A Crack Away from Destiny

Epilogue: Joshua

By epilogue, I mean this chapter and those following are part of the epilogue :) I hope you enjoy it!

For the first time in days, Joshua awoke from a deep slumber with dreams of mere nothingness. He stretched out his arms, a yawn escaping from his throat. Sleeping on a mattress with blankets was much more favorable to cement floors, and only really sleeping when having been unconscious. The familiar site of his room, strewn with comic books and his beloved swivel chair were like rainbows to his eyes. Suddenly, slamming the door open, Sarah bursted into the room.

"WAKE UP, JOSHUA! IT'S MORNING!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, and halted when she realised he was already awake. "Mum wants you to take out the trash once you get up."

"Will do," he replied, grinning.

"Why are you smiling like some mental bloke who had just escaped from the hospital?" she inquired, arching her eyebrow.

"Because, Sarah Peddlestone, there are worse things than an annoying sister and trash." Clearly vexed by the unanticipated reaction, she left out of the room - lazy enough not to closed the door behind her. It was difficult getting used to the fact that his parents had not cared about his two-day absence. Well, they had cared apparently and called the school whom had replied that he was at a friend's house. However, he did receive a rather harsh scolding as to why he didn't call his parents, but he would've chosen that excuse any day than his family finding out what really transpired in that mess of events. He slid off of his bed and took a comic book lying on the couch, turning it over in his hands. Crisis on Infinite Earths stood out in italicised, bolded letters. It was the one where Flash had unfortunately retired his red suit to Wally West and died. But life wasn't a comic book. Nobody has this yellow costume of spandex and immediately everyone recognises him as the antagonist. And the protagonist isn't always the one with a deceased guardian (or guardians) and wished to avenge their deaths in some way, which can only be inexplicably achieved by becoming a superhero - Batman being a perfect example of that. No, the only way of being a good character in one's life is to just live life to the fullest. Noticing a waste basket near by, he tossed the comic book inside. A life of saving damsels in distress was just imagination in reality, and sometimes the damsels save the seemingly perfect imitation of a heroes who are in distress. People never seemed to realise that.

***

English was highly engaging for Joshua, for the class was provided with the privilege to read their Romeo and Juliet novels the entire period. He was so enveloped in the atmosphere of it all that he almost believed that Juliet was really his true love, but of course, his heart lied elsewhere... Perhaps somewhere in America.

"Joshua, this is for you!" whispered a hushed voice behind him. He whirled his head around, and took the object that was handed to him. It was a folded post-it note. Holding the book open, he opened up the note, which revealed neat and tall handwriting. It read: "Hey, Josh. It's Alexa. I hope you have forgiven me, and I know that you claimed that you did in that cell, but what I did to you is inexcusable even if my personal life kind of stinks. You may not forget, I get that, but will you forgive me?" Of course - only a popular would see nothing better to do than send notes back and forth during class, he thought, smiling. He glanced quickly around him, scanning his surroundings. The teacher was seated at the desk, her head down, and the remainder of the class were either texting or reading. All clear. He flipped the note over, and hastily pulled out a pencil from his pencil case. He wrote in a somewhat neat manner: "You're right. I will probably never forget those times you shoved me into the lockers, but I will admit, I am kind of prejudice, so some of the fault is kind of on my own behalf. To consider this official, shall we perform a truce?" He folded the paper where the crease remained and passed it back to the person behind him, who seemed slightly shocked at first that Joshua Peddlestone, a straight A student, would even consider passing notes in class. The note was passed back in mere seconds, and Alexa also seemed sort of stunned to receive it. Hastily, she opened it, holding an ink pen, and feverishly began writing down before handing it back to the person in front of her. Joshua gazed down at his book as to look less conspicuous. In a matter of seconds, the note returned, more writing filling the front side. It read: "Alright. Truce." It didn't take long for Josh to write down his response, and he handed the note back to the person behind him, who now seemed irritated than anything else.