In Time

-Seventeen-

5 April 2017, Wednesday

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I felt a numb stinging pain on my bad leg, urging to wake me up prematurely from my deep slumber. Instinctively, I grabbed several pillows from my bedside in an attempt to cushion and provide some form of relief to my stump. It didn't work. On the contrary, the pain intensified into a constant burning sensation, like red fire ants that threatened to tear away at my flesh.

I peeled my heavy eyelids open, giving up on the idea of sleep entirely. I peered out of my bedroom window and sighed upon seeing the windowpane clouded with rain as deep roars of thunder rumbled in the background. No wonder I was getting so much pain. Apparently, rain and my left leg didn't get along with each other. If only I was the weather reporter or something; I would be to tell when a rainstorm was coming, even without the help of modern technology. What a waste of talent.

I turned to the alarm clock on my bedside. 6:00am. I had a good half an hour before I needed to get out of bed. Getting up into a sitting position, I attempted to massage the pain out of my stump. I closed my eyes, trying to get myself into a state of relaxation. As I attempted to clear my mind of all thoughts, something popped into my head.

My encounter with Diana, at Westside Alley. It was a dream last night, wasn't it? Yet it felt so vivid, so strangely real, as though I'd lived through it before. I struggled to remember the content of the dream as the memory of every single detail faded into increasing obscurity with each passing second.

But I could remember one thing. Diana was afraid. She was vulnerable in my arms. Did I console her? Did I tell her not to worry? Did I assure her that I would be there for her? I wasn't entirely sure, but I really hoped I did.

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I waited eagerly for the recess bell to go off through the whole of history lesson. I peered over to Aus, he was fidgeting in his seat. That was typical of him, his brain protesting for food he would say. Jon noticed my restlessness and gave me a kick from under the table while muttering under his breath. He didn't like it when his meticulous note-taking process was interrupted.

"I'm on high tide," I lied as Jon rolled his eyes.

The recess bell went off. I was the first one out of the classroom, making a beeline for the umbrella area. I was desperate to make things right this time round.

There she was, seated on a bench at the umbrella area in the pouring rain, donned in the same baggy hoodie. It was just like the last time I saw her. It felt so surreal, seeing Diana again, in real life. I'd thought that she was gone forever; that I'd lost her forever. Not that she was mine to keep. Bursting with elation, I walked over straight in her direction. As I took steps forward, I felt the remaining pain from this morning radiating up my bad leg as I set my weight on it. I smiled. There was no way this was a dream then.

"Hi Diana, nice to meet you. I'm Xavier," I introduced, shielding myself from the rain as I sprinted across.

"Hi it's nice to meet you. You can just call me D," she replied. "Come, please take a seat, you're drenched," she gestured at the opposite bench.

Well, at least Diana was more hospitable this time compared to the last time I introduced myself. I doubted that I was overthinking it, but there was this look of familiarity in her eyes. It was as if we were already acquainted, even though it didn't make sense; she wasn't supposed to have any memories of any interactions we had in the past.

"Okay, and you can call me X as well," I added on as I climbed onto the bench, combing droplets of rain out of my hair.

Just then, I caught Diana's eyes lingering a moment too long at my chest.