A Grateful Heart (ONC 2023; manxman)✅

Chapter 8

In the middle of the night, I abruptly woke up to a man on top of me, pinning my body to the bed so I couldn't move. Opening my eyes, I discovered Teddy gripping my wrists so tight he practically cut off my circulation. He wasn't as weak as he claimed to be. "Teddy, what the hell are you doing?"

"Who are you?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"What are you talking about? Get the fuck off me."

"Who are you?" he repeated.

"I'm Eric Gagnon, and I'm filling in for Ms. Tremblay for—"

"No," he cut me off. "Tell me the truth. Who are you?"

"I'm Eric," I insisted. "What more do you want me to say?"

"Where the hell did you come from, Eric?"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. You'll have me committed. As soon as I get home, I'm checking myself into a psychiatric hospital. Wow, you're stronger than you look."

"Where's home?"

"Lowell. I live in the Highlands... around the block from here."

"Then why are you staying here?"

Again, I didn't know how to respond, so I said nothing. His knee was between my legs, perhaps a little too close to my crotch. One move and he'd squash my balls. Teddy caught me by surprise, bringing his hand to my throat. I tried to break free, but he had such a hold of me, I could barely budge, not to mention breathe. His anger frightened me, and for a minute I thought he'd kill me.

"Tell me, Eric."

With all of his weight on me, he blocked one of my arms with his elbow while his hand held the other arm down. If I couldn't breathe, then I couldn't respond to his questions. "I... I... I can't breathe..." I coughed. He lightened his grip, finally allowing me to breathe. I gasped for air.

"I'm sorry, Eric. I lost my temper. I just want answers."

Tears blurred my vision as my body reacted to his. As tears fell, he slowly released my wrist. He wiped my cheeks with his fingers, making me cry harder. "I want to go home," I said, sounding like a homesick little boy on a camping trip away from home for the first time.

"Where's home? And don't say the Highlands. You already said that and I don't believe you."

"My home hasn't been built yet," I said. "It's not built until 1962. I can't do this anymore." More and more tears fell.

"1962, huh?" he said suspiciously.

"I know it sounds fucked up. It is fucked up."

"Stop crying," he said. I placed my hand on top of his and slowly guided it to my lips. I kissed his palm. He seemed so real, nothing like a dream. "I was hoping you could tell me what this is." From the pocket of his pajama top, he pulled out my Apple watch. I hadn't realized it was missing.

"That's my watch," I said.

"It doesn't look like a watch. I mean, it's black, and there's no hands... no numbers... nothing, and the wristband is cloth and a rainbow. It's the strangest thing I've ever seen."

"The watch is dead. It needs to charge. You wouldn't understand, Teddy. The rainbow is a symbol of gay pride. Again, something you wouldn't understand."

"Gay pride? What does that mean?"

"I can't get into it right now. I'm gay and I'm proud of it, okay? And you should be, too, but you can't be because it's 1935."

Teddy stopped and pondered, his brow furrowed as he considered what questions to ask me. "Are you from a different universe?"

I sniffed, shaking my head. "No. I'm from a different time. I've been living in a dream and I can't wake up. I want to go home."