Alex drifted deeper into sleep, the world of dreams enveloping him once again. This time, however, it felt strangely different—as if an invisible force was pulling him somewhere, guiding him through the darkness. Shadows morphed into shapes, colors danced on the periphery of his vision, and he felt himself being drawn into a brilliant light.
When the brightness finally receded, he found himself standing in a vast room made entirely of sparkling crystal. Light gleamed and refracted off every surface, creating rainbow prisms that filled the air.
"Alex, can you hear me?" A voice resonated through the crystal chamber, both melodic and powerful.
As Alex focused, the figure became clearer— "Good, it worked," the angel said with a sense of relief.
"What worked?" Alex asked, confusion threading through his words.
"Forget that for now. We have more important things to discuss. Oh, by the way, I realized I never introduced myself: my name is Araziel," the angel said, tilting his head slightly, a gesture that felt almost human.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Is this place real?"
"Yes... and no. I needed a place that no one else could observe so we could talk in private, It was used in the past to give people foresight and direct them on the path that would guide the course of this world's timeline. You might know these people as prophets."
With a twinkle in his eye, Alex asked, "Am... am I a prophet?"
Araziel chuckled lightly. "No, nothing like that."
"O...Okay, you didn't have to be a dick about it," Alex replied, crossing his arms.
"Sorry. Anyway, I called you here so we can talk about what's going on. I thought I corrected the course of your life, but every time I do something to push it in one direction, it gets pulled in another—almost like you have a rope perpetually pulling you in the opposite direction."
"So, can you fix it?" Alex inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"It's not like a loose bolt you tighten, Alex; it's much more complicated. But I promise I'll do my best to find out what's going on and fix this," Araziel replied.
Alex's brow furrowed slightly. "You said this world... so are there other worlds?"
"Indeed, there are," Araziel responded.
"Could that have anything to do with what's been happening to me?" Alex asked.
"No, only the Fates have access between worlds, so I don't see how that would be possible," Araziel explained, his expression thoughtful.
Alex paused, contemplating the essence of existence itself. After a moment, he looked up. "You saved me in the bathroom, right?"
"Yes, and I'm sorry I wasn't there sooner," Araziel replied, his voice growing more solemn.
"You said you were breaking a rule to help me. What rule?" Alex pressed.
"Well... it's hard to explain using your language, but you've heard about guardian angels, right?" Araziel asked, his tone shifting.
"Yeah, what about them?" Alex replied.
"Guardian angels are given to special people who have a great destiny or significant impact on the world. For instance, someone who would cure cancer in your world would be a huge deal and remembered throughout history. Guardian angels have the ability to affect the immediate timeline, altering people's fate and keeping them on the correct course," Araziel explained.
"So, I kind of broke the rules by doing something similar to you—thus saving you," the angel admitted.
Alex's eyes widened. "Well, if you broke the rules, can't others, like these Fates or whatever?"
"That shouldn't be possible, but I'll look into everything I'm able to that will help fix this," Araziel assured him, a glimmer of determination in his voice.
"Okay... thank you, Araziel... for helping me," Alex said earnestly.
"You're welcome, Alex. Now I need to return, and you need your rest. I'll be seeing you," Araziel replied, his figure starting to fade into the luminous light.
"Wait! What should I do while I'm here?" Alex called out, urgency lacing his tone.
"Believe in yourself and your strength. You'll find a way to navigate the challenges ahead," Araziel's voice echoed as his form dissolved entirely.
The crystal room faded into darkness, and Alex felt himself being drawn back, pulled away from the dream.
With a jolt, Alex awoke, the harsh fluorescent lights overhead making him squint as he adjusted to reality. The sanitized scents of the hospital filled his nostrils, and the constant beeping of monitors wrapped around him, anchoring him to the present.
As his mind raced to process Araziel's words, the layers of that otherworldly conversation slowly unfolded. He remembered the clarity of purpose the angel had exuded—the sense that he was on the cusp of something significant.
In that moment of awakening, Alex made a silent promise to himself: he would not remain a passive observer in his life. He need's to get stronger, He need's to get faster, He need's to pee.....
.As he tried to stand, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and his legs felt like jelly beneath him. He wobbled unsteadily before quickly grasping the edge of the bed to steady himself. The embarrassment flooded through him, pricking at his pride as he realized walking wasn't going to be as easy as he had hoped.
"Uh, can someone help me, please?" he called out, the words coming out a bit more strained than he intended.
Moments later, a nurse appeared in the doorway, her expression shifting from concern to understanding as she rushed over. "Hi there! Looks like you're a bit wobbly. Let me help you," she said with a gentle smile.
"Sorry, I just... I really need to get to the bathroom," Alex admitted sheepishly, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks.
"No problem at all," she replied, placing a steadying arm around his waist. "Let's take it slow. Just focus on my voice."
With her guiding him, they made their way to the bathroom, the nurse expertly maneuvering them both through the hospital room. However, despite the embarrassment, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for her support. Each step was a reminder of how fragile he had been during the ordeal with Logan, and the significance of the people around him who genuinely cared.
Once they reached the bathroom, the nurse helped him through the door, ensuring he was steady before stepping out, but not without giving him a reassuring smile. "Take your time, I'll be right outside if you need anything."
Once inside, the small space felt oddly comforting. After his need was taken care of, Alex paused for a moment, looking at himself in the mirror. He took a deep breath, reflecting on everything that had led him here—"Ok...." Alex said " Time to get stronger.... Time to Take back control!.