Demon
Chapter 9

Natalie’s

Timothy’s experiment regarding Natalie’s touch is fascinating. From the time she was a tiny infant, she has instinctively used her touch to comfort others in her family. It has been clear from the beginning that there is something soothing about her presence. I had always attributed it to her empathic abilities, her awareness of the emotions of others and her determination to bring happiness whenever she can. But now, with the experience regarding Jonathan’s soul, and Timothy highlighting the issue, I begin to suspect that there is something specific about Natalie’s touch that is different from that of other humans.

There are many things about Natalie that are unusual. Perhaps this is one more. As a Seer, she can perceive her Guardian. Clearly, there is something about her that allows her to at least discern the dark matter of which I am made. Can she actually interact with such matter? Her touch caused Jonathan’s soul to flare. It appears that her touch actually may also have a physical effect on the minds of others, modifying their emotions.

There are other things as well. I have noticed that when she suffers any injury, her healing process is faster than that of other humans. She has never experienced illness. She sleeps for fewer hours than other humans her age. She even appears to be able to function in lower light than normal, being able to read books at night using only the light that enters her room from the streetlamp outside. The differences are all quite subtle, not necessarily attributes that would be noticed by other people.

All humans have an evolutionary adaptation allowing them to hold a tiny portion of dark matter, which is the soul brought to them by a Guardian. Perhaps as a Seer she has a further adaptation? Perhaps the Seer is formed in such a way that the dark matter impacts all of her bodily systems?

I do not know. As a Guardian I can perceive the soul of my beloved, of course. I know all of her thoughts and emotions, and am constantly aware of her senses and physical condition. But I do not possess expertise in how the genetic structure of a human might interact with dark matter. I know that a genetic mutation was the origin of humans’ ability to possess enough dark matter to comprise a soul. I can not, however, pinpoint the genes that allow this to happen. Similarly, the specific modifications in the body of the Seer allowing dark matter to provide enhanced abilities are not clear to me. I can only observe, and attempt to understand.

I am eager to continue with Timothy’s experiment. I and the other Guardians will do as instructed, and diligently track any noticeable impact that can be attributed to Natalie’s touch, whether with Jonathan or any other human.

We will learn, yet again, through the scientific process as directed by a brilliant child.

Michael’s

My beloved is robotically accomplishing his tasks, on his first day returning to duty on his ship. He enjoyed his leave following deployment, but sadly the time that passed was insufficient to bring healing to his troubled mind. Nor were the actions of his wife effective, despite her diligent attempts. She prepared his favorite meals, ensured that their child was quiet and stayed out of the way, even arranged outings designed to bring peace and healing to Michael. He appreciated it all. Yet, every night he continues to experience nightmares and disrupted sleep, triggered by the trauma of being involved in the wartime activities conducted on his Navy vessel.

A deep exhaustion has settled in, even during his weeks of vacation. He refuses to acknowledge that anything is amiss. He is determined to set things to rights by simply ignoring his symptoms, and carrying on with his duties. He speaks with his coworkers, manages his daily routine, takes care of business.

But I am distressed on his behalf. All I can do is support him, offering my silent encouragement. I can only hope that it helps.

“My darling, with time, you will mend. Perhaps you are correct, and the best way to go forward is to simply do your work, and try not to think about the problems you have been having. I am here, beloved, here with support for you, here with love.”

Laura

Brenda called and said that they’d bring Timothy home later this afternoon, since they plan to come by and pick up her Christmas decorations.

Since Michael returned to work today, this leaves me a day to myself, after I finished up a couple of haircuts at the salon in the morning.

I’m kind of sorry to hear that she’s planning to bring her decorations over to Ron’s house. I’m afraid that means that they aren’t planning to stay here over the holidays.

At least Timothy is able to spend time with his friend. I’ll have to talk to Brenda about arranging play dates over Christmas break, since I guess I have to assume they’ll be staying over at Ron’s house.

