The Nightmare Glitch

IV

Until about 10:30, Nate joined me on the couch, and we played a game on the PS4. When we got tired, Nate asked where he'd be staying.

"Umm, upstairs, first door on the right."

He grabbed his stuff and headed upstairs as I grabbed the controllers and put them back as well as turned off the console and tv. That was when I realized what room I'd directed Nate to.

Leni's room had been untouched until about three months after her funeral, so until about September. Now her room was bare and untouched. Her stuff had been boxed up and put into the attic and her wall repainted the boring eggshell white it was when we bought the house.

Nate was sitting on the bed when I entered the room, his duffel on the floor by his feet.

"This was her room, wasn't it?" He asked.

I nodded as I leaned against the doorframe.

"I'm so sorry."

I shook my head. "It's not your fault. And it's not your fault you weren't there. We had kind of drifted apart and Mark and I were so consumed in our grief, we just forgot about everyone else except those who were there."

"Still. I can't imagine." Then he smiled. "You know, I've been thinking about adopting."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah. I mean, I don't have someone to help me like you guys do, but I've always wanted kids. And I think I'm ready. I mean, I still have to finish some things and make sure everything's in order. But, yeah. And, I'm not getting any younger."

I scoffed. "We're the same age. You calling me old, asshole?"

He laughed. "Nah. But we look good for some 36-year-olds, don't we?"

"That we do. That we do." A moment of comfortable silence passed before I stood. "I'll leave you to get ready for bed. If you need anything, my room's just down the hall."

Nate nodded. "Thanks. And good night."

"Good night." I smiled and left the room, closing the door behind me. After changing, I went into the bathroom to change the gauze wrapped around my arm. I was attempting to unravel Mark's handiwork, there was a knock on the bedroom door.

"Come in!" I yelled out.

Nate walked in and peeked inside the open doorway. "Hey, I totally forgot, Mark wanted me to help check on your arm." That was when he noticed me messing with the wraps. "You want some help with that?"

"Uh, yeah, that'd be great." As he walked over, I handed him the little gauze I'd already unwrapped and he gently unwound it, making sure the gauze didn't stick to the wound.

When it had finally come undone, Nate carefully inspected the wound. "Well, it doesn't look infected. Guess Mark did a good job. You got this only a few hours ago?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, it's already mostly healed."

I was shocked for a moment. I'd forgotten I had accelerated healing, I hadn't been injured in a while. Looking down, the wound was already healed over, leaving behind a faint white line.

"Mark and I have accelerated healing because of our doctor-sides. We also have a few other abilities."

Nate nodded. "That's cool. I think my only ability is I can hit unnatural notes and decibels, but that makes sense. I don't have anywhere near the number of sides you guys have, let alone any that are super powerful. I probably have some abilities from Phantom but I have no idea what they are, and I'm not sure I want to."