Coming Back Home
He had waited until time took him back here. He had waited until it caught up with his own time line. For him it was centuries ago, for them it would be just twenty years. The Time Agency had closed down soon after he’d left; nobody was looking for him anymore. It was safe to come back. Not that safe was anything he cared about for himself, but for his family.
He looked just the age he should have. That should save him from telling them about the immortal part. In fact, if he could walk in, hug them and just sit down with them with out even speaking it would be just fine. In your dreams, old fool. Your mum is just like any mum. She’ll ask where you have been, what took you so long, what you have done. She might even ask if you are fine.
*sigh*
He would give anything to skip that part. He wasn’t a kid anymore. In fact he had been a father, a grand-father, a great-grand-father and even a mother and... and so on. Yes, he knew more than anyone what it felt like to lose a child or to have a kid coming back after so long without any news. Been there, done that. His heart was numb by the numerous times he had been wounded that way.
So today he was going to be a good kid. He would answer the questions. He’d try not to lie too much if he could manage to. But he couldn’t tell the true either; it would be devastating for his mum to know. Of course, she would be able to tell. Mums always know when one of her kids is hiding his pain, right? As a mum himself he hoped so. As a kid he was hoping not, though.
Funny.
He was there. Standing across the street looking at the closed door with a knot in his throat and a lingering hole in his stomach. He was nervous.
He had travelled through time and space for centuries. He had fought the worst threats of the world. Led men into apocalyptic battles. Loved some extraordinary creatures. Lost numerous loved ones. Seen the End of Times, and also the beginning by the way. And even gave birth.
And here he was, nervous about knocking at that door. Not even knowing if there was someone in. Even wishing there wasn’t so he could walk away. No, you’re kidding yourself, that would be a very bad excuse, and you know it. Stop being a coward and go on with it.
He looked just the age he should have. That should save him from telling them about the immortal part. In fact, if he could walk in, hug them and just sit down with them with out even speaking it would be just fine. In your dreams, old fool. Your mum is just like any mum. She’ll ask where you have been, what took you so long, what you have done. She might even ask if you are fine.
*sigh*
He would give anything to skip that part. He wasn’t a kid anymore. In fact he had been a father, a grand-father, a great-grand-father and even a mother and... and so on. Yes, he knew more than anyone what it felt like to lose a child or to have a kid coming back after so long without any news. Been there, done that. His heart was numb by the numerous times he had been wounded that way.
So today he was going to be a good kid. He would answer the questions. He’d try not to lie too much if he could manage to. But he couldn’t tell the true either; it would be devastating for his mum to know. Of course, she would be able to tell. Mums always know when one of her kids is hiding his pain, right? As a mum himself he hoped so. As a kid he was hoping not, though.
Funny.
He was there. Standing across the street looking at the closed door with a knot in his throat and a lingering hole in his stomach. He was nervous.
He had travelled through time and space for centuries. He had fought the worst threats of the world. Led men into apocalyptic battles. Loved some extraordinary creatures. Lost numerous loved ones. Seen the End of Times, and also the beginning by the way. And even gave birth.
And here he was, nervous about knocking at that door. Not even knowing if there was someone in. Even wishing there wasn’t so he could walk away. No, you’re kidding yourself, that would be a very bad excuse, and you know it. Stop being a coward and go on with it.