Page 70 of His Hungry Wolf
“I like them,” I retorted.
Merri laughed.
Eating and drinking as the sun set along the beach, the two of us got comfortable. I couldn’t help but stare at him. He caught me doing it and didn’t seem to mind.
With the sound of the waves softly kissing the shore and a gentle breeze in the air, he asked,
“What’s your biggest unfulfilled dream?”
“My biggest unfulfilled dream?”
“Yeah, you know. What do you most regret not having done?”
I sipped the wine and thought about it.
“I think what I regret most is not developing superpowers.”
Merri laughed. “You have superpowers! You can turn into a wolf and do whatever it is an incubus does.”
“No. I mean comic book superpowers.”
“Like flying?”
“Yeah, and super strength.”
“You have super strength.”
“Not really. I’m just a little faster and a little stronger than a typical human.”
“What are you considering typical?” Merri asked amused.
I stared at him frustrated instead of answering.
“Okay fine,” he said letting it go. “Tell me why you regret not developing superpowers?”
“It’s because if I had them, I would feel required to help people.”
Merri looked at me, confused.
“You don’t need superpowers to help people. You could just help them.”
“That’s easier said than done. I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m wound pretty tight.”
“You don’t say!” he said sarcastically.
“No, it’s true. I know I hide it pretty well, but I am.”
“I never would have guessed.”
“Anyway, I don’t love how tightly I’m wound. I look at other people, and I see how easily they can fit in or have a good time.” I paused. “I wish I were more like that,” I said, feeling the weight of my words.
When my gaze dipped, Merri put his hand on my leg. It surprised me. Looking up into his eyes, his empathy cracked the seal around my heart. Quickly gathering myself, I continued.
“All I was saying was that if I had developed superpowers, then I could take on a heroic persona who could help people. He could do the things I’ve always wanted to do but I have a hard time doing.”
Merri rubbed my leg.
“I’ll drink to that,” he said with a smile.