Chapter 2 - The Overwhelming Shock Of Restored Physical Sensation
The warmth surged upward from Arthur’s heel like liquid fire, melting ten years of frozen nerve endings in a single heartbeat.
He gripped the edge of the mahogany table so hard that his knuckles turned stark white against the polished wood.
The sidewalk café around them suddenly faded into a distant hum, replaced by the deafening roar of his own racing pulse.
“How... how is this possible?” Arthur whispered, his voice trembling as he looked down at his trembling shoes.
The boy didn't answer right away, gently pulling the infant’s tiny hand back beneath the heavy wool blanket.
“She doesn't like to touch for too long,” the boy explained softly, his breath catching in his throat. “It takes a lot out of her.”
Arthur tried to lift his right heel completely off the floorboards, a movement he hadn't managed since the devastating winter car crash of 2016.
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The muscle responded instantly, pulling tight with a sharp, vibrant ache that felt more alive than anything he had experienced in a decade.
Tears welled up in the old man's eyes, cutting through the bitter cynicism that had guarded his heart for years.
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