Gravity's Embrace

Whenever the weekend was in sight, it seemed like time slowed to a baby covered in molasses and crawling in quicksand. It was made worse by James watching the clock’s every hand tick. Each individual hand tick was a small blow to his brain. He wished that he could take the clock and hurl it across the room, voiding the time requirement to clock out. 

However, he knew he couldn’t. He kept his head down and fortified his mind against the marching tick-tick-ticking blows. 

Everyone in the office was in their own little space. Each of them dealt with this purgatory differently. He had been waiting in his chair for a couple of hours. He was thankful when the darkness took him as he nodded off. 

The visions in his dream had a hazy filter to it. The air around shimmered and glowed, like it was about to catch on fire. As he hovered down, people shouted and cheered as far as the eye could see. The sights and sounds made his heart race. 

While he was asleep in his chair though, James’ mind was wide awake. He looked at the images with impartiality, and with a quick decision he began to float upwards. Up and up until the sun stopped shining on the horizon and the quiet of dead stars lightyears away came to greet him. 

Then, he felt a light touch on his body. It sent him reeling in the darkness of space. Like a top he spun until his vision reeled into a monstrous blur. When he couldn’t spin any faster, he awoke to his colleague’s face looking down at him. 

“See you next week,” Brian said. It took a while for James to gain his bearings, but recouped with a smile and a nod. 

The weekend had finally come. 

Outside, James’ eyes burned from a combination of proofreading pages and the bright visions in his dream. The ticking hands of the clock seemed to bruise a part of his brain and a small headache was beginning to form. 

In front of him lay the busy streets of a Friday commute home. After a deep breath, he began to walk home. 

The towering buildings and skyscrapers always felt like prison bars to him. He kept his head down and turned at an alleyway that had little to no passersby joining him. For a while, he closed his eyes and tried to battle the knot in his brain. 

If he had opened them any later, he would have bumped into the child just standing in front of him. The child was around five years old. With tears in his eyes, he looked at James. James knew this look. It was the look of a helpless person with a plea.

“Hey little guy,” James said. “Are you lost? Where are your parents?” Instead of an answer, the little boy ventured a startling question. 

“Are you a hewo?” the little boy eked out despite the tears.

The question made James laugh. 

“Is it because of my size?” James replied. “Nah kid, I just pump the iron hard.”

“Oh,” the boy said, his voice threatening to crack like a dam being broken. “A man said a hewo would walk by and that he would help me find my mommy and Daisy. He said he would be big, and tall, and weawing a stupid hat. I don’t think the hat is stupid, but when I saw it, I thought it would be you.”

There were so many questions racing through James’ mind. James got down on one knee, looked in the little boy’s eyes. Once their eyes connected and he was sure that the boy was looking at his eyes he said, “Kid, I may not be a hero, but I can help you find your mommy and Daisy. Alright?”

The little kid nodded at this and wiped his eyes. James was impressed that the kid was able to hold it together, but he knew though that this was only the first straw. He took the kid’s small hand and together they walked the streets.  

James tried to ask his questions. He was able to learn a few things. First, his name was Connow, but assumed that it was really Connor. He also asked about what happened earlier that day. Connor explained that they were out for a walk. He saw an ice cream man at a distance. At the moment, everything but the ice cream man just faded into the background. When he turned around to ask for ice cream, his mom and daisy were gone. 

“Just like that?” The child only nodded. 

This whole situation was sending some major danger signals into James’ brain. It felt too much like a giant jenga tower at the verge of crashing down.

“What about the man?” 

“Which man?”

“The one who told you about the hero.” 

James stopped in his tracks as Connor did. His gaze along with his finger pointed upward to the top of a building. “That’s him!” 

James followed his gaze and saw a man standing at the edge of a building. The white hair around his head was spiky yet sparse. The forming bald spot at the center had the setting sun bounce an orange glow off it. He wore nothing so notable. Army pants and a black shirt. The most alarming thing he wore was his maniacal smile. 

“What’d I tell ya kid?” the man shouted as his toes teetered on and off the edge. “Doesn’t he look like a hero? I mean, just look at his muscles! I tell ya, if we were trapped between his biceps and he sneezed, we’d really paint this town red you an’ I!” 

Despite the riotous laughter that erupted from his mouth, no one but James and Connor gave him any attention. In fact, looking around, the street seemed deserted. 

“Excuse me sir,” James ventured. “Do you have anything to do with the missing members of Connor’s family?”

