Time for School Ch. 18

"Sounds fair," I quietly replied, feeling quite overwhelmed with emotion as I gazed at the ground and smiled. "Truth be told, a good friend of mine told me that I should actually give up this power. It serves no actual use to me anymore, but I have grown a lot thanks to it."

"Very good," they said. "So be it. This will be the last time we ever cross paths on the same plane again. Perhaps someday, when your soul sheds its mortal coil, we will meet with you and converse on friendlier terms ... for an eternity if you so wish."

I laughed. "I'd say I'm looking forward to it, but I've got a lot of living left to do."

That's when I noticed the van down below and panicked.

"Wait!" I quickly exclaimed.

"Hmm?"

"Just let me get back into the same position I was before you stopped time on Ophelia."

"Very well. Do it quickly. We mustn't stay in this time warp for long."

I hustled back down to the ground and rushed into the van with her. I crawled atop her once again, letting her immobile hand cradle my crotch before giving the thumbs up to the time gods. They nodded, and suddenly time returned to normal - Ophelia and everything.

"You're good," she happily remarked with a giggle. I was feeling far too spiritual at that point to want to go any further. Oh yes, I actually said that. For once, I didn't feel up to having sex.

"Wait, Ophelia," I said as I got up.

"What's wrong?" she asked with concern. "Am I going too fast for you?"

"That's just it, I ..." I looked away. "I just can't do this. I don't want to upset you by declining or anything, I just ... can't. I'm sorry."

"It's all right," she softly replied. "It was just an offer. I can't tell you how thankful I am that you showed up out of nowhere to help me get back on the road."

"Like I just ... flew in like a bird, huh?"

"Exactly!" she exclaimed. Both of us quietly laughed. "Don't apologize, it's fine."

"Thanks, Ophelia."

"Thank you, Anthony."

The two of us shared one final kiss. I then shuffled backwards out of the van, holding her hand to help her get out as well. She gave me one more hug before letting her arms fall away with a smile.

"Do you want me to give you a lift back to your place?"

"No, it's all right. I was going to walk back home."

"All right, then," she replied with a smile.

"Drive safely," I told her.

"I will!" she cheerfully exclaimed. She closed the back door behind her and then opened the driver's side door. "You take care, too, okay?"

I nodded to her before she got into the driver's seat and turned the engine over. I waved to her as she waved back with her arm out the window. Her horn played 'La Cucaracha' and I just laughed, watching her drive away. Now that she was gone and I finally had a moment to myself, I collapsed onto my butt and hunched over in exhaustion.

I just listened to my own quiet breathing, staring at the dirt for several minutes. My fingers combed through it, reveling in how cool and soft and ... dirt-y it was. A smile slowly spread across my lips. I was alive. I was alive and feeling better than ever. It was amazing. I never imagined I would have been so close to death and then ... live to tell about it. Well, I don't think there was anyone I wanted to tell that experience to. After all, there's almost nobody that would believe me anyway.

I took a deep breath, smelling the fresh water underneath the bridge as it lapped upon the rocks nearby. I was so much more thankful for everything in my life. That's because I still had a life to live. I sighed happily, looking up at the sky through the gap in the bridge. My time-stopping power was officially no more. I'd always keep those incredible memories of it with me, but I could never use it ever again for any reason. Those time gods sure do know how to show up in the blink of an eye.

I then calmly got to my feet, brushing the dirt off my pants and off my hands. I noticed the gas can on the ground and smirked as I made it disappear. I casually strolled away, hands in my pockets before making my body go invisible. As I slowly took to the air once again, I knew that there was so much more for me to do and experience. My job as a part-time superhero was just getting started. Maybe I'd never get to fight gigantic monsters or aliens from another world, but so what? What mattered to me was using my power for good. If I use my powers for something as simple as helping an old lady cross a street or rescuing a kitten from a tree, that was more than good enough for me.

I was way past exhausted after I'd gotten home. The combination of using my new powers, mixed in with having to use them in hyper-speed to defend myself, and the trauma of my near-death experience left me totally drained. I smiled so happily as I walked through the door of my home. I smiled as I took a shower, I smiled as I put fresh clothes on, I smiled as my head hit my pillow after collapsing into bed. I was just happy. Happy to be alive, happy with how my life was going, happy to be me. I didn't care if it was the middle of the afternoon, I just wanted to sleep and sleep and sleep. There was more school to be had tomorrow, and more of my life to be lived.