I had started hoping that they’d end up all just living here at Brenda’s, but I’ll bet that after they’ve spent all of Christmas break at Ron’s, they’ll be more likely to pick that house. It’s bigger, and has a yard for the kids. I know it’s been hard to decide where to live, but I’m thinking maybe that decision has been made. I can’t say I don’t understand.

Sigh. Timothy won’t be able to wave goodnight from his window to his friend any more.

And of course, I won’t have my best friend next door.

Well, I just have to focus on my family. On Michael. He was very quiet before leaving for work today, but I could tell he was tense. I had hoped that a two week vacation would see him well-rested before he had to go back to work, but I’m worried it wasn’t enough. We’re both exhausted - neither one of us has been sleeping through the night, with his constant nightmares.

Well, speaking of that, I suppose this would be a good time to squeeze in a nap.

Brad

I wrap up my day at the grocery store and head home. There’s not much daylight left. I always kind of hate it after Daylight Savings Time ends and it starts getting dark so early. Hopefully when I get home there will still be a chance to spend some time with Jonathan in the yard, playing with the dog.

He’s seemed so dull all week. I suppose we could have gone ahead and sent him to school, since when they discharged him from the hospital they said everything seemed fine. But there were only a couple of days left before Christmas break, and Stef was so anxious about him that it seemed best to just keep him home, let her keep an eye on him.

I suppose he needed it. He has just spent the week sitting around, barely doing anything. It’s been strange. I’d started to have this weird sense that it was reminding me of something, then yesterday with a bang I realized what it was. It was like when Stef’s mom died, while Jonathan was a baby. And Stefanie spent a couple of months just sitting around, quiet and still, barely engaged in anything. It was what she needed to do, mourning for her mom, full of grief. The only thing she would do is take care of Jonathan.

And now Jonathan seems the same. We can’t interest him in anything. He doesn’t seem to have any desire to play or watch t.v., or really take any initiative at all. The only thing I have seen him want to do is play with the dog, but even that is strangely subdued. It’s just like when Stef was grieving, and all she could do was sit with her toddler, waiting to feel better.

But why is Jonathan acting like this? It isn’t like he is in mourning. Nobody has died. He’s probably missing Gabe, since he hasn’t seen him since the hospital, but that isn’t unheard of. Gabe lives over at his mom’s house during the school week, so Jonathan wouldn’t have seen him this week anyway. I really can’t understand what’s going on.

I’ve hesitated to mention this to Stef. I don’t want her to be more worried than she already is. She’s pregnant, and I was so worried when Jonathan was in the hospital that she wouldn’t be able to handle the stress. She’s gotten through it okay, it seems, but I don’t want to add any problems by mentioning my worry about Jonathan’s weird behavior. Besides, she told me that yesterday at the doctor they said everything seems normal.

I guess I just have to wait. I waited it out with Stef after her mom died. This will end too.

When I get home and get inside, I see that Jonathan is sitting on the couch and watching t.v. That’s the first time this week - since I had technically grounded him from t.v. a week ago, as a punishment for getting into a fight, he shouldn’t have been watching it anyway. But what is weird is that he never even asked about it. I don’t know whether he even remembered he had been grounded after his accident. Neither of us mentioned it, since it would have seemed kind of awkward to ask him why he wasn’t asking about t.v., and then have to enforce the discipline anyway.

Stef comes over and gives me a hug. “So, how’s the kid been doing today?” I ask her.

“Really good,” she says.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Gabe came over, and Natalie and Timothy even came. They ended up going out in the back yard and throwing the ball to Socks for a while. Jonathan was throwing the ball and everything. He seemed like he had a lot more energy than he has all week.”

“Seriously? Wow, that’s great to hear,” I say. What a relief! Maybe he’s starting to come out of whatever funk he’s been in.

“I told him he could watch t.v. again, by the way,” she tells me. “It’s been a week. So he’s been watching it, but I’m not sure he’s really paying attention. He hasn’t changed the channel even though his cartoons ended an hour ago and it’s just a talk show now.” She shrugs.

Oh. Well, maybe it’ll take a while for him to really come back around to himself.