The once cheshire like grin on the man’s mouth turned sour in an instant. “Oh tut tut Mr. hero man. Who cares about that? In a time of government clampdowns and blind witch hunts, I found you! It’s like striking gold in the middle of my bathroom. Oh, I feel like the world would feel just as excited as I am, wouldn’t you agree?”

James could feel perspiration forming on his armpits and soaking through his shirt. “I’m sorry sir, but I’m not who you think I am. I’m just a guy trying to get home from work.” 

“No no no. I know it’s you. You may have fallen off the face of the planet and taken to hiding, but I. Found. You.” His crazy smile came alive once more like power being turned on in an amusement park. 

“This isn’t funny sir,” James said, an impatience growing in his voice. “Where are his mom and Daisy?!” 

“Uh-uh. Patience my good man. In any case, why would you want to hide anyway? Well, people forget, but I don’t. I remember you. You were a god among men. Able to do things that people could only dream about. You did so much good in the world. Well, until several of your kind decided to ruin the party for the rest of you. Kid, you may need to prepare yourself, because you are standing next to the one, the only, Major Metal!” 

Shock grasped Connor’s face, his eyes and mouth becoming a perfect O. 

“Yes kid. He’s the guy who single handedly won the war for us. Did you know that he got his name because he took the shots of five tanks and just kept walking forward? An intriguing origin story.” 

“You saved us from the wockets too,” Connor said in amazement. “Me and mom always included you in our pwayews. We thanked God evewyday that you pwotected us.” 

All the while, James was shaking his head. What have I gotten myself into? he thought. 

“I really wish I was, kid.”

“Mom used to tell me that if I ate my vegetables and exewcised, I could be stwong, fast, and hawd like you.”

More laughter rang from the top. “I don’t know about that kid, but yes, Major Metal is majorly amazing. Super speed, unfathomable strength, skin as thick as a thousand layers of steel. Probably more.” 

The man’s smile tightened. It was the kind of smile that someone who had an ace up his sleeve had. “He can do anything. Tell me, if I jumped here, would you save me Major Metal?”

The man started to dangle one leg off the ledge.

“Don’t do that sir. I’m really not who you think I am. I couldn’t save you even if I wanted to.” 

“Well that’s no fun,” the man said as he retracted his legs. “What about contestant number two?” 

The man stepped away from the ledge and out of sight. For a few minutes, James and Connor just stood there. After a while, he came back with a big brown bulldog in his hands. 

“Daisy!” Connor shouted. 

“What the hell. Let’s stack the chips even higher. Contestant number three!” Cradling the bulldog in one arm, he grabbed a rope and pulled hard. In their view came a woman whose hands were tied and mouth was gagged.” 

“What about now Major Metal? Would you save us if we started to plummet to our deaths?” 

James could feel his heart racing like a dozen horses on a racetrack. His ears started to burn and the furrowing of his brows was adding more headaches onto his existing one. 

“Please save my mom and Daisy Majow Metal. Please.” Connor’s words only served to hammer the nails that were already driving hard into his brain. He turned his attention back to the roof. 

“I already told you sir,” James pleaded. “I’m not Major Metal. I’m just some guy. Why are you doing this? Please, come away from the ledge and let’s talk this out.” 

For a moment, the man on the ledge looked as if he was frozen in one of the bizarrest paintings. Then he turned in a right angle, and with Daisy and rope in hand, he started pacing. 

“Once upon a time,” the man started, “I loved to talk. In fact, the last conversation that I thoroughly enjoyed was talking to my wife about what wallpapers we would redecorate our home with. I always loved talking to my missus you see. She was wicked smart and had a great sense of humor. She made it easy for me.”

He stopped midway, turned his back to the open air, and did a somersault. He landed on his feet and swayed backwards as if he were about to tumble, but caught himself. Connor’s mother lurched forward, and together, she and the dog gave out large desperate whimpers. Connor’s hand clamped down harder on James’.

“Then one day, like a bolt out of the blue, a major development happened. Halfway through breakfast, I decided that we didn’t need any wallpaper anymore. Aside from the glaring hole in the wall and superpowered man on our floor, our wall had been covered with so much red! My wife would have loved the shade, but she was too busy being squashed by a man who, at the right speed, had such a hard skin that could crush a person in an instant. This hero didn’t even offer an apology. He didn’t even so much as notice what he had done. He just flew off and fought the good fight.” 

