FLASH!*

The camera's flash went off and a picture came out the dispenser. The cameraman yanked it out the cameras picture slot and waved it around. Staring at it, he concluded that it was perfect and walked over to the family to give it to them.

Clay, now with the picture in hand, held it out for them all to see. 'You really don't know...until you know. Cliche, I think, but it's true. Never knew how much I should've valued life until I died. I guess they didn't as well..'

"Look, honey. Eve isn't even looking!" Heather shouted at Kazemi.

"Bu-But, dear, it's literally perfect... "

"No! It has to be taken again!"

"But I..."

They argued on and on on end. Heather however was reminded of what brought upon such smiles on their faces, leading her to clear her throat and say, "Well, we should head back to the hospital. They said they'll have to do more test on you, didn't they?"

Clay nodded and said, "Yeah, but we still have time, I think. I...wanna hang out with you guys some more if that's fine with you.."

Kazemi looked at Heather who also looked at him. 'Another first...' is what they thought with huge grins as they said,

""Of course that's fine..""

For the first time, they felt as though they were all truly a family.

They couldn't...be happier with that...

....