Suddenly he pounced on me and held me down on the bed. He started kissing my chest and neck, working up towards my jaw. I haven't been with a man before, I never got the chance. I was curious and it felt good, I was definitely into this. But I don't want this guy thinking that he can just jump on me when he feels like it!
As I tried to summon my self control and courage I suddenly felt him grab my breast. Oh!! I've never felt that before! It felt so good, I wanted more. A moan escaped my lips against my own will and he covered my lips with his own. His hands kneaded and teased my chest, his lips devouring my own. My own self control was slipping away as I desperately wanted more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE BEGINNING
In the summer of my 19th birthday I was walking around downtown playing a new mobile game that came out when I was hit by a car. I was trying to cross the street in a hurry to get to the treasure chest hidden in the park before someone else could snatch it. The sun was getting low in the sky and was particularly blinding that day. I remember seeing a moving van which had its hazard lights on blocking the lane about half a block up from me. I figured it would block traffic long enough for me to cross. I was almost to the other side when I looked up from my game to see headlights coming right towards me.
I always envied the hero who would save someone in the nick of time.. or the strong female leads who have the wits and agility to dodge out of danger. In that moment, when I saw a truck speeding towards me, my body refused to move and I froze… Literally like a deer in the headlights. I remember what happened next quite vividly…
- - - - - - - - - -
'Holy shit! Was I just hit by a car?? I must have like some sort of superpower because I don't feel anything! Or maybe I'm already dead.. Am I a ghost?'
I looked around to get a good look at what happened. I see a pickup truck stopped in the left lane, half a length ahead of the moving van which is still blocking the right lane. I am on the other side of the street, however I'm definitely on the ground. I don't understand though, I should feel pain if I was hit by a car. I feel cold and warm at the same time, which is a weird feeling. My body doesn't feel… normal. I can't feel my legs and arms and they don't seem to be working.
I hear people yelling and see a few running towards me. 'Oh no, this is so embarrassing! I totally wasn't paying attention because I was playing games! I have to get up before they get here.' I thought as i felt my face start to heat up.
"Don't move! Please don't even try to move! You have been in an accident and you need to remain very still until the ambulance arrives!" I look to my left and see a stern looking middle aged woman with brown hair knelt beside me.
I tried to respond to her however my mouth wasn't working either. I felt very dizzy and it became difficult to think.
"You need to stay awake. Miss! Miss, what is your name? I need you to look at me and try to stay awake!" I heard the woman's panicked voice among the rambling of bystanders which started to form around us.
I couldn't tell what was happening around me as my vision became distorted, like my eyes couldn't focus on anything either.
* * * * * * * * * *
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
I reached to turn off my alarm clock but was stopped by the guard rail on the bed. *Sigh* I will never get used to this.
I followed my new morning routine. I used to be able to roll out of bed 30 mins before having to leave the house; shower, change, and go. Now it takes 2 hours in the morning. It's a little more difficult get ready when you only have your arms to rely on.
I lifted my useless legs and tossed them over the edge of the bed before sitting up. I reach over and shut the alarm clock off. Then I transfer to my wheelchair and go get ready. Since that day I have lost the use of my legs. I can no longer walk, not even with the most advanced rehab they offered. It's not like I was in terrible shape before the accident but I definitely didn't appreciate my legs then the way I would now. I drove to places that I could have walked to, I shopped online rather than going into stores, and I always looked for the closest parking spot at the grocery store.
Now, I can't do any of those things.
I sued the driver for everything I could, hoping that money could solve this problem. Maybe I could buy some bionic legs or something? I was desperate and a little bitter. Now all I have is more money than I need and 2 legs that still don't work. I have looked everywhere and exhausted every scientific outlet searching for a solution. Ever since I was told that I will never walk again, I just want to run. Maybe it's my middle child syndrome, pushing me to want most what I will never have, but I will never be able to run.
"Ma'am?" I heard my housekeeper, Isadora, call out to me as I disembarked the elevator on the ground level of my house. She was a nice lady; thorough in her duties and had a pleasant Irish accent.
"Good morning." I replied, with a half smile, just to be nice. I really haven't been much for conversation since the accident.
"Ma'am, I umm.. I have something for you." Isadora stepped towards me with a hesitant look on her face.
She looked nervous, which was understandable, since i rarely engage in conversation. She was probably expecting me to leave the room or ignore her, like i normally do in these situations. Something about her demeanor today was different, i felt compelled to hear her out, whatever she wanted.
"What is it, Isadora?" I asked, wondering why she would bring me something since we barely ever talk.
"I know you have been looking for a doctor for your legs… it's been a long time… maybe you should try something else?" She asked.
She is probably looking at those flyers I have been getting in the mail. They advertise housing for disabled people. I don't really need help with my day to day, it just takes me forever to get it down. Since losing my legs I have found it difficult to socialize with people, and have refused any mental health counseling as I don't feel I need it.
"Look, I-" I started to explain to her that I don't need or want a place like that… however as I started to talk I noticed what she was holding… it was like nothing I've seen before. I stared at it, admiring the runes and symbols. I couldn't tell exactly what it said, but I felt compelled to keep looking. It felt like a puzzle, and the solution was right there, but i couldn't see it.
"What is that?" I asked her after a momentary pause, still fixated on what was in her hands.
"It's something of my grandmother's. It's from a book she kept when she was alive. I swear i am not crazy, but my family is very spiritual. I have been having these… dreams… and she wants me to show these to you." Isadora still looked nervous.
