Boy in the skies

Chapter 5 - Check-Up Boy

"Jules? Oh baby, wake up. Baba's here to take you to your appointment." My mother, Fatimah, said shaking me softly. I shifted in my cocoon of blankets and grumbled, "I can't bother enough mama, leave me alone."

Even with my eyes closed, I knew my mother was frowning at my response. And she wouldn't be the first one doing that, ever since the accident, me and her have grown distant, so have her and dad, and me and my older brother. The whole family basically.

"Jules, please. This is good for you." Mom croaked, her voice impossibly soft. She knows my weak spot, when she's weak and soft, I'm weak and soft. Did I want to get up? Nope. Was I gonna get up anyways? Only for my moms sake.

I rubbed my face aggressively on my pillow, "I'll get up, just give me a minute to get dressed mama." I said, suddenly recognizing my sore body and horrible breathe. Maybe I would've had to get out anyways.

"Oh Julian! Thank you so much, I'm so proud of you." She said, her voice suddenly joyous, I peeped open one of my eyes and saw the brightest smile on her face. It made me feel better about my decision and I returned her a secret smile too.

Mom then gave me a one sided hug and hurriedly rushed out of the room, her long dress swaying as she went. I waited until she closed the door and carefully sat up in my bed, again noticing how dark the room was.

I then scooted to the end of my bed where wheelchair which was neatly sitting at and got on it. Once on it, I moved the wheels skillfully and went to my closet, opening the doors and scanning my gremlins cave of t-shirts.

I moved my hands through them when my hand landed on a simple white tee with the print of Led Zeppelins record label, with this winged guy falling from the sky. I chuckled to myself as I remembered the guy from yesterday, the creepy winged guy who just didn't know when Halloween was.

I remembered grazing my finger through the white feathers of his wings, too soft to be synthetic, too perfect and precise to be fake. A fallen angel, the crazy part pf my brain said. Just like the shirt your holding, the other part of my head spoke.

On cue, mom called from downstairs, telling me to hurry up. I called back and cleared my head, taking the t-shirt and putting it on. After barely adjusting my hair in the mirror, I strolled the wheelchair to my door.

I took a deep breathe and opened the door, heading out of my room for the first time since yesterday.

-

I hated waiting, but waiting was exactly what I had to do. I was sitting on my wheelchair, right in front of one of the stone benches outside of the hospital, my father talking to the receptionist inside.

The cold wind breezed through my body, making me crave for warmth. I instinctively rubbed my arms, pulling the sleeve of my shirt lower. "The outside friggen sucks." I muttered, spitefully aware of how hard my dad would smack me if I even muttered a swear word. Or acted even a bit out of character.

I was watching people walk down the wide sidewalk opposite to the hospital building, cars zooming by without any care to the injustice the universe placed upon me. I half wanted them to all crash, but the other part of me didn't care enough. I had lost all remorse.

Which explained why mom and dad wanted me to go see a therapist. What it didn't explain was the sudden graze of warmth I felt on my left bicep.

I jerked my side to my side to see the boy from yesterday, his hand merely inches away from my arm, his mouth slightly agap and his hazel eyes wide. "Oops-" Was all he said, his posture became un-slouched and his heels turned sideways, like he was ready to run.

I noticed that the real as frug wings he had on yesterday weren't visible, instead, he was wearing a white shirt with a oversized yellow hoodie, with a plad jacket over it and dirty jeans. His back was slightly bigger though, like he was hiding a wholeass blanket behind him.

"Hi?" I inquired, though it probably didn't appear on my face, but I was ecstatic to see the boy again. Don't know why, but he radiated this awkward warmth that I yearned, atleast in the cold weather.

"i should go." The boy muttered, his eye's wide and nervous, but trained on me. Though what he said didn't vibe with the sentiment his body was giving since he didn't move an inch. I grinned loosely. "Or you could sit here and keep me company, that jacket your wearing looks extremely inviting too."

I rubbed my arms again, indicating my discomfort of the weather and the boy seemed to get it and calmed down, though he took a while, he blissfully sat on the bench, glancing at me nervously. "Do you, uh," He asked, "Want my jacket?"

I turned to him and strangely enough, pouted my lips, "Im freezing, kind sir. So, yes." The boys face turned red as he quickly took off his jacket and sheepishly handed to me, I muttered a thank you and took the jacket and wore it, melting into the immense warmth it emitted.

I was tempted to ask the boy for his hoodie too, knowing full well that it would strain his hospitality. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to even consider the idea when I heard my father's deep voice call for me. "Jules, Cmon son. The doctor is ready!" I glanced over at the doorway of the hospital to see my dad's head poking through it.

"Be right there!" I shouted back and turned to the boy who was cluelessly staring at us, I started to take off his jacket when he stopped me, placing his hand on mine. "You can keep it for now, give it to me later." He said, saying the longest sentence he'd uttered since yesterday.

I could feel my face warm at the sudden contact, pausing my breathe for a while, "How are you so certain we'll meet again?" I managed. To which he shrugged his shoulders, "I just know, like today too, never expected to see you here." He said, his mouth tilting upwards to form a boyish smile.

I returned a smile back, a genuine smile. A smile I hadn't given to anyone for ages, and here this boy was coming outta no where and making work my muscles for him.

"Jules!" I heard my dad bellow again, "Gotta go now." I said and the boy nodded, I then turned my wheelchair and moved towards the ramps, once I was on the platform, I turned to look back and the boy was gone, gone like he'd never been there.

I entered the building, a scowl replacing the smile I had moments ago. Me back to being me. Time for some therapy, I muttered to myself.

                                          (Word Count)
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