James didn’t notice it at the time, but he was holding his breath. He had to consciously think about his breathing to get the oxygen flowing again.

“Sir, I am very sorry for your loss. But this child is innocent. That dog, Daisy, and Connor’s mother are all innocent here. Just let them go and let’s discuss this. We can get you help.” 

With that word, the man on the ledge turned around. His emotion was as cold as ice. “The only way you can help me is if you help yourself “James”. Catch us and you can save that boy everything that I’ve gone through.” 

“No, I can’t!” 

The man shrugged and simply said, “It’s their funeral.” Laughter once again filled the air between them. He began dangling his one leg off the ledge again.

“What’s it going to be James?” He held out the bulldog with one arm. 

“Stop!” James shouted. The man then began to pull on the rope. Once, twice. Harder each time. James could see his balance starting to waiver. 

“Mommy! Daisy!” Connor shouted. With each second, the man was teetering closer to the edge. Closer to gravity’s embrace. 

“Save them James. Save this woman and dog. Save Connor from a lifetime of hate and loss. Well?” 

James couldn’t tell whether it was the sense of impending doom or how hard his fist was clamping down, but when he came to, all he could hear was Connor wailing in the wind. 

James’ head felt hot with anger and frustration. “Why are you doing this?” he shouted to the top only to be greeted with nothing but the uncontrollable laughter of a mad man. His head was swirling with a million thoughts. 

“Please!” James finally shouted, tears welling in his own eyes. “Please don’t do this. I can’t save you. I can’t!”

At these words, the man stopped his foolish balancing act and stood on his own two feet. Connor’s mother dropped to her knees and began to sob. 

For what seemed like an eternity, the man simply stared down at James with an emotion that was neither here nor there. The sobbing of Connor, his mom, and James sang together in unison. 

Then, the time passed, and the man shook his head in disappointment. “Oh well.” 

The afternoon was punctuated with three large thuds. Despite only two people crying now, it grew and filled the whole street. For years to come, it would fill James’ mind. 

~~

When James finally got home, it was a few hours past midnight. The house was dark save for a few lamps left to illuminate the living room. When he got in, James put down his bag and headed to the kitchen to fix himself something stiff to knock him out. 

He filled a glass with three fingers of whiskey and stood by the kitchen’s back door. The dead silence of the street along with his drink were good companions to the sight of the stars above. 

While his gaze pointed to the stars, he was something entirely different. His mind replayed the events of the afternoon. How he cradled young Connor to his chest until his whole shirt was drenched in tears. How he could smell the pools of blood amassing nearby. How he wanted to jump off that building himself. 

The one thing that struck him though was Connor’s look afterwards. All cried out, it looked like he matured at an unprecedented pace. James could tell that dark thoughts were swirling in his mind, and he couldn’t do anything about it. He knew that Connor would wear the anger and sadness he felt that day like a scar on his face for many years to come. 

Before James knew it, tears were streaming down his face. “You fucking corward,” he whispered to himself. Then, wanting to escape it all, he took a big gulp of his glass and closed his eyes. In the darkness in his head, he was once again in space. The twinkling of the dead stars felt like they were also sharing his tears. 

A light touch to his shoulder brought him back to the kitchen. When he turned, he saw his beautiful wife with their daughter in his arms. The sight of James crying told her that something grave happened. Something that would need to be discussed at another time. 

“Why are you crying daddy?” James’s daughter asked with a hand on his shoulder. James took her hand and kissed it as light as a feather. 

“It’s just been a very long day Sasha.” James took her in his own giant arms and held her close to him. With the same look he gave Connor, he focused on her eyes, wanting to make sure that he understood what he was about to say. 

“But the day is over now, and I am at the one place I want to be. With you. I want you to know Sasha and that your mommy and I love you very much, and that we’d do anything to keep you safe.” 

Sasha nodded and moved in to hug her father tight. “I know. I love you too dad.” 

James and his family moved to their bedrooms as quiet as the night they were in. By then, only the tears on the streaks of James’ cheeks were proof of Connor and the day’s events.

The memory would often come back to haunt James. In his dreams, he heard no more cheers. He saw no more people jubilant with praise. He never again flew to the stars. Instead, all he saw was the constant motion of gravity’s embrace and the anger that would shape Connor’s future forever. 

He would often wake with a heavy heart, anger in his body, and tears in his eyes. However, night always gave way to day, and when he had his two perfect girls with him, their love would be enough to fill him with what he needed to get through each day.