Newborn Eyes

Freaking Out

It's been over a week since I learned that my power is controlling death. Just to catch up, I haven't left my room. At all. Today I decided I needed some fresh air but the minute I exited my room everyone bombarded me with questions. So I went back into my room. I know it seems like I am being a total jerk but I just learned that I can control death! I mean what would you do if you were me!

I'm actually having a really hard time because every night I keep having these dreams of people suffering. They're all in a spot between dying and living. So they keep suffering because apparently I'm supposed to decide if they live or not. I keep waking up screaming because I can't stand seeing all of these people suffer but I actually don't really know how to use my power.

Alright, so present time, I just woke up screaming again. This, news flash, is because of all the suffering. The images of people suffering keeps appearing every single time I am asleep! I just saw a teenage boy killing himself, a soldier dying in war, a child dying from a bomb going off in her city, a dog, a baby, a woman- "Make it stop!" I scream at the top of my lungs as the images roll around in my head. 

Tyler bursts into my room and rushes over to the bed with worry on his face. "Constance! What happened?"

I look up at Tyler and quickly wipe away the tears. He probably already saw them though. "I keep seeing people suffering and dying and I can't stop it because I don't know how to use my power! So much suffering!" I say through tears and gasps.

Tyler embraces me in a hug and rubs my back. "It's okay," he says soothingly, "I'm here. It's alright"

We stay embraced until a small knock is heard on the door. Tyler lets go of me and gets off the bed to go talk to his father at the door. I watch from my bed but I can't hear what they are saying. After a few minutes of them discussing something, me probably, Tyler's father comes over to the bed to ask me how I am doing.

"Well I guess the normal response for that question is fine, but I'm going to be honest and say that I'm doing terrible." I respond.

He chuckles at my small amount of humor that I still have. His face goes solemn after a moment and he sits down on the bed. He starts by saying, "I need you to be completely honest with me when I share this information that I just received. I need to know the truth."

"Truth?" I ask, confused.

"I just gained some information regarding who you are and where you're from."

"What are you talking about?" Tyler asks.

"Constance isn't from around here. She went back in time to come here and become a Xena. Isn't that right Constance?" Cain says, accusingly.

"Yes... that's true, but please let me explain." I beg, "I was sent back here to warn you. Someone wants to hurt Ty. They are going to put poison in his drink at your convention in February. I came back to save him and stop a war that would happen and that would destroy the whole Xena race. Please don't hate me! I was just trying to help you!"

"Of course we don't hate you!" Ty says apologetically, "That is a very courageous thing to do. To come back here and stop a war from happening. And you would have saved my life. Father we can't punish her! She just wanted to help!"

Cain looks at me with curiosity. "Well I guess I can let this one go. You technically saved Tyler's life. Just don't lie to us again, we're trying to help you."

I nod my head and breathe a sigh of relief, putting my head down on my bed. Ty comes over and puts his hand on my back. Cain stands up, gives my an apologetic smile, and leaves the room. Ty sits down on the bed next to me. "Sorry about my dad," he says, "He tends to overreact about stuff."

"It's okay," I respond. "My uncle does that too."

"Where is your uncle?" Ty asks.

"Probably with the other me. When you go back in time, it doesn't get rid of the other you at that time so another version of me is running around right now. But once I go back, everything that the other me did will be erased and my uncle will forget everything that happened. Everything will just seem normal. I guess he will just think that I was on a trip or something. He's not very bright about that stuff anyways. One year he--"

I am cut off by Ty leaning forward and pressing his lips against mine. My eyes widen as I was not expecting this. My mind races, wondering how I didn't see this coming. I finally shut off my mind and lose myself in the kiss. It ends as quickly as it began but there are fireworks exploding in my heart. He is the first one to pull back and I let go of a breathe I didn't know I was holding in. 

"Wow" he says in a whisper.

I nod my head back because I can't trust my voice right now. I guess he must have felt the fireworks too because he puts his head down on my shoulder. I feel his hair against my cheek and smell a hint of his coconut shampoo. 

Suddenly he lifts up his head and stands up quickly. "I'm sorry, that was a mistake," he says, the words rushed like he's trying to beat time.

He starts backing out of the room bumping into the doorframe on his way out. "Wait, Ty." I say, standing up off the bed.

He ignores me and turns around, walking out of the room, rubbing his head in confusion. I slump back down and the bed and put my head in my hands. Are you serious? Now I have two things to be confused about? I really need to figure out how to use this power.