ALISON
The apartment was cloaked in the quiet solitude of night. The only sound was the steady clatter of my keyboard as I worked late into the evening. Dani was pulling another overtime shift, leaving me alone in our new home. The tranquility was broken only by the occasional rustling of papers or the distant hum of the city outside.
As I leaned closer to the screen, completely absorbed in my task, a movement caught my eye. A cockroach was scuttling across the floor, heading straight towards me.
"Of course," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "It wouldn’t be a proper night without you showing up, would it?"
I wheeled myself closer, glaring at the little intruder. The cockroach seemed to regard me with an almost human-like curiosity, its tiny antennae twitching in my direction.
"Alright, buddy," I sighed, leaning down slightly. "Are you going to keep me company tonight? Because I could use someone to talk to."
The cockroach twitched its antennae again, almost as if it understood me. I laughed, the absurdity of the situation striking me.
"You know, I've had better company," I said, shaking my head. "But I guess you'll have to do. Just stay out of my food, okay?"
I turned back to my work, trying to ignore the little intruder. A few minutes later, I heard a strange sound, like the rustling of paper. I glanced back and froze.
The cockroach was growing. Rapidly.
"What the hell?" I whispered, feeling my heart race. "This isn't happening. Nope. Not tonight."
The cockroach continued to expand, its form shifting and morphing until it was no longer a cockroach but a very naked, very human Anthony standing in the middle of my living room.
I screamed, throwing my hands over my eyes. "Anthony! What the actual hell?!"
"Alison, calm down," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "It's just me."
"Just you?!" I shrieked. "You’re naked! And you were a cockroach!"
He laughed, and I peeked through my fingers to see him covering himself with a hastily grabbed throw pillow.
Yeah, this is real. He is the man who ate my chicken THAT night. He was an asshole back then, calling me miserable. I thought I was dreaming... I am not dreaming now.
Anthony settled onto the couch with the pillow clutched over his lap, looking more relaxed than anyone in his situation had a right to be. His smirk was infuriatingly charming.
"Are you comfortable?" I asked sarcastically, crossing my arms.
"Quite," he replied with a grin. "Though I wouldn't mind some clothes."
I rolled my eyes. "You know where Dani's room is. Help yourself."
He shrugged and remained seated, apparently enjoying the absurdity of the situation. "Why bother? This is kind of fun."
"Fun? For who?" I shot back, trying to suppress a laugh. "You're naked, Anthony. On my couch. With a throw pillow."
"Exactly," he said, his grin widening. "When else am I going to have this kind of experience?"
I shook my head, trying not to smile. "You are incorrigible."
"Only for you," he replied, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Besides, it's not like you haven't seen it all before."
I felt my cheeks flush. "That was a dream. This is real life."
"Dream or not, you seemed to enjoy it," he said, winking at me. "Admit it, Alison. You like having me around."
Before I could respond, the sound of the front door opening caught our attention. Dani walked in, looking exhausted. His eyes widened when he saw Anthony on the couch, naked except for the throw pillow.
"Well, well, well," Dani said, smirking at me. "What do we have here?"
"It's not what it looks like," I said quickly, feeling my face heat up.
"Really?" Dani replied, his smirk growing. "Because it looks like you've been entertaining a very naked Anthony."
Anthony, the cheeky bastard, decided to lean back casually, the throw pillow shifting precariously. "Hey, Dani. Nice to see you."
Dani raised an eyebrow, still smirking. "Nice to see you too, Anthony. Didn't realize we were having a pajama party."
Anthony chuckled. "Well, I wanted to make a memorable entrance."
"You've certainly succeeded," Dani said, giving me a knowing look. "So, Alison, anything you want to share?"
I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "This is not happening."
Dani walked over and patted me on the shoulder. "Hey, no judgment here. If you two are... getting closer, that's cool."
"Closer?" I echoed, looking between Dani and Anthony. "He's naked because he just transformed from a cockroach. It's not what you think."