"I don't believe you are crazy. Everyone has different beliefs and I respect that." I paused for a moment, figuring out my next words. I sighed as I continued, "I have placed all my faith in science and medicine and they have given up on me. It's true I have not turned to religion yet.." I planned to tell her that I don't believe that there is any god out there who gives a damn, but my next words surprised even me. "But it definitely couldn't hurt."
My eyes were immediately drawn again to the engraved, thick leather bookmark in her hands. I am a rational person but I swear I could feel something different about it. Almost seemed to be glowing but not giving off any light. I reached for the bookmark in her outstretched hands.
The moment the leather was in my hands I felt a stirring in my soul, like a piece of me that had been missing for so long had come back. I felt like I could stand up and walk! I looked down at my legs expectantly.
They didn't move.
What was i expecting?!
Like a magic bookmark can undo the nerve damage. If magic did exist, truck-Kun would have isekai'd me into a better place than this shithole.
I looked at Isadora and took a deep breath. I already told her that I would so I mind as well follow through. "Now what do we do?"
To my surprise, she chuckled. "Miss Mika, what you felt now was just a taste of the power my people hold. If you wish to learn more, you will have to meet with my grandfather."
This is like something from a book. I'm not sure what to do here since I know this stuff isn't real, but my curiosity has been piqued. What I felt was probably just me getting my hopes up… like some kind of placebo effect.
"When can I meet him?" I asked her, with a little more eagerness in my voice than i expected.
"Now." She smiled, and her white teeth stood out like the Cheshire Cat as the world around us got dark and foggy.
* * * * * * * * *
Before I even had time to process what was happening, I found myself alone in the darkness, sitting at a Japanese style dining table. The table was lit by dozens of small tea lights and only hosted a ceramic tea pot and two teacups in the center of the table. I was seated on a comfortable cushion on the floor with my legs crossed.
I've seen these movies where the protagonist hallucinates a bunch of crazy shit and ends up in the loony bin on drugs….and nooooooo thank you! I am O-U-T. Probably just got roofied.
I was looking around for my wheelchair and trying to figure out how i was going to get up from here when I heard someone chuckle. It was a deep, booming voice that echoed around me.
"Ye aren't what I was expecting." The deep male voice said from across the table.
I was momentarily shocked into silence as a large man, who looked much like a viking you would see on TV, materialized in front of me. He was a huge guy! The wrinkles on his face told his age, but he looked to be in excellent condition. He was built like a bodybuilder, and tall as a mountain. It was just a guess, since he was fully clad in Viking armor, but there is no way that beefiness is fat.
As soon as the shock from seeing a human materialize from thin air dissipated, I began to wonder how a huge dude like him even fit at this table. Also, why was a big Viking dude sitting at a little chabudai table? Talk about culture clash.
The old man bellowed in laughter which was so loud and deep I could feel my chest rattle. What did he find so amusing?
"Welcome, Mika. You are currently in what we call the soul space. It is a place that exists outside of time and beyond all dimensions. As ya live and breathe in your world, your soul is only here to visit."
Well, at least I'm not dead. But I still don't see what is so funny. 'Perhaps he's one of the loons in the loony bin that I'm heading for,' I thought to myself as I mentally rolled my eyes.
My face must have betrayed me because he went on to explain, "Dae ya know the saying, 'to bare your soul'?"
When he didn't continue speaking, I nodded affirmatively. Can't hurt to humor a crazy old man.
"The soul space bares one's soul to another. Hence, there is no inner dialogue."
When I didn't reply he continued on, sounding a bit annoyed, "So I heard everything you were thinking…"
My cheeks flushed scarlet, and I covered my face in embarrassment. I don't even remember everything i was thinking! What if i thought something REALLY embarrassing?!
The old man continued, with a hint of laughter in his voice, "Dae not worry about it. It is completely natural, of course. Normally ones thoughts belong only to themself." He poured himself a hot cup of tea from the pot on the table as he spoke. The steam from the cup rising up in front of his face, making him look even more surreal.
I lowered my hands the rest of the way, my face still beet red, and nodded. This kind old man was trying to comfort me. Perhaps I have really lost it.
He cleared his throat before continuing, "And the table.." with his free hand he gestured to the table that was at least 10 times too small for his large frame, "is because I appreciate the culture." He said with a haughty look as he sipped from the teacup which looked more like an espresso mug in his large hands.
I was too embarrassed to laugh at this ridiculous scene before me. A million questions started to flood my mind about where we were, how I got here, who he was, and…
"Tea?"
"Oh, um, no thanks. I actually don't drink tea." I replied, as he caught me off guard while I was lost in thought.
"Iced coffee perhaps?" He asked as he started pouring from the kettle into my cup.
He's making fun of me! Because my generation "spends too much on iced coffee." And just as i was about to come up with a witty comeback, he poured some iced coffee from the pot.
. . . ?!
I clearly just saw him pour hot tea into his cup! My eyes darted back and forth between the cups and the teapot in complete disbelief. Ice cubes floated up from the bottom of my cup, as if taunting me.
He pushed the cup closer to me with a smug look on his face. I took a sip and it tasted exactly like my favorite iced coffee!!!
"In the soul space, all things are possible. Even, say… restoring your legs." He looked at me over the top of the tiny looking cup he held as he took another leisurely sip.