Chapter 42
James: Never Tear Us Apart
Coming back to life was the strangest sensation ever.
When I visited for the night it wasn’t the same – it felt alien, as if I somehow stayed in the state I was in up there.
But transforming back into being properly alive on Earth was completely different.
The only way I can describe it is that it was like slipping back into the most comfortable clothes you’ve ever owned, like a pair of well-worn jeans you never want to part with because they fit so perfectly.
And now it feels that everything has slotted back into place and is just as it should be.
Amy is the best. She wasn’t mad at me, not even for a second. Despite everything she’s been through. Luke was right when he said I’m a lucky guy. She was confused to start with, couldn’t believe what was happening. But to be fair, it is batshit-crazy. I can hardly believe it all myself.
Yes, I’ll definitely miss a few aspects of being up there – the supercharged tech, for one thing, and for sure I’ll miss seeing Gran, and Luke and Andy, and all the guys at the cycling club, and, of course, The Boss. But being back here with Amy – it’s just perfect.
I know what happened to us was awful, but, as with many things in life, there are some real silver linings.
I think Amy and I have always been good for making the most of life, but this experience has reminded us to be even more appreciative of the time we have here, together, and we’ve started to plan some fabulous things to do together with our relived time.
And then in a couple of years, when we’ve gone back through this time loop, we might be ready to start on those plans for a family.
But would you believe it? It seems that The Boss is actually getting more open-minded on the subject of bikes.
My ‘cycling propaganda’, as he calls it, must have somehow got to him after all.
Andy messaged me yesterday to tell me that The Boss had been sniffing around, asking exactly what types of bikes we had, and had got Andy to show him a couple – and he’d actually stood right next to one of the bikes, and seemed to be sizing it up, as if he was secretly trying to decide whether it was suitable for him.
Now my phone’s pinging. The hPhone. No! This can’t be for real.
Is this some kind of deep fake? Andy has just sent me a video of The Boss on a bike.
And he’s actually cycling. Admittedly, he’s pretty wobbly, and I think I may have caught sight of someone holding the back of the saddle but trying to keep out of shot.
Oh wow! A tiny part of me kind of wishes I’d been there to witness that happening first hand.
But I know that some day I’ll have all the time in the world to see The Boss’ latest antics.
And in the meantime, here, with Amy, is where I want to be, it’s where I belong, and this is where I’m going to stay, until it really is my time.