The Watch – Part 217:

(Tom’s perspective)

Have you been listening to anything that I’ve been saying to you?’ Alex asked, a little hurt.

‘Sorry,’ I said, ‘I’ve got a lot on my mind at the moment, that’s all,’ I said in an apologetic manner.

Alex sighed to say that she understood what I was going through. We were sitting on the sofa in my living room, just talking. The TV wasn’t, the radio wasn’t playing, we were just sitting on the sofa, having a casual, quite conversation. My dream had captured her image perfectly: Her red, shoulder length hair, the tattoo of the purple and pink butterfly on her shoulder, sitting next to the white tank top that complimented her designer jeans with the deliberate rips in the knees, and her vibrant smile.

I never really thought of her as the type to snuggle up to someone on the sofa, but she curled up her legs and leaned on my shoulder. ‘Yeah, I know,’ she said, sympathetically, ‘being stuck in another universe is something no one can get used to easily.’ I wrapped my arm around her so that it rested on her upper arm.

‘I do miss you, you know,’ I said.

‘You do know that I can’t speak for her, don’t you, since I am just a projection of your subconscious in your dream,’ she explained. It was my time to sigh.

‘I know,’ I said. ‘Which is only making things worse. I’ve seen so many times in films or on TV when a certain character is dreaming whilst going through a complicated situation that they always somehow get the answers they need in their dream, but I guess it doesn’t work like that in real life.’

‘You’ve been watching too many films and TV programs,’ Alex said simply.

‘I know,’ I said. ‘But it would help if you did say something, though,’ I said.

‘What do you want me to say?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know.’

‘I’m sure the real me misses you,’ Alex said comfortingly. ‘Are you going to explain what happened when you next see her?’ she asked.

‘I’ve already had this conversation with Amy,’ I said.

‘But you can’t remember what you decided, can you,’ she said sternly.

‘I think I decided to tell her, explain everything.’

‘And then what, hope that she understands?’ Alex said with that tone telling me that I should be reasonable.

‘I’m not going to keep this a secret. This is too big to keep a secret. If the one thing that film and TV has gotten right and that is accurately portraying what happens if you keep too many very big secrets from the person that you love. It will push her away. Besides, she’s seen what Sebastian can do already. I’m sure Sebastian won’t mind if she comes along for the ride next time.’

‘Are you sure that that’s a good idea. You are currently trapped in a parallel universe right now.’ She does have a point there.

‘Well, that leaves me with only two options, then,’ I said. ‘Number one: Leave Sebastian and spend time with Alex; or number 2: Leave Alex and spend time with Sebastian.’

‘You know that is a very narrow way of thinking about things, don’t you,’ Alex said, sternly.

‘Oh, and you can come up with something better can you.’

‘Don’t have a go at me,’ she said, ‘I’m just your subconscious.’

‘Then don’t tell me that I’m narrow minded,’ I argued.

‘I’m not, you are,’ she said. ‘I’m just your subconscious.’

I sighed for the third time. I can’t argue with that. ‘I know. It’s just, when I found about the watch, I never thought it would lead to something like this.’

‘Who would?’ Alex asked rhetorically.

‘Exactly,’ I answered anyway.

‘You know, I thought my subconscious was supposed to tell me all the thoughts that I don’t usually have access during the day, not just mimic the person who I love…’

‘I know what you are thinking,’ she said.

‘And do you think it’s a good idea?’

‘Only if you don’t open with that. Make sure you at least ease in gently. The last thing you want to do is startle her.

A very faint voice outside my window started to chuckle at what Alex just said.

‘Now’s not the best time,’ Alex shouted through the window and the chuckling immediately stopped.

‘I can’t help it,’ he said. ‘What you said brought me here.’

‘Yeah, well, make sure you stay out there. If you get any closer, you will contaminate my words.’

‘Sorry.’ I just sat there, letting my subconscious argue with my dirty mind. I thought that this dream would help me craft some sort of sensible answer to a few of my questions, but so far I’ve gotten nowhere useful.

‘Do you want Sebastian to still be your friend?’ Alex asked.

‘You know that answer,’ I said.

‘And do you want to stay with Alex?’

‘You know that answer as well.’

‘Do you want to keep travelling with Sebastian, bearing in mind that it could lead you back where you are now?’ she asked.

‘If I can guarantee that it won’t happen, then yes,’ I said.

‘You know that isn’t a valid answer,’ she said.

‘So I have to answer that myself?’

‘I cannot help you if you don’t,’ Alex confirmed.

‘I wish I had the watch,’ I said. ‘And I know I shouldn’t be dwelling on that as it won’t help in any way whatsoever.’

‘Then there was no point bringing it up.’

‘I think we need to get back on track here,’ I said. ‘All these thoughts at once are starting to make this not make any sense, and that’s not going to help me at all. Before I wake up, I want a definite answer.’ Alex didn’t respond. Instead, she just laid against my shoulder, with her legs curled up on the sofa. She’s probably allowing me to think.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)