Dani blinked, his smirk fading slightly. "A cockroach?"
Anthony nodded, completely unfazed. "Yeah, it's a long story involving a witch's curse. I can explain everything."
Dani looked at me, then back at Anthony, before bursting into laughter. "This is the best thing I've heard all week."
I sighed, shaking my head. "You know what? Fine. Laugh it up. But if you're done, Anthony could use some clothes."
Dani wiped tears of laughter from his eyes and nodded. "Alright, alright. Come on, Anthony. Let's find you something to wear."
As Dani led Anthony away to find some clothes, I remained in the living room, still trying to process the bizarre events of the evening. Alone for the first time since Anthony's unexpected transformation, I couldn't shake the mixture of amusement and bewilderment that lingered in the air.
I rolled my wheelchair closer to the window, staring out at the city skyline bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. The night seemed unusually quiet now that the chaos of Anthony's arrival had settled into a surreal calm. Part of me wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all—the fact that Anthony could transform from a cockroach into a naked man, of all things—but another part of me couldn't ignore the vulnerability and openness he had shown.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice when Anthony returned, dressed now in Dani's clothes—a slightly oversized t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that hung loosely on his frame. He cleared his throat softly, causing me to turn my attention back to him.
"Hey," he said, his voice gentle yet hesitant.
I offered a small smile, suddenly feeling unsure of how to respond. "Hey."
Anthony shifted his weight, his expression earnest. "Alison, I... I wanted to talk to you about something."
I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
He took a deep breath, as if gathering his thoughts. "Earlier, when Dani walked in, I didn't get a chance to finish what I was trying to say to you."
I nodded slowly, waiting for him to continue.
"Alison, I've been thinking..." He paused, searching for the right words. "I want to take you to see a specialist. Someone who might be able to help with your condition. I know it's a long shot, and you've probably heard it all before, but... I want to try. I want to see if there's any chance of improving your situation."
His sincerity struck me, raw and unguarded. I blinked back the sudden rush of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. For years, I had resigned myself to the limitations imposed by my disability, accepting it as an unchangeable part of my life. But Anthony's words stirred something deep within me—a flicker of hope that I had long buried.
"You... want to take me to a specialist?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
Anthony nodded, his eyes locking onto mine with unwavering determination. "Yes. I know it's a big decision, and it's ultimately yours to make. But I want you to know that I'm here for you, every step of the way."
I felt a lump form in my throat, tears threatening to spill over. "Anthony... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything right now," he said softly, moving closer to me. "Just... think about it. Consider the possibility. And whatever you decide, I'll support you."
His words washed over me like a soothing balm, easing the doubts and fears that had plagued me for so long. Without thinking, I reached out and hugged him tightly, my arms wrapping around his waist. Anthony's embrace enveloped me, strong and comforting, as if he could shield me from all the uncertainties that lay ahead.
"I... I almost fell down," I murmured against his chest, the weight of the moment settling between us.
Anthony held me closer, his lips brushing against my ear in a soft whisper. "I've got you, Alison. Always."
His warm breath sent a shiver down my spine, and his deep voice resonated with sincerity. In that moment, the weight of his words stirred something deep within me—a mixture of vulnerability and longing that I hadn't felt in years. With the city's distant hum as our backdrop, his presence felt both reassuring and electrifying.
"Why... Why are you doing this?" I whispered, unable to tear my gaze away from his intense eyes.
He chuckled softly, a sound that was both confident and gentle. "Because, Alison, I've been in love with you since I was seventeen."
His confession hung in the air, filling the room with a charged energy. The sincerity in his eyes was matched only by the passion in his voice, and I couldn't help but feel the gravity of his words.
"I just turned twenty-three," he continued, his voice dropping to a whisper as he leaned closer. "And for the past seven years, I've been a superhero cockroach, watching you when I have the chance."
****