Becoming: Part 8-Return
Hey guys! I'm really sorry that this has taken soo long... School was being stupid... I'm also sorry that this isn't a super long one like Part 7... I'll try to upload more consistantly but, for now, this will have to do :) Enjoy!
Alex ran through the forest. He dodged stray roots and branches, all without breaking a sweat. He found that he was able to run at a much higher speed and that his mind moved at a much quicker pace, making it easy to comprehend where he was in relation to his surroundings.
By the time he arrived at the outer border of the town, his forehead had produced a few, small beads of sweat and his hair was damp. Aside from this, Alex was fine, he wasn't even fatigued. He eventually reached the sidewalk and slowed himself down to a fast jog.
He followed the road until it merged in with a larger one, where he took a right and soon found himself at the Browning's house.
Alex began to walk up to the door, but then paused. What was he going to say? What could he say? That he just took a hike for the entire night? Yeah, like that would work. All of a sudden, the door swung open, interrupting his train of thought. Mary Browning, red-eyed, and depressed, stood behind it. Her head was bent towards the ground and the energy and life that once had seemed to fill her was gone. In its place was a hollowness, an empty space. Whatever wrinkles she had seemed a bit more prominent, and the color of her hair seemed to have faded to a lighter shade.
Alex observed all of this in less than a second. He could see, as she raised her head and finally caught sight of him, the expression of surprise cross her face. A smile appeared on her lips and a small spark of life relit itself in her eyes. She threw open the door and embraced Alex, who, at the moment, was in a complete state of shock. Had his absence for one day inflicted this much pain on the Brownings? How could he stay with them? Was he putting them in danger? Of himself? These thoughts all passed through Alex's mind while Mary's tears seeped down through the threads of his jacket.
After a few more seconds, Mary picked herself up, stood back, and looked at Alex, a wavering smile crossing her lips. She gave him one more quick embrace and ushered him into the house. John was sitting at the dining room table. His head was in his hands and there was a half empty beer resting on the table.
As Alex and Mary entered the room, John looked up. Alex could see dark circles under his eyes. 'He stayed up all night??!' Alex thought. 'How much do I mean to these people?'.
Realization dawned on John's face and a smile that spread from ear-to-ear confirmed Alex's beliefs about how much the Brownings cared for him. John got up and slowly walked over to Alex and Mary. Then, without saying a word, he embraced them both. Alex wrapped his arms around John and Mary. For the first time in his life that he could remember, Alex felt truly at home, that he fit in, and that he meant a lot to someone.
The dinner that night had a solemn atmosphere. When the children came in, they greeted Alex, acting as if he had never left. During the dinner, John and Mary had stern looks plastered to their faces. However, Alex could see a twinge of sadness in their expressions as well. He wondered why, but then dismissed the thought. The children, however, were gleefully talking about their day of playing with their friends and their exciting games of tag and hide-and-seek.
After dinner was over, the children were sent upstairs to prepare themselves for bed. Alex also got up and started bringing in the dishes and cups that needed to be cleaned. However, John and Mary didn't leave their seats, their unwavering states boring into the table as they remained deep in thought.
Alex soon finished cleaning and putting the dishes and silverware in their respective places, he returned to the table and glanced at the couple.
"Umm... Guys? Are you ok?"
His voice brought the two back to reality. John then looked up at Alex, sighed, and said , "Alex.... We need to talk".
...
"I'm sorry Alex, I just can't have you disappear again." Mary was on the verge of tears as she said this. "I-I just can't".
John then attempted to comfort his wife by putting his arm around her. He said " Mary and I have discussed this thoroughly.. And we can't have you go out for an entire night. I don't think that we could handle that... Never knowing if you are going to come back or not."
"So we decided" Mary cut in " that the best thing for us is that you ju-- that you just leave our family. At least this way, we won't have to worry about you." Alex was taken aback. He had been gone for one night, and he thought that the Brownings reaction would have been one of joy to have him back, rather than banishment as protection from future disappearances.
Mary could read the shock that openly displayed itself on Alex's face. "Please respect our decision Alex, we're only doing this because we believe that this is the best option for both of us."
With that, it was over. Alex turned and went upstairs. He began to back his few belongings and planned to leave early the next morning. He didn't want to go against the Brownings's